F-16 shows up F-35

A high-tech F-35 was recently outperformed by an F-16 during an air combat test, according to the military blog War Is Boring. It was beaten in nearly all aerial maneuvering in a January test near Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The site obtained a five-page report by the joint strike fighter test pilot. But Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian, director of the F-35 Integration Office of the Air Force, said the report was misleading. He said the F-35 involved in the test was a variation designed for flight sciences testing and was not equipped with newer features, weapons and software that allow the F-35 pilot to turn, aim a weapon with the helmet and fire "without having to point the aircraft at its target," Harrigian said in a statement. (Source: Stars and Stripes, 07/01/15) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center and F-35 reprogramming lab.