F-35 Lightning II Edition 2015 Mustang (now with pics!)

http://www.aviationpros.com/press_r...nsecutive-year-at-2014-eaa-airventure-oshkosh

F-35 Lightning II Edition 2015 Mustang
For the seventh consecutive year, Ford will create and donate a unique Ford Mustang to be sold, via auction, at the Gathering of Eagles charity event to support the EAA Young Eagles program. This year, the Ford Design and Engineering teams created the 2015 F-35 Lightning II Edition Mustang GT. The car was specially built for AirVenture, drawing inspiration from the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II aircraft, which represents the pinnacle of more than 50 years of fighter technology. The nonprofit EAA Young Eagles has provided free introductory flights to more than 1.8 million young people since 1992, helping inspire and motivate the next generation of leaders, aviators and innovators.

The one-of-a-kind F-35 Lightning II Edition Mustang will be one of the first salable all-new 2015 Ford Mustangs. The design of the modified 2015 Mustang GT 5.0-liter Fastback exudes a creative connection to the F-35 Lightning II joint forces strike fighter, while highlighting the design features of the new Mustang. Ford Design Manager Melvin Betancourt and Mustang Chief Engineer Dave Pericak led the respective teams.

The exterior will showcase a customized glossy and matte titanium paint scheme with distinctive F-35 Lightning II aircraft accents, with a carbon fiber front splitter, rear diffuser and rocker moldings added. The interior will include performance gauges, modified instrument clusters, Recaro seats and embroidered F-35 Lightning II elements in the seats and floor mats, among other distinctive design elements.

no photos? lame

Interesting. The event looks like it's only a few weeks away.
http://www.eaa.org/en/airventure

I'm most interested in seeing that matte titanium paint. What if this is one of those new colors we heard about? :shrug:

F35s in real life are currently grounded....

They couldn't have picked a worse aircraft. Every one of my pilot buddies hates that pile of scrap.

F35 = EVERY 2010+ Camaro.............

Last years Thunderbird edition went for $400,000.00 I doubt this one will bring half of that, although there are a bunch of deep pockets in the EAA who need tax write offs.

Topnotch said:

http://www.aviationpros.com/press_r...nsecutive-year-at-2014-eaa-airventure-oshkosh

The car was specially built for AirVenture, drawing inspiration from the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II aircraft, which represents the pinnacle of more than 50 years of fighter technology.
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Hehe, more like the pinnacle of military - industrial boondoggles.

Plus it's not even that good looking of a plane compared to something like the F-22.

The F-35 was not a good choice for the Mustang at this point in time. It's been a nightmare for the armed forces to get going and the future doesn't look bright. Not too mention that outside of people who are military aviation fans; not many people even know the plane exists.

It's for a good cause; but I don't think it will bring in as much money as those in the past.

They should do an F-14 rendition in Jolly Rogers themed livery!

I'm so old that I can remember another military aircraft that was plagued with bugs, delays and cost overruns. It was the F-111. The problems were all solved in time, and it went on to serve with distinction.

The main reason for the problems with the type is that it introduced new (at the time) technologies such as swing wings, afterburning turbofan engines, and terrain-following radar.

Unlike the F-35, the F-111 was adopted by only three nations: the U.S., U.K., and Australia. The F-35 will eventually be employed by those three countries, plus Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Norway, Israel, Japan and Singapore.

Like the F-111 and F-35, the B-1 bomber is a case study in how politicians can FUBAR a military aircraft program. The Carter Adminstration killed the B-1 program, allowing all the money that had previously been spent on the type to go down the rathole. Under the Reagan Administration, the bomber's problems were resolved, and the type went on to provide exemplary service as the B-1A. In the case of the F-35, the aircraft was designed to have two engine choices, one of which would be a backup if probems developed with the other. But the Obama Administration killed the second engine, and guess what happened?

If history is any guide, I believe the F-35 will suvive its early teething problems and go on to serve a number of nations with distinction for many years to come. It will have to earn it, but I believe it will be worthy of a Mustang Edition.

Just my opinion. Your mileage may vary.

F-22 > F-35. Even the pilots say the F-35 loses in air superiority. I know it is supposed to fill multiple rolls, but I feel like it is a step backward. That being said, I still like the 35s, and any F-35 mustang I would love to own!

Josh Painter said:

I'm so old that I can remember another military aircraft that was plagued with bugs, delays and cost overruns. It was the F-111.

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Remembering the development of the F-111 hardly makes you old. Now, if you were involved in helping solve the compressibility problems Signa Gilkey found with the YP-38...

Dub347sbf said:

F-22 > F-35. Even the pilots say the F-35 loses in air superiority. I know it is supposed to fill multiple rolls, but I feel like it is a step backward. That being said, I still like the 35s, and any F-35 mustang I would love to own!

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The F-35 is not an Air Superiority fighter. It was not designed for that role. Air superiority is the F-22's mission. The F-35 was designed to perform multiple roles which are complementary to that of the F-22, i.e. ground attack, reconnaissance, and air defense.

As far as pilot opinions of the F-35, don't believe what David Axe says pilots say about the aircraft. Believe the pilots themselves:

http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=122650

I'm not a Chuck Hagel fan. But I do believe he is trying to get honest opinions about the aircraft from the pilots who actually fly it.

JimmyTwoTimes said:

Remembering the development of the F-111 hardly makes you old. Now, if you were involved in helping solve the compressibility problems Signa Gilkey found with the YP-38...

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And what an awesome fighter the P-38 turned out to be!

I'm Air Force, and stationed at hurlburt, right next to Elgin where they are training the pilots on them. Always see them flying, or used to. 2nd plane caught fire while taxiing about two weeks ago:thumbdown: