Henry J Cobb wrote:
http://dallas.bizjournals.com/dallas...05/daily3.html

Gee

[snip wiseass remarks about JSF]

The problem the Marines have--clearly stated in the article--is that the
F-35 is too fast to provide close escort of Osprey units (it has to fly
orbits around them, reducing its range). On the other hand, the AH-1 that
escorts current helicopters is really too slow to be a good tactical match
with Osprey. But they've got themselves committed to the AH-1Z rebuild, so
I think there's little prospect of a replacement CAS/escort aircraft in the
near future.

If the Piaseki Vectored Thrust Ducted Fan was working, that might end up as
a viable alternative, but I've heard no recent news on its status. There is
an article in the current Proceedings, but I don't think it says anything
about the progress of flight testing.

--
Tom Schoene Replace "invalid" with "net" to e-mail
"Our country, right or wrong. When right, to be kept right, when
wrong to be put right." - Senator Carl Schurz, 1872