Pentagon Silent, Aviation Experts Baffled by Trump's Fighter Comments

Friday, May 16, 2025

President Donald Trump's comments Thursday in Qatar about future fighter jets planned for the U.S. military have baffled observers ...

Posted by redial at 11:30 PM | 11 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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"The F-35, we're doing an upgrade, a simple upgrade," Trump said. "But we're also doing an F-55, I'm going to call it an F-55. And that's going to be a substantial upgrade. But it's going to be also with two engines." Trump added that a modernized version of the F-22, which he referred to as "F-22 Super," was in the works.

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Another view?...

Trump Goes on Weird Rant About Military Planes Not Being Pretty Enough
newrepublic.com

... Early Thursday morning, Donald Trump took aim at how ugly he thinks some military planes look.

Speaking in Doha, Qatar, the president went off on one of his signature tangents at a press conference, ranting about how much he doesn't like the way stealth aircraft look.

"I'm not a huge believer in stealth because stealth is, basically, a lot of it's the design and the shape," Trump said, turning to Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, seated next to him. "I'm sure you maybe think, but also, if that's the case, they're gonna figure it out pretty fast, I think. So you're gonna design an ugly plane for stealth reasons, and then six months later, they're gonna figure out this and then you're stuck with a plane." ...

#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-05-16 07:04 PM | Reply

"...it's going to be also with two engines, because an F-35 has a single engine. I don't like single engines," the president said during a press conference in Doha, the second stop on the first international trip of his second presidential term. "Even this man [GE Aerospace CEO Larry Culp], he's the best in the world at engines, but on occasion, I know you won't admit this, if an engine goes out it's nice to have two, three or four. That's why I like the 747, it's got four. Today they're getting very big and, a little more cost saving to have two very, very big ones. No matter how good, you know, they tell me, Larry, the engine will never go out. Well, I think it goes out on occasion, fairly rarely."

The man needs to be put in a home.

#2 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-05-16 07:44 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

@#2 ... The man needs to be put in a home. ...

My guess, at this point, is that our fighter pilots may not be concerned about the one engine or two engine or whatever, issue that Pres Trump raises. Or how "ugly" the jets look to protect our fighter pilots.

My guess, at this point, is that our fighter pilots are quite concerned about Sec Hegseth's spilling quite specific (classified?) details of their missions on an insecure social media platform.

#3 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-05-16 07:54 PM | Reply

Bottomless pit of absurdity.

#4 | Posted by Angrydad at 2025-05-16 08:14 PM | Reply

It was a misstatement... he meant the F47, of course.

#5 | Posted by Corky at 2025-05-16 08:20 PM | Reply

@#4 ... Bottomless pit of absurdity. ...

There appears to be a difference between fmr Pres Biden's apparent mental deterioration and Pres trump's apparent, I'll be kind, insatiably.

For example ...

Exclusive: Prosecutor's audio shows Biden's memory lapses
www.axios.com

Yet, Pres Trump is on the media day-in and day-out saying stupid stuff (e.g., stealth jets are ugly?)

For me, there seems to be a similarity here.

#6 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-05-16 08:35 PM | Reply

@#6 ... I'll be kind, insatiably. ...

Yeah, should be, as I intended ...

-> I'll be kind, instability.

#7 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-05-17 12:13 AM | Reply

Odd no Trumper has popped on here to cheer his brilliance at developing 3 new 5th Gen fighters just on a whim. Has DOGE saved up enough cash for these new endeavors?

#8 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-05-17 12:22 AM | Reply

@#8 ... Odd no Trumper has popped on here to cheer his brilliance ...

Odd?

Or normal operating procedure?

#9 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-05-17 01:00 AM | Reply

Beat Farmers - Happy Boy (1985)
www.youtube.com

Lyrics excerpt

...

genius.com
...
I was walkin' down the street on a sunny day
Hubba hubba hubba hubba hubba

A feelin' in my bones that I'll have my way
Hubba hubba hubba hubba hubba

Well, I'm a happy boy, happy boy
Well, I'm a happy boy, happy boy
Oh ain't it good when things are goin' your way, hey hey?
...

#10 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-05-17 01:05 AM | Reply

RIP Country Dick Montana.

Interesting fact, members of the Plimsouls and Blasters are on that song.

#11 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2025-05-17 03:48 AM | Reply