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If you haven't I'd highly recommend watching Battle of the X-Planes. A documentary by NOVA about the JSF competition between Lockheed Martin X-35 (which became

If you haven't I'd highly recommend watching Battle of the X-Planes. A documentary by NOVA about the JSF competition between Lockheed Martin X-35 (which became F-35) and Boeing X-32. Official PBS link [0]. Here is the official site [1] with full transcript and behind the scenes about the making of the documentary (quite insightful). [0]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kNszWU7hTw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kNszWU7hTw [1]: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/xplanes/ http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/xplanes/

LeifCarrotson 10y ago
I know they're just designators, but it makes me wonder which would have won if Boeing had named their plane the X-37.
- roryisok 10y ago
  Can someone explain this to me? I've been fascinated by fighter planes since I was a kid and never understood the designations. Why do the F104 and F117 come before the F35?
  - handedness 10y ago
    http://m.wikihow.com/Understand-US-Military-Aircraft-Designations http://m.wikihow.com/Understand-US-Military-Aircraft-Designa...
    - roryisok 10y ago
      Thanks! Most relevant quote, in case anyone else is interested: > The rule, although often violated, is that normal aircraft are to be designated in a strict numerical series according to their basic mission. The easiest examples are found in the Fighter class of US airplanes: F-14, then the F-15, F-16 and so on. But, there are exceptions. For example, the X-35, which was a research plane, was later redesignated the F-35 when it became fighter capable, even though the next number in the Fighter sequence was F-24.
sandworm101 10y ago
It wasn't even really about the aircraft. Lockheed won over Boeing because lockheed showed better dev skills. They spotted and avoided problems that Boeing didn't (ie the issues with the test equipment mounted so close to the refuelling probe). When you are looking at such a long-term development contract people matter as much or more than the current state of the product.
phaedrus441 10y ago
Random question, but how did you have the link for this unlisted Youtube video?

LeifCarrotson 10y ago

I know they're just designators, but it makes me wonder which would have won if Boeing had named their plane the X-37.

roryisok 10y ago
Can someone explain this to me? I've been fascinated by fighter planes since I was a kid and never understood the designations. Why do the F104 and F117 come before the F35?
- handedness 10y ago
  http://m.wikihow.com/Understand-US-Military-Aircraft-Designations http://m.wikihow.com/Understand-US-Military-Aircraft-Designa...
  - roryisok 10y ago
    Thanks! Most relevant quote, in case anyone else is interested: > The rule, although often violated, is that normal aircraft are to be designated in a strict numerical series according to their basic mission. The easiest examples are found in the Fighter class of US airplanes: F-14, then the F-15, F-16 and so on. But, there are exceptions. For example, the X-35, which was a research plane, was later redesignated the F-35 when it became fighter capable, even though the next number in the Fighter sequence was F-24.

sandworm101 10y ago

It wasn't even really about the aircraft. Lockheed won over Boeing because lockheed showed better dev skills. They spotted and avoided problems that Boeing didn't (ie the issues with the test equipment mounted so close to the refuelling probe). When you are looking at such a long-term development contract people matter as much or more than the current state of the product.

phaedrus441 10y ago

Random question, but how did you have the link for this unlisted Youtube video?