F-35B Fighter Jet That Can Land & Take-Off Vertically | Fighter Pilot Reacts

About this video

Max, a former F-15E and F-16 Thunderbirds pilot, reacts to footage of the F-35B fighter jet, which is operated by the U.S. and British Marines. He explains that the F-35B’s short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) capability provides tactical flexibility, though he notes it comes with tradeoffs in payload capacity and fuel consumption compared to conventional takeoffs. Max also discusses the F-35’s helmet technology and argues that fifth-generation stealth fighters like the F-35 can operate effectively in two-ship formations rather than the four-ship formations he says were typical for legacy jets.

Key takeaways

• Max explains that the F-35B’s vertical landing capability requires enormous fuel consumption and limits payload, so the aircraft typically uses short takeoffs with conventional landings to maximize combat load.
• According to Max, the F-35B costs approximately $115 million compared to $75 million for the standard F-35A, and can carry only two missiles and two bombs internally while maintaining stealth.
• Max argues that stealth fighters like the F-35 operate more effectively in two-ship formations than the four-ship formations he says were common for F-15E and F-16 aircraft, allowing pilots to focus more on sensor management than formation management.

Episode details: published September 14, 2022 · 15.5K views · 13:54 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. The analysis and commentary described are Max Afterburner’s, attributed to him — his channel includes hypothetical-scenario and news-react content, which is presented as his analysis, not established fact.

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