re: #164 ThomasLite

well, single-engine or twin engine does not make for a fundamental difference in fighting capabilities of military jets, afaik, so I’d say that’s not much of a point.
also, many critics of the F-35 tout the F-16 as the prime example of a good multi-role military jet - as I recall that one’s sorely lacking in the second-engine-department as well.

It’s not about performance, it’s about reliability. If that single F-135 fails, the pilot’s ending up in one of two places: Bobbing in the sea until a rescue bird can haul him out or in enemy hands if he bails out over land.