Watch the F-35 perform a low-alititude flyby at its first-ever civilian air show
The F-35 sped past crowds during several extremely low flybys. The F-35's agility was on display as it slowed into its approach with landing gear lowered. Then, as if the pilot had a sudden change of heart, the engines roared back to life, the gear retracted, and the F-35 rapdily climed again.
The Air Force's F-35A may have impressed its civilian audience this summer. But the epicly expensive new weapons platform still has a ways to go before it's combat ready. The estimated $1.5 trillion weapons project has been rife with cost overruns and delays. As the plane nears completion it still isn't clear that the F-35 is really an improvement over existing fighter jets, some of which were designed in the 1970s.Several features of the plane have come in for criticism, including its overly complicated and not-particularly useful $400,000 helmet, which is oversized and limits visibility; and its onboard cannon, which doesn't hold much ammunition compared to earlier close-air support aircraft. The F-35 apparently can't outmaneuver the much older F-16 in a dogfight, either.
Despite the F-35's shortcomings, it looks like the plane will soon become a reality for the Air Force.
Here's video of the F-35's appearance in Oshkosh: