| Probably a tad optimistic since it hasn't flown yet and Congress has been waving the axe. The Air Force is pushing hard for it, but the money from Iraq has to come from somewhere and this one is a very tempting target. |
Depends on what you mean by "hasn't flown yet", as the prototype flight testing is finished and they are well into wind tunnel testing.
I believed it was optimistic that the F-22 would meet it's initial operational date as well, since it is even more expensive and thus, more in the crosshairs for budget cuts. Yet it made it's projected date with few problems. The F-35 has more friends in congress it would seem, since it was made to drop bombs. I doubt Hill will have a fully operational wing all at once, but I am confident we will see a roll out sometime before 2010.