UK takes delivery of its first Dave, sorry, F-35

[C]

Ok, it's only a static test airframe, but it's still and F-35 Lightning II(I)/Dave.

http://www.thenorthspin.com/news09/042709lockheed.html

[EJW]

Great. The USAF are reviewing their orders for the aircraft and are expected to actually increase it, as it has been announced that the number of F-22s ordered will be cut.

[Hagar]

Ok, it's only a static test airframe, but it's still and F-35 Lightning II(I)/Dave.

Dave? Must be an IN joke. Not sure what my brother has to do with it. First they name a TV channel after him & now an aeroplane.*

*I presume the F-35 qualifies as an aeroplane. :-/

[C]

Dave? Must be an IN joke. Not sure what my brother has to do with it. First they name a TV channel after him & now an aeroplane.*

The TV channel may have something to do with it. "Dave" originated around the t'interweb whilst they were having the naming saga a couple of years ago. Someone got fed up, and christened it Dave, as we all know that it cannot be the "Lightning II" (particularly in RAF service).

[Hagar]

Dave? Must be an IN joke. Not sure what my brother has to do with it. First they name a TV channel after him & now an aeroplane.*

The TV channel may have something to do with it. "Dave" originated around the t'interweb whilst they were having the naming saga a couple of years ago. Someone got fed up, and christened it Dave, as we all know that it cannot be the "Lightning II" (particularly in RAF service).

Just been reading a thread about this on another forum. It seems that Dave is one of the more polite suggestions.

The RAF is not forced to call it Lightning II. I presume that is based on the P-38 which doesn't have the same significance in this country as the superb English Electric Lightning. The MoD has a long history of renaming US aircraft when serving with the British armed forces.

[OVERLORD_CHRIS]

Why  di they ship it? 3 weeks to get there, they could have flown it the British C-17 or something and got it there in like 10 hours, and started testing the next day.

Dave hu..? What about Bristol Lightning? or one the old British cars that Top Gear keeps making fun of?

[gtirob01]

Thats really cool, the 1st export F-35!

I will be seeing these flying over on a daily basis very shortly, as the AF base I live by is going to be the main USAF pilot training base for the F-35!

[Mobius]

Dave - I like it!

[Isak922]

Better than FRED, I suppose

(The C-5 Galaxy's unofficial nickname is "FRED"... or "F***ing Ridiculous Environmental Disaster").

Guess the F-35 program is finally starting to step up a bit

[C]

[quote]Why

[OVERLORD_CHRIS]

[quote][quote]Why

[Bullseyee]

Great. The USAF are reviewing their orders for the aircraft and are expected to actually increase it, as it has been announced that the number of F-22s ordered will be cut.

Noo, I like the F-22 way more it has way better looks than that ugly F-35..