There are a number of known problems which have been encountered during testing and manufacturing, and the long debated delay (1,5-2 years). But the author of this piece of work, Bill Sweetman is a known anti-JSF journalist. Het even described the JSF as less capable compared to the F-105 (or was that Wheeler), that the deck of the USS Wasp would melt etc etc. A lot of his statements and analyses proved to be wrong, but he never corrected them (like the lastest test results regarding Mach and g-force enveloppes, which a JSF could not reach accoring to Sweetman). Alos he has a tendency of reporting bad news and make it look even worse, while progress and testing results are never acknowledged by him. The fact that the stesting was stalling was mentioned by him numerous times, but now the testing has picked up and is even 10% ahead of the adjusted planning, is something not interesting enough to report.
This report of last year says it all, so whatever Sweetman has to "report" on the JSF, it is all pointed to underline his own statement that the JSF was, is and will be a distater, no matter what the facts are:
Aviation Week suspends Bill Sweetman from F-35 story
By Stephen Trimble on May 10, 2010 3:35 PM
Bill Sweetman notified me this morning that he has been temporarily ordered off the F-35 story by Aviation Week management.
Aviation Week editor Tony Velocci initially told me "no comment", but added: "It was supposed to be an internal personnel matter but I'm really sorry to hear that he's spreading it around."
Sweetman is the editor of Defense Technology International, a monthly magazine published by the Aviation Week Group.
It's not clear what immediately precipitated the decision. But Sweetman is well-known as arguably one of the most outspoken -- and, it should be said, well-spoken -- critics of the F-35 program.
Lockheed Martin denies having any role in Sweetman's removal from the F-35 beat. "I can tell you Lockheed was not behind this," a spokesman says.
Sweetman recently visited Lockheed's F-35 factory in Fort Worth, Texas, along with Velocci and Aviation Week staff writer Amy Butler. On the eve of his visit, Sweetman on 26 April posted a typically droll comment on his private Facebook page:
"Gentlemen, your target for tonight is Fort Worth. Flacks are predicted to be numerous and persistent on the run-in and over the target, and =censored= is expected to be dense throughout the mission. Synchronize watches and good luck."
Full disclosure: Sweetman is a personal friend and former co-worker at Jane's. As a military technology journalist, I have great respect for his vast and detailed knowledge of weapon systems of all kinds.
But Sweetman himself would tell you he approaches F-35 coverage unlike other journalists. I see my role as simply to report the facts offered by both critics and supporters, allowing my readers to draw their own conclusions. Sweetman approaches F-35 coverage from the standpoint of an analyst who has empirically concluded the program is a flop. That position is always going to create a tension with his traditional role as journalist.
Source:
http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/the-d ... l#comments
