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They aren't even that expensive anymore relative to other modern fighters, the F-35A rolling off production line now cost 95 million and it's expected to drop to 85 million in 2019.
That's cheaper than a Rafale or Eurofighter Typhoon, and not much more than a brand new F-18E/F. Saab Gripen is the only western fighter that's significantly cheaper.
Having talked at length with F-35 pilots who flew the F-16 and the A-10 (my background is both) I'm a tad envious of their new rides, wish I'd retired a few years later. The aircraft is phenomenal without vectored thrust; when the flight control code is finally approved for full-up, it's going to be a world-beater.
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Originally Posted by SluggoF16
Having talked at length with F-35 pilots who flew the F-16 and the A-10 (my background is both) I'm a tad envious of their new rides, wish I'd retired a few years later. The aircraft is phenomenal without vectored thrust; when the flight control code is finally approved for full-up, it's going to be a world-beater.
Curious if you know what the maintenance man-hours to flight hour ratio is for the F-35?
Curious if you know what the maintenance man-hours to flight hour ratio is for the F-35?
Unknown. However, for most aircraft they're progressively less each generation. The F-4 and F-111 were maintenance nightmares, while the A-10, F-15 and F-16 had much higher FMC rates.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SluggoF16
Unknown. However, for most aircraft they're progressively less each generation. The F-4 and F-111 were maintenance nightmares, while the A-10, F-15 and F-16 had much higher FMC rates.
Thanks! That's what prompted my question, A retired Navy friend told me that when the Super-Hornet began replacing the Hornet that maintenance man hours went from 75 per flight hour to 50.
Thanks! That's what prompted my question, A retired Navy friend told me that when the Super-Hornet began replacing the Hornet that maintenance man hours went from 75 per flight hour to 50.
Maint hours go up as planes get older so I would expect a new anything to take less than an older copy of the same plane that had been beat about the fleet for 10 years. The problem is when you get hand-me-downs that are newer than the ones you had but not new.
They aren't even that expensive anymore relative to other modern fighters, the F-35A rolling off production line now cost 95 million and it's expected to drop to 85 million in 2019.
That's cheaper than a Rafale or Eurofighter Typhoon, and not much more than a brand new F-18E/F. Saab Gripen is the only western fighter that's significantly cheaper.
Production costs are one thing but maintenance and defect remediation costs or total life cycle costs are still astronomically high.
Curious = how could you possible know total life cycle costs are astronomically high when the planes are only a few years into a 40 year lifespan, and this corrosion fix will have to be applied to 200 of the 3,000+ F-35s to be built?
I'm not saying you're wrong (hell if I know) I'm just curious where the bar for "astronomical" is set for maintenance and defect costs are when it's so early in the production cycle. How much will it cost to fix the corrosive panel referenced in your article, and how does that compare to fixes with other jets in service like the recent F-18 oxygen issues?
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