What the world actually needs are politicians who would rather solve disagreements than try to kill the people who disagree with them. I'm talking to you, Osama bin Laden, and Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, and Kim Jong Il, and G.W. Bush.

On the other hand, this is a very cool aircraft. I want one for commuting to work. Can it stop in under 12 miles?

Want

Old Man Dotes, we have those kind of politicians. This jet is backup when people like you mentioned don't really want to negotiate. I just hope this $100 million dollar jet (estimating) isn't susceptible to sand. One good sandstorm in Afghanistan or Iraq will make it useless.

@Mr. Gumsandals
Won't a few well placed nukes fuse all that sand to glass. Problem solved!

Old Man Dotes - Dont put George W Bush in the same group as those people.

As for the article, I like the F-35, its an awesome plane, that said, its cost has continued to spiral out of control.

Its on the verge of getting axed, but because of all the international promises and help, I dont think it will.

murc - I agree with Old Man Dotes

And Sweet Jet!

@Old Man Dotes:

Wait you failed to remember is that diplomacy often does not work with people. Often times, the only negotiations people understand either 1. erupts from the end of a rifle at several thousand feet per second or 2. is dropped from the bay of a B-2 and explodes after penetrating several feet into the ground. Politicians have no trouble making war because they aren't the ones who fight it. More politicians would only lead to more wars. And wars will only end once the price of retaliation from the opposing side is so great that everybody loses (M.A.D. anyone?).

mmmmm, lets think further. how would change the desigh od the ship that would carry them. got to have those too?
when will the spending stop and go back
into the tax payers pocket. well obama?
nice jet though! LOL

Aircraft carriers can easy handle this jet. And this baby was created and funded during the Bush administration. And didn't we see this plane on the last Die Hard movie....this is old new Dvice.

Devlin - Yes Aircraft carriers can handle it, and their will eventually be some of them on the carriers. But the F-35C is the one specifically designed with US Carriers in mind.

and yes, it was in Live Free Die Hard, but that was all CGI.

It is a very naive view to believe that if you are open minded and propose unilateral peace options that more like minded people will agree thus want participate. We have a president like that now. The Cold War ended because we carried a bigger stick that anybody else. Most areas of the world to not respect reason, and consider it weak, and will attack you. We see more attacks, although small, on our soil now and I would expect to see another larger attack to remind everyone again why you need a big stick. Teddy Roosevelt, once said, " Walk Quietly and carry a big stick." When we forget those things, everything goes to hell in a hand basket.

@ murc:

The F-22 is about to be axed, if it hasn't already been. It was a Cold War Era plane.

The F-35 is the other fighter program that's running, and that won't be axed. In fact, the US alone wants to buy over 5,000.

Old Man Dotes,

It's a nice idea and a sincere hope of mine that, eventually, the world will elect leaders who want to just get along. Unfortunately, that's just not the case.

Osama bin Laden wants to re-establish the Ottoman Empire through violence. Kim Jong Ill wants to conquer South Korea. Ahmedinejad wants to destroy Israel. Hugo Chavez is about to wage war against Columbia. Some people just don't WANT peace unless it's on THEIR terms.

Our current President has attempted to approach various world leaders with the same philosophy you have. The result? They've become more brazen and defiant. Until the day comes when everyone can be at peace through desire, we need to have peace for our nation through strength.

On 20 July 2001, the X-35B performed the historic milestone of a short take-off, supersonic cruise and vertical landing, which is pretty cool. Check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwBrb8JSQ9E

As ronnie used to say: A country never got atteacked for being too strong !!!!

Why not make a VTOL craft carrier? that way we can nuke em from space, it's the only way to be sure.

@MR.Gumsandles, this plane was built in competition for the x prize, and one of the requirements was for it to cost around 30million. this isnt an f-22. once the techonlogy is there, everything gets cheaper.

Another very expensive, weapon of mass destruction.

Rhit said:
"@ murc:

The F-22 is about to be axed, if it hasn't already been. It was a Cold War Era plane.

The F-35 is the other fighter program that's running, and that won't be axed. In fact, the US alone wants to buy over 5,000."

The F-22 hasn't been technically axed...however congress didn't approve any more funding for it...soo....yeeeaaah.

And no, Your numbers are old.
The price per plane keeps going up...which means that the Air Force is getting less planes.
The Current number is 2400 F-35's (thats total: A, B, & C versions).

oh, and "Suitor" - You do realize that its the military that keeps you safe...

An economist made an estimate that for what we spend each year on the Iraq war we could feed and house every living human on the planet. Do think we'd need f-35s to defend ourselves if everyone had food and a place to live?

@Old Man Dotes

If you don't stand behind our troops, feel free to stand in front of them!

Bob u pacifest george bush did good for this country we need more fighters not talkers