F-35 software updates offer little progress at training unit

Inside Defense (subscription) has a must-read from their Inside the Air Force section.

Inside the Air Force - 06/21/2013

Early Block 2A jets very similar to 1B aircraft

In it we see that the F-35 should never have been released for training and operational testing. It is still not ready and software definitions (versus the happy press releases) are weak.

The article states that the Eglin training community are eager to do more but that because of technical problems with the aircraft design (as mentioned in previous DOD test reports), including the lack of a working helmet cueing system, there isn't much depth to the "training" going on there.

Then too the aircraft is still weather limited. Ever been to Florida? It goes like this, the day warms up and usually there are various rolling thunder-showers across the state starting in the early afternoon.

With a 25 mile restriction for this kind of WX, F-35 training flights get cancelled.

A few quotes from the article?

"The 2A software that we got with these aircraft has very limited capability above what's already in the Block 1B, so the intent is all of our instructors can fly either aircraft," Jost said. "They are essentially the same capability with some minor differences. I am initiating a request to headquarters to actually allow students to do the same thing since the differences are so minor right now."

2A does allow them to turn on DAS...but with no helmet, big deal.

And:

The JSF program at Eglin AFB has long operated under a variety of flight restrictions -- primarily a 0.9 Mach airspeed limit, a 5.5 "G" maximum and an angle of attack no greater than 18 degrees -- and those all remain in place. But one restriction, that F-35s be followed in the air by F-16 chase aircraft, was lifted in the spring, and Canterbury and Jost both said the wing is hoping to be allowed to fly in inclement weather shortly. Aviators refer to clear skies as "visual meteorological conditions" and flying in weather as "instrument meteorological conditions," or IMC.

Wow! Progress, no F-16 chase... at an alleged F-35 pilot training outfit.

The training program goes on...with no night, weather/instrument or tactical certification.

What a shame/sham.