US F-35 Reportedly Starts to Crumble in Okinawa in ‘Routine Training Mission’

Sputnik

The reputation of the most expensive plane in history has once again been tarnished.

The F-35, a fifth-generation US stealth fighter, lost part of its fuselage, during a “routine training mission” near Kadena Air Base in Japan, according to the Defense News.

The incident, which occurred east of Okinawa on November 30, was reported by Japanese media at the time, but it wasn’t until December 4 that US Air Force officials confirmed the report.

The loss of one of the plane’s panels, measuring approximately 12 inches (30 centimeters) by 24 inches (60 centimeters), was noticed by the F-35’s wingman as the aircraft was in the process of landing.

Specialists suggested that the panel was broken during the flight, given the fact that the F-35 was thoroughly inspected ahead of the takeoff.

It is still unclear whether the replacement of the lost part of the plane’s fuselage will be possible without compromising its flight safety.

The F-35 Lightning II is the second US fifth-generation fighter after the F-22 Raptor.

The program to create the F-35 is estimated to have cost about one and a half trillion dollars, something that turns this fighter jet into the world’s most expensive aircraft.

The project has repeatedly been slammed, including by US President Donald Trump, over a whole array of technical problems.

In October, representatives of the US Air Force were cited as saying that many F-35pilots had symptoms of oxygen deficit.

In November, US government officials said that the US Defense Department refused to accept the delivery of F-35s between September 21 and October 20 after finding “corrosion exceeding technical limits” around fasteners holding the planes’ exterior coatings to their airframes.

https://sputniknews.com/us/201712051059720600-us-stealth-fighter-training-flight-panel/

8 thoughts on “US F-35 Reportedly Starts to Crumble in Okinawa in ‘Routine Training Mission’”

  1. More than a trillion was spent on this goddamn thing, now it’s falling apart. This thing is about as airworthy as a 6 horse stagecoach driving over the edge of the grand canyon.

    Panels falling off during flight?

    Article say half a trillion in development, that’s BS. some people say 2 trillion, talk about corruption, even half a trillion is insane.

    You want to talk about corruption?

    Reply

    2. That was an acorn that hit you on the head. The sky isn’t falling. If you have to embrace reports from sources with obvious bias like it’s gospel, at least drop the anti-American commentary. What started out as a good compiler of newsworthy articles is becoming no different than any other legacy media farce. BTW, this is not the first American made mechanical thing that had a part fall off for a wide variety of reasonable reasons.

      Reply

      1. The problems with this money-pit of an airplane are much greater than a “part falling off”. This heap of crap has suffered one major problem after another since it was unveiled, including suffocating pilots, computer malfunctions, fires, etc. etc.

        Reply

      2. And you’re not the first piece of shit troll to hit our site. You don’t like the venue, get the fk out asshole. You want legacy? light a Menorah, hump the wall. The f-35 is a piece of shit, always has been, always will be.

        You talk of appreciating JD’s show, you weren’t listening when he talked about this piece of shit so called fighter, and how he hated it.

        Panels fall off, it’s no longer radar invisible you idiot.

        Reply

  2. They were told
    But just like usual they didn’t listen

    Many AF Pilots with plenty of cred told them
    But with HUA syndrome they didn’t listen

    Reply

  3. I made parts for that POS and I’m tellen ya my opinion is strap an rocket on a 10,000 pound turd and the turd wins every time!

    Reply

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