Lex-loser

Yet again, the F-35 fan-base at the Lex can't even get the story correct. Years ago, the problem was not only the hook but an outlier hook placement on the aircraft in relation to the distance to the main landing gear. This is what happens when you don't make a dedicated aircraft carrier jet from the ground up. A and C variants have to work within limits of the STOVL design needs.

Also not mentioned by the model airplane-glue-sniffing crowd is that the aircraft has to pass something called....OPEVAL ... pencil-whipped or otherwise. And even if it works perfectly (unlikely)..it is the heavier of the 3, it has worse aero performance. Additional weight does that. The C is 15 percent over-weight compared to its 2002 design configuration too. It isn't going to stand up to emerging threats. For other threats, the Super Hornet does fine.

As for our money. DOD sold the idea to Congress in the 1990s that it is post Cold War and and affordable combat jet was needed. There you are... if the F-35C passes OPEVAL, all Hornets should be retired. We can't afford the aircraft carrier hobby with multiple airframes.

Compromise on that? Fund a K-35D, A recovery tanker only F-35. No stealth coating. No combat systems, 2 wing tanks (2k fuel) 19k on-board fuel plumbed into the full refueling system. In the space occupied by the internal bays on the A-C, you could put about 6k of gas. The gun-pod area is where you put the basket-hose-reel gizmo.