Marine pilot loses command after ejecting from F-35B that kept flying
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Marine pilot loses command after ejecting from F-35B that kept flying
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Re: Marine pilot loses command after ejecting from F-35B that kept flying
#2[deleted]
Re: Marine pilot loses command after ejecting from F-35B that kept flying
#3> “How in the hell do you lose an F-35?” Mace posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “How is there not a tracking device and we’re asking the public to what, find a jet and turn it in?”
This sounds like a potent critique of 5th generation fighters but it's quite not. The F-35 is meant to be lost - it can't even use standard Link 16 because it reveals too much of it's presence to enemy fighters.
The idea of it lacking an active tracking beacon isn't really that surprising to me. There is no "Find My" for fighter jets, sorry.
Re: Marine pilot loses command after ejecting from F-35B that kept flying
#4Several light aircraft can land autonomously at the closest safe airport. Would be useful for fighter jets, where there is a much higher risk of pilot incapacitation.
Re: Marine pilot loses command after ejecting from F-35B that kept flying
#5Yeah I mean bailing on a plane that keeps going for 10+ more minutes was never going to be a good look
Re: Marine pilot loses command after ejecting from F-35B that kept flying
#6Yeah I mean bailing on a plane that keeps going for 10+ more minutes was never going to be a good look
Not in hindsight, no.
What sucks for the pilot is he followed procedure and at the time had no way of knowing whether the craft would remain stable or totally brick and spiral any second (rendering a procedural ejection even more dangerous).
Re: Marine pilot loses command after ejecting from F-35B that kept flying
#7The report criticizes the pilot for ejecting, but also says he did everything by the book (F35 manual), but the book was wrong. And the pilot should've figured that out? Feels like they just need someone to blame for losing the plane.
Re: Marine pilot loses command after ejecting from F-35B that kept flying
#8> “How in the hell do you lose an F-35?” Mace posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “How is there not a tracking device and we’re asking the public to what, find a jet and turn it in?” This sounds like a potent critique of 5th generation fighters but it's quite not. The F-35 is meant to be lost - it can't even use standard Link 16 because it reveals too much of it's presence to enemy fighters. The idea of it lackin…
It has an SSR transponder, but the electrical problem took that out along with most of the other avionics.
Re: Marine pilot loses command after ejecting from F-35B that kept flying
#9The report criticizes the pilot for ejecting, but also says he did everything by the book (F35 manual), but the book was wrong. And the pilot should've figured that out? Feels like they just need someone to blame for losing the plane.
> And the pilot should've figured that out?
Yes, probably. I suspect you're lacking context on the sophistication and comprehensiveness of their training.
Re: Marine pilot loses command after ejecting from F-35B that kept flying
#10The report criticizes the pilot for ejecting, but also says he did everything by the book (F35 manual), but the book was wrong. And the pilot should've figured that out? Feels like they just need someone to blame for losing the plane.
as harsh as it sounds, the point is that as the commander: "the buck stops here"
yes, he didn't do anything by the book, but the command still suffered a great deal of embarrassment and loss. there's nothing dishonorable but it's normal to rotate him out of leadership.