The US military’s biggest short fall is spare parts. We have thousands of tanks sitting in depots waiting for parts. we have hundreds of aircraft grounded waiting for parts. We are going to have to buy more F-16s and FA-18s to fill the gap left by F-35 delays.

The situation is Soviet-level stupid. The Soviets had thousands of tractors rusting in repairs stations waiting for spark plugs.

The F-16 are a good capable fighter. Tougher than they look and maintenance is designed to be relatively easy. Even an engine can be replaced in 20 minutes.

Milt told me about one of his first missions in the F-111 @ the end of the Vietnam conflict. They were supposed to land & refuel but the base was bugging out, so they had to redirect to one further away and so had to do everything he could to extend the flight time. They didn’t quite make it before fuel was exhausted. He said he never believed he could turn something like an F-111 into a glider, but he did! One good thing about variable wing geometry & a very skilled pilot, & a backup generator! 😉 😀

Want another laugh? At yourself (USA) this time! 😛 😆

Trump and North Korea

I. Can’t. Stop. Laughing! 😆

A big part of the problem is the USA’s current capability to defend anyone! Even the USA. It’s not a given, no matter how hard patriots wave the flags!

Bush/Chaney/Rumsfeld/Rice all but destroyed the US military. it hasn’t recovered. Most of the new weapons systems kinda work, sometimes! Maybe. The old ICBM’s r so dilapidated SAC is afraid to test fire any! I doubt many would even launch & any that do may pre-detonate (according to reports)! The crews are drunk/drugged/AWOL… & the base commanders are just as bad!

The US Navy is about the only branch that is still deadly capable! And they can’t be everywhere or get anywhere fast, or do it all!

The A-10 was designed for close air support and to take punishment. It has backups of backups. If both hydraulic systems go out there is a mechanical system. It can fly with one of the engines; one of the two tails, and a wing and a half while protecting the pilot in a titanium ‘bath tub’ . The F-35 is afraid of lightning which is absurd in an aircraft called ‘Lightning II”. The WWII P-38 Lightning would be a better ground support aircraft than its namesake.

You’d think the F-35 was designed by the LNP based on their successes so far! Wins: 0, Fails: MANY!

When you’re trying to sell spending $billions on a lemon, you trot out a failed PM for a photo-op! Makes sense… to very few!

The reason I bring up the Machete is that it, like the A10, is a fast flying combat strong, flying abattoir. (Although somebody should pump in a bunch 50 caliber bullets to test the foamed metal armor) The F-35 is built on a pyramid of systems which, if any one of them fails, means your flying a rock.