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Post by Admin on Jul 4, 2020 9:34:44 GMT -5
"Critics say this cripples the jet's ability to fight" link The Department of Defense instituted regulations limiting how long some versions of the F-35 can fly at supersonic speeds. The limitations were placed after damage was found on jets that had flown at Mach 1.6. The pilot who flew the tests insists the damage occurred during conditions that would never materialize in real-world combat The F-35C can fly at a top speed of Mach 1.3 for 50 cumulative seconds, while the F-35B is limited to 40 seconds at Mach 1.3. The version of the F-35 used by the U.S. Air Force, the F-35A, can fly without restriction on speed. Earlier reports indicated the damage involved supersonic flight at extremely high altitudes, where heat buildup risked damaging the F-35’s stealthy skin coating and antennas located on the rear of the aircraft.
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