Warbird Information Exchange

Since the BAe Lightning was never in US Air Force service, I have to think that the "Lightning I" is the ol' Peter Three Eight.

Vulture would have been me pick.

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Olivier Lacombe -- Harvard Mk.4 C-GBQB

Yes, I think you're probably right, but I understand that Britain has been a big partner in the F-35 development.

I think the RAF is going to fly it, too (?)

That's it, I can't take it any longer. Two pages on the topic w/o a pic of the aircraft in discussion.

Well here it is:

USAF version (F-35A)
USMC version (F-35B)
USN version (F-35C)







That's better

t~

As reported on the Wings/Airpower magazine website:
“The F-35 Lightning II will carry on the legacy of two of the greatest and most capable fighter aircraft of all time,” said Ralph D. Heath, president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. “Just as the P-38 and the British Lightning were at the top of their class during their day, the F-35 will redefine multi-role fighter capability in the 21st century.”
Wouldn't that make it the Lightning III?

No wonder it's so far over budget,... those people can't even count to 3 !

Indeed. Thanks for clarifying this.

I think the name Gremlin is more fitting...it's quirky appearance reminds me of the classic car...or those bad-ass alien thingies from the movies with the same name.

I hope it isn't the lemon that the B-! is.

It will be interesting to see what the crews name it - "Jug" vs. Thunderbolt, "Warthog" vs Thunderbolt II, "BUFF" vs Stratofortress, "Sluf" vs. Corsair II. Should be interesting!

Tom P.

Not unless the BAe Lightning was

A) In the US Inventory
B) Called the "Lightning II" to begin with.

Randy- I believe the "googly eyed" smilie means he was making a (very good) joke.

Maybe they could squeeze by on a technicality, since the British named both the Lockheed and the BAe airframes. And yes, I'm trying, in a miserable manner I guess, to provide humor...

Too bad the Army co-opted Native American tribal names for helicopters. The F-35 Apache sounds pretty darn cool to me.

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Phil K.
Yankee Air Museum
Systems Admin / Ramp Crew / Professional Photo Ruiner

Lightning II sucks (what would they have called the X-32?), but really gets me is that it'll be the F-35 (think we skipped a few numbers there, unless there are an awful lot of fighters I've never heard of)