JSF/F-35 name & details on where it will be built in Europe

[contedicavour]

2 informations I got from the Italian financial press :

It appears that the 131 JSFs for Italy (AF+Navy) and the 85 for the Netherlands will be assembled in Cameri (halfway between Turin and Milan in north-western Italy) as of 2010 approx. The firm in charge is of course Alenia Finmeccanica Group with the support of Avio (70% owned by the US Carlyle private equity fund).
Which other locations are planned to host assembly lines for European JSFs ?

The other bit of information gives the potential names of the JSF :
> Lightning II
> Cyclone
> Reaper
> Piasa (a mythical bird in native Americans' culture)

cheers

 

[410Cougar]

Lightning II? Man...no knock on the older planes, but I just can't stand it when they recycle names...please, come up with something new!!!

 

[Sea Toby]

America has named many of its fighters recently after birds, so I suspect the Piasa is favored. On the other hand Europeans would probably prefer Cyclone, it sort of matches with Typhoon. Reaper sounds too goulish for me, although it rhymes with Raptor.

I haven't a clue where Lighting II came from. Since the F-35s are being built in the same Fort Worth factory as the F-16 Falcon, Falcon II would fit better. Many of the good bird names have already been used: Eagle, Falcon, Raven, and Hawk. Raptor is a dinosaur bird. Why not a mystic bird?

 

[Magoo]

America has named many of its fighters recently after birds, so I suspect the Piasa is favored. On the other hand Europeans would probably prefer Cyclone, it sort of matches with Typhoon. Reaper sounds too goulish for me, although it rhymes with Raptor.

I haven't a clue where Lighting II came from. Since the F-35s are being built in the same Fort Worth factory as the F-16 Falcon, Falcon II would fit better. Many of the good bird names have already been used: Eagle, Falcon, Raven, and Hawk. Raptor is a dinosaur bird. Why not a mystic bird?

Raptor is the collective name for the family of birds which comprises Eagles, Hawks, Vultures, Owls etc. If you're a bird of prey, you're a Raptor.

Osprey would have been a good one, as would Goshawk and even Harrier, but all are taken.

How about 'Peregrine', or perhaps 'Sparrowhawk', 'Kestrel' or even just 'Kite'? You could have the F-35A 'Kite' or 'Peregrine', and the F-35B/C 'Sea Kite' or 'Sea Peregrine'? So simple it might just work!?!?! :dance

Maybe it's time to start a new series of names, as the Raptor family is almost exhausted. How about 'Wolverine', 'Mink', Weasel'....yeah, ok, I know!

Besides, because this is a Navy (traditionally feline names), Marines and multinational aircraft as well, they'll probably deviate from the 'Raptor' family of names, and look for something more 'global'. Don't get me started there...it'll probably be so politically correct as to be laughable!

Magoo

 

[gf0012-aust]

How about 'Peregrine', or perhaps 'Sparrowhawk', 'Kestrel' or even just 'Kite'? You could have the F-35A 'Kite' or 'Peregrine', and the F-

Kite, SparrowHawk and Kestrel have already been used

I think Peregrine was a series of Rolls Royce engines...

 

[rossfrb_1]

I believe Booby is free.
http://www.montereybay.com/creagrus/boobies.html

There aint anything flying at the moment called Wedgetail!

rb

 

[Big-E]

America has named many of its fighters recently after birds, so I suspect the Piasa is favored. On the other hand Europeans would probably prefer Cyclone, it sort of matches with Typhoon. Reaper sounds too goulish for me, although it rhymes with Raptor.

I haven't a clue where Lighting II came from. Since the F-35s are being built in the same Fort Worth factory as the F-16 Falcon, Falcon II would fit better. Many of the good bird names have already been used: Eagle, Falcon, Raven, and Hawk. Raptor is a dinosaur bird. Why not a mystic bird?

How does Raptor ryhme with Reaper? The F-16 was named VIPER by her pilots and this should be the real name. No one cares what the Air Force names it, the pilots are the ones who have to live with the name. Navy should get to name our version and Marines should name theirs based on pilot vote.

 

[swerve]

Kite, SparrowHawk and Kestrel have already been used

I think Peregrine was a series of Rolls Royce engines...

Kestrel was only a development aircraft, which never entered service. Turned into the Harrier. A pity, really, as Kestrel is the perfect name for a plane which can hover, which is, of course, why it was picked. There are no Kestrels now (except maybe in a museum), so I'd say it's free.

But what about Albatross? :lol3 Oh no - it's an Italian naval SAM.

 

[Wild Weasel]

In '96, I asked a USMC Harrier pilot what he thought the JSF would be named, ( the official designation of the fighter was not even known at that time, due to the fact that the final down-selection process between Lockheed and Boeing had not yet taken place. )
-and he said, "How about Pipe Dream?" His wingman just laughed.

Apparently they were quite skeptical of the future of the program.
Given the dynamic nature of bringing such an enormous defense program to fruition, and having seen the recent demise of the USN's A-12- it's quite natural they would be skeptical.

Personally, I think Panther, or Couger would be best.

 

[fylr71]

I like the mythical bird approach or reusing a name on a plane that wasn't widely used such as Rapier or Skynight.

 

[umair]

At keymags they call it the "Ardpiglet" in sheer appreciaton of it's looks.

 

[alexsa]

Lightning II? Man...no knock on the older planes, but I just can't stand it when they recycle names...please, come up with something new!!!

What like

Globemaster II
Phantom (two so far)
Intruder (two to date)

etc etc

lets fact it many names have been sed before but there are emotional attachments.

 

[rattmuff]

Why not take the names of all the swedish fighter aircraft and translate to english?

Swedish = English
Tunnan = The Barrel
Lansen = The Lance
Draken = The Kite or The Dragon
Viggen = The Thunderbolt
Gripen = The Gryphon

 

[Izzy1]

If memory serves, wasn't the F-22 Raptor also originally going to be called Lightning II?

 

[Aussie Digger]

Occum (and Goon and Kopp) would probably be in favour of the F-35 "Slug"... :

 

[rossfrb_1]

Occum (and Goon and Kopp) would probably be in favour of the F-35 "Slug"... :

Fairey Gannet has been used so Fairy Penguin could be a goer for the F-35C.
I still think the F-35 Booby or Booby Strike Fighter sounds good.
If two of them were flying in formation, you could say 'there goes a nice pair of boobies.' And the wife would have no reason to get upset.
If they were flying beside one another then they would be keeping abreast.
I think I've milked this for all its worth

rb

 

[Occum]

Occum (and Goon and Kopp) would probably be in favour of the F-35 "Slug"... :

Don't know why you would think this or that I am somehow down on the JSF. Provided it makes it through the development program intact and proves itself in DT&E, IOT&E and FOT&E, then it should be a good platform for what the JORD requires it to do. I suggest the point you are missing is that I, like many, do not believe it is the right system for Australia. To put this another way, the decision to go JSF is flawed; not the aircraft, necessarily.

What is it that makes some people (and it would appear this includes you) not want the best for our troops - particularly when the best is far more capable than, far more cost effective than and far less risky than what senior folks in Defence are intending for Australia to acquire?

As to a name for the JSF, from what I have read I think Dr Kopp had already suggested the Thud II some time ago. The supporting reasons he provided make a lot of sense from a capability and military aviation historical perspective.

As much as I have enjoyed the fun being had with Booby, not sure that will fly.

 

[Seacraft]

Names of Sea Birds

Cormorant (doesn't exactly flow off the tounge but has many variations in different languages)

Gannet - fairly nasty tempered bird that folds in its wings and dives in on its prey.

Plover - maybe apt, small defensless "cotton ball on tooth pics" (bad joke)

Buzzard

Tern

Skimmer

 

[rjmaz1]

I think they should just keep it as the JSF, as that sounds good.

Jayesseff

 

[rossfrb_1]

Names of Sea Birds

{snip}

Skimmer

If by Skimmer you mean a Shearwater, these also go by the name of Muttonbird. Methinks Lockmart may use something similar behind closed doors for the BSF.

rb