A couple of things.
1. I wrote Lockheed Martin for info about the good Admiral's statement about production slowdown and the hotspots and have yet to get an answer. I DID get a response but just to acknowledge reciept of my e-mail and that they would be getting back to me....that was Monday.
2. We have this statement by Sufa Viper on ARES...
Some food for thought, when thinking about the Cracks of doom (by they way they are hot spots at this point, not cracks).Long story short.
The F-16 has a structural distinction known as Pre- and Post-Block. Pre-Block aircraft are considered to be structurally "flawed" and immature, where as Post-Block aircraft are considered structurally sound and mature.
The dividing line is Block 40. So that means that every Block 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30/32 is structurally "flawed." More than 2,000 of those blocks were built. And yet EPAF countries still fly Block 15 and USAF still flies Block 25/30/32.
Almost all have some form of structural repair on them, and that is long before they reach the design life of 8,000 FH. Yet, I think you would have to be nuts if you think the "flawed" F-16's aren't effective fighters.
Sufa Viper
I don't have an answer on this thing. I'm confused as all out doors and I feel like I'm getting spun both ways by critics and supporters.
If Sufa Viper is right, then why is the Admiral so alarmed? Why would he want production slowed? This whole thing is starting to take on an air of gamesmanship and not having any basis in reality.
UPDATE:
Ok.
I'm heading toward becoming pissed.
I'm not ready to join the throngs of haters but I mean seriously? Check out DoD Buzz for the story but this tidbit has me steaming.
How healthy is the world’s biggest defense program? Secretary Panetta himself plans to head down Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., for his first in-person encounter with the jet and the people who make it possible, DoD announced Wednesday. We just don’t know exactly when that’s going to happen.First we have the Program Manager saying that the program is FUBAR.
The Pentagon first announced that Panetta was planning on heading to Pax River on Friday, but then it followed up with another announcement that something had come up and he had to postpone his trip until “early next year.” Still, it’s the thought that counts, right?
Then we have the SecDef planning a trip to PaxRiver.
Can we all get on one page, get the messaging together and get me some fucking answers about the status of this program?