Another F35 has crashed & resulting fire

It seems another F35 has crashed. Unconfirmed reports are an F35 crashed near Fresno, California. The pilot ejected, was recovered and taken to a Fresno hospital by helicopter in unknown condition. The crash started a vegetation fire that is reportedly under control and both federal and local firefighters are doing a defensive firefighting attack on the aircraft itself.

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PicturesOfABetterTomorrow · 41-45, M

Not surprised. One of the first ones shipped to Japan burst into flames on the tarmac.

And it's now the most expensive jet basically ever.

KunsanVeteran · M

@PicturesOfABetterTomorrow There have been a bit more than a dozen F35 crashes including today’s where there were injuries and/or the plane was wrecked. Causes were determined to be: human error, malfunctions, weather related, etc.

PicturesOfABetterTomorrow · 41-45, M

@KunsanVeteran whatever the cause the F35 has the worst readiness percentage of any US fighter.

And by that I mean the percentage that are combat ready at any given time.

KunsanVeteran · M

@PicturesOfABetterTomorrow I can neither confirm nor deny that, but I can say that my pilot friends do not like the F35. They invariably prefer the F16–which are pretty ancient. Although I believe we are still flying some U2 s!

PicturesOfABetterTomorrow · 41-45, M

@KunsanVeteran I don't have any special insights here. This is just what is public as per the Pentagon through outlets like Jane's and other such sources.

If this is the stuff they are willing to admit publicly I don't think I want to know what is classified.