Chad Irby wrote:

:My original point was that the F-35 is going to have a combat range
:about 50% higher than the F-18 E/F according to the specs.

Even the source you gave (FAS) doesn't claim that. What they say is
combat range about 50% higher than the F/A-18C/D (not Super Hornet) ON
INTERNAL FUEL. Note that the Super Hornet has about 40% more range
than the Hornet. Now, would you like to rethink that remark?

So let's go with FAS as a source. Combat radius for the F-35 is given
as "600+ nautical miles". Combat radius for the F/A-18C/D is given
with the statement of "Depending on the mission and loading, combat
radius is greater than 500 nautical miles". Combat radius of the
Super Hornet is given as "up to 40% greater than the C/D", which when
you work the math out gives 700+ nautical miles.

You figure it out.

:If it misses its range by as much as five or ten percent, it will still
:have a *much* higher unrefueled range than the F-18.

There hasn't been an airplane designated as "F-18" since 1987. Using
FAS for numbers, it appears that the Super Hornet already has more
range than the F-35 by a good margin, even if the F-35 meets spec.

:Since I've already *agreed* that it could miss by a small amount, and
:since you keep *arguing* about it, that means you must disagree with
:those numbers.
:
:So pick a number. What's the *worst* you think it could be?
:
:If it's not more than about five or ten percent, then you're arguing
:with Fred on this one, not me...

Well, no, because you persist in misunderstanding what I'm saying. Do
you believe the numbers I give above? I don't, for typical combat
missions. The range for F/A-18 is grossly overstated in that case
(for both variants). SO IS THAT OF THE F-35! And I expect that games
are going to have to be played to meet the spec (no load, most
favourable flight regime, etc) once all the issues with the airplane
(in everything but the baseline version) get shaken out in real
flights of real articles crashing onto real aircraft carriers and/or
taking off from real parking lots.

You get it now?

--
"Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute."
-- Charles Pinckney