Has anyone heard about the f-35? I have heard of the F-22 but the F-35 is new to me

It is what has come from the Joint Strike Fighter Program.


Read all about it here...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-35_Lightning_II

Yes, the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF)

NAVY: Replaces I'm not sure what, probably S-3 and perform the same duties as the F/A-18
AIR FORCE: Replaces F-117, A-10, F-15, F-16
MARINES: Replaces AV-8 Harrier

It is supposed to be a less expensive plane to complement the more expensive F-22's and F-18 Super Hornets. The Navy will soon be all F/A-18 variants, F-35's, E-2, C-2 and Helos off of the carrier. It is replacing the Harrier in the Marine Corps and is being used in the RAF and Royal Navy. Other countries have contributed and will eventually be in the market, hence the "Joint".

Not quite Ghost. The "joint" actually is a joint US armed forces thing, it was technically an effort to have a single aircraft operate for all branches of the armed forces, meaning Navy/Air force.
For years they have had exchange programs in an effort to pull the Air Force to have greater forward based dispatchability, this was tough because crews could not land on carriers if need be, nor could they because the aircraft was not capable of it. This program still runs today, but has very little value, if you ask me. This JSF would offer a greater chance of recovering aircraft regardless of it being USN/USAF (I don't count USMC, has it is just a branch of the Navy, sailors with rifles).
The other very good point of that program is in regards to supply, if everyone operates the same equipment, that means that you can land at any airfield or carrier, and they will have the engineers/technicians, and spare parts to fix the flying contraption, without having to wait in long delays for either or.
So it is not "joint" in terms of international, it is joint in terms of US armed forces.
Whatever happened to all of this...I am not quite sure.

Well, that would be a great idea, except I don't think that the A model has a tailhook. I don't think that landing a tailhook-less Air Force F-35 on a carrier would be much easier than landing a F-15 on one. I get the Joint thing though, I just figured it meant international.

There are subtle differences. The Navy/Marine Corps model has a tailhook, reinforced gear, and a bigger wingspan. The Air Force version doesn't.

It does not replace the F-15 or the F-117, the F-22 replaces both of those.

Im also dissappointed at the name they chose for it, wish they would have let us vote.

Yah that is a strange name...

Not really. The P-38 Lightning was an awesome plane in WWII. Hopefully, the F-35 will live up to the name.

Technically yes, the F-22 replaces the F-15 and F-16 whereas the F-35 replaces the F-15E, F-117, F-16, and A-10. However, the Air Force and ANG is retaining a couple active F-15, F-16, and A-10 squadrons. The F-117 is the only one being fully replaced.

The F-22 at the moment will only be repalcing the F-15. It is said that the F-16 will be in-service for many more years as the F-22 is an expensive aircraft. Therefore the F-16 will be replaced later.

Also they said that they would call it a LIghtining II as it resembles a P38 and the BAC lightening. Personally i think its a load of rubbish as the F-35 looks nothing like the P38 or BAC lightening.