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The more keen eyed of you may have spotted something a little different on the editorial page this month: a cartoon. The raft of political cartoons that appeared as the F-111 was coming together in terms of production, testing and eventual acquisition were prodigious to say the least. Cartoonists had a field day with the aircraft that was late, over budget and had even some wings fall off during testing. This was a cartoon goldmine! Of course, the platform went onto bigger and better things but the introduction was far from smooth.

For an aircraft that was ordered during the Menzies government, the Pig had a long and illustrious life. Perhaps too long, many would argue. In terms of the bathtub curve, maintenance efforts had left the bathtub altogether and were reaching for the bathroom light bulb towards the end.

The true believers of the F-111 capability were firmly fixed at the height of its day rather than the upward slope of the end of the curve as maintenance costs rose and reliability decreased. Those rose tinted glasses are firmly welded onto such supporters. Bombing maps seem to feature heavily in such conversations but the range of the Pig declined as its age increased.

In a more modern context, the lack of cartoons about the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) has been a mixed blessing. A good cartoon has the ability to point out the failings and foibles of government, a person or situation in a satirical manner. I think it’s somewhat telling that despite the ups and downs of the JSF program, there has been a relative lack of cartoons pointing out the downs. Most of the JSF cartoons that I have managed to find have not even been in English. Check out the Netherlands for the best ones, though knowing the language helps of course. But I digress.

For a program that has consumed the majority of bottom lines for many international Air Forces and governments, the program is in pretty good shape considering. Our JSF coverage from P26 onwards can help you catch up on what you may have missed.

The factor that most seem to focus on is the unit cost per aircraft. The search for a nice easy round number that is just the aircraft alone is nigh on impossible to find. Sources that point you towards the 2002-dollar figure are frustrating. We’re not in 2002 and haven’t been for quite some time now.

There have been so many different metrics used to determine this magic figure by numerous bodies both in the US and partner nations that it has almost become meaningless. Until the US, the largest customer by an order of magnitude, settles their order profile over the coming decades, partner nations (and even the media) will have to deal with having a ballpark figure. And of course, it depends when the aircraft is purchased. Keen watchers of the program will not have a firm answer for years to come essentially. But Australian JSF program officials are happy with the level of information they are receiving from the US and prime manufacturer Lockheed Martin.

When it comes to the fate of the JSF, ADM will keep some rose tinted glasses around the office but they are by no means welded on. There will be ups and downs and we will cover them all, though perhaps not as cartoons.

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