Timerplake knocked them "the fuck out"!

I'm trying to step away from the F-35 drama.  Not worth the special olympics fight in my opinion.  But wouldn't you know it!  The minute I try and readjust, we have the big boys of the blogging community throwing away the niceties and getting busy.  I love it...Check this out from SLD and go there for the whole thing...

In a recent personal attack on Dr. Carafano of the Heritage Foundation, Thomas Christie, Pierre Sprey, Chuck Spinney and Winslow Wheeler wander out of the Platonic cave to argue once again against new aircraft.

Oh and it just gets better from there.  Like I said, read the whole thing and grab some popcorn cause I think this is just the opening shots! 

BF-7 in VMFAT-501(School House) Markings...yeah even more F-35 porn.

Much has been said about when the USAF will begin training on the F-35.  The Marine Corps has been silent.  BF-7 took its first flight in school house markings and there is a full complement of Marines waiting to begin work on the plane.  Something tells me that at least for the Marines, its full speed ahead on the training schedule.  Another thing to consider is that the Royal Navy is anxious to begin training too.  Maybe (remember I am saying maybe) we're seeing a foreign boost to the program from our UK allies?

Yugoslovia's secret space program.

IF this is true then holy shit batman!

What is the CNO thinking????

Wow.  This story from National Defense blew me away....

“It’s not a big naval buildup in the Far East,” Greenert said at an Jan. 10 forum hosted by the Center For New American Security, in Washington, D.C. “We’re there. We have been there. We’ll continue to be there.”

Greenert’s assessment is that the Navy as currently deployed could handle China as it flexes its muscles. Budget cuts and the new strategic guidance document rolled out by the Obama administration “won’t affect operations in Southeast Asia,” Greenert said.

Amazing.

This guy has a Navy that keep its ships repaired.

Has an Amphibious Ready Group that is setting records for its deployment length.

Has an LCS that is half baked and not quite ready for prime time (mainly looking at you Austal).

Has an issue with whether or not it needs 11 carriers...

And this guy takes the opportunity to possibly get greater funding for his service and chucks it?

Words cannot express.

More F-35 porn...

I luv it...but I also get a little nervous when they do pic dumps like this.  I'm always wondering...uh oh...what bad news is about to come down the pike now!...anyway enjoy.

Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363 in Afghanistan.

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Zachary Hughes, weapons tactics instructor, Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363, observes Lance Cpl. Madison DeLoach operate a .50-caliber machine gun, Helmand River Valley, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, Jan. 5, 2011. DeLoach operated the .50-caliber machine gun during flight operations with the guidance of Hughes. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Robert R. Carrasco/Released).

U.S. Marines of 1st Radio Battalion, 2D Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), load onto a CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopter of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363 (HMH-363) during a routine flight operation, Forward Operating Base Edinburgh, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, Jan. 5, 2012. HMH-363 conducted flight operations in support of troops throughout the Helmand Province. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Robert R. Carrasco/Released).

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Madison DeLoach, crew chief, Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363 (HMH-363), observes the terrain during a routine flight operation, Helmand River Valley, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, Jan. 5, 2012. HMH-363 conducted flight operations in support of troops throughout the Helmand Province. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Robert R. Carrasco/Released).

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Madison DeLoach, crew chief, Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363 (HMH-363), observes the terrain during a routine flight operation, Helmand River Valley, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, Jan. 5, 2012. HMH-363 conducted flight operations in support of troops throughout the Helmand Province. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Robert R. Carrasco/Released).

U.S. Marines of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363 (HMH-363) conduct an end of day assessment on a CH-53D Sea Super Stallion, Camp Bastion, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, Jan. 5, 2012. End of day assessments are conducted after flight operations ensuring aircraft of HMH-363 are ready to support future missions. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Robert R. Carrasco/Released).

Latest F-35 porn.

F-35B test aircraft BF-3 flies with the weapon bay doors open on Dec. 19, 2011

F-35B test aircraft BF-5 completes its first vertical landing at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., on Jan 5, 2012.

F-35B test aircraft BF-1 flight in short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) mode on Jan. 5, 2012.

F-35B test aircraft BF-3 flies with the weapon bay doors open on Dec. 19, 2011.