Air Force F-35A ‘Frankenjet' returns to the skies
The office concocted the 'Frankenjet' — which features the nose of the AF-27 grafted onto the AF-211 — to maximize taxpayer dollars and resurrect an extra operational aircraft, a release from the office said.
'The scope and complexity of this project was an exemplary demonstration of overcoming barriers and achieving a greater tier of major aircraft repair capability for an advanced tactical fighter,' said Tomas Barber, an F-35 Joint Program Office major mishap repair team engineer, in the release.
The tinkering began in 2022 when the F-35 Joint Program Office collaborated with Lockheed Martin and the 388th Fighter Wing Maintenance Group to salvage two damaged jets. The AF-27 experienced an engine fire in 2014 at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, while the AF-211 had a nose landing gear malfunction in 2020.
F-35s to get new capabilities with summer software update
Altogether, restoration took over two years and cost $11.7 million, nearly $3 million less than the expected amount. The rejiggering of parts saved the Defense Department $63 million, according to the release.
The 'Frankenjet' flew out of Hill Air Force Base, Utah, for the first time on Jan. 24 on a trip to Lockheed Martin's facility in Fort Worth, Texas, where it underwent final maintenance. It officially returned to full service on March 26 and is currently assigned to the 4th Fighter Generation Squadron, 388th Fighter Wing.
'A testament to the process developed here is that the rebuilt aircraft's first flight was flown to the edges of the performance envelope, and it performed like it was fresh from the initial production line,' said Jeffrey Jensen, the F-35A variant lead.
Hill Air Force Base, where the jet's rejuvenation process took place, has become a body shop for mangled jets, using the parts to train airmen and, when possible, giving the jets a second life through repairs.
In 2020, mechanics at Hill reattached the wings of a damaged F-35A Lightning II — a feat completed with little precedent to rely on — and used its fuselage to train F-35 crew chiefs and maintainers in repairing combat damage, Military Times previously reported.
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Forbes
a day ago
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Ford Says Its New Midsize Pickup Will Aim For $30,000 Sticker
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Politico
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Yahoo
2 days ago
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Ford F is rewriting its electric playbook. After a few tough years in the EV market, the automaker is steering away from high-priced models and aiming for affordability. The new plan revolves around a fresh platform designed for a lineup of lower-cost EVs. It's an ambitious bet that could reshape Ford's position in the EV race if executed well. At this point, it's worth asking whether it makes sense to buy Ford stock now. But first, let's look at why the company needed a strategy shift and what's included in its new plan. Ford's New Play: Affordable EVs Ford's latest plan centers around the new Ford Universal EV Platform, which will underpin a family of lower-cost electric models. The first in line will be a midsize, four-door electric pickup, with an expected starting price of around $30,000. Production will take place at the Louisville Assembly Complex in Kentucky, backed by a $5 billion investment that will add nearly 4,000 jobs. Deliveries of the model are slated to begin in 2027. 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Why Ford's EV Business Needed a Rejig In 2021, Ford made headlines with the Mustang Mach-E, followed by the F-150 Lightning and an electric van a year later. The quick rollout initially put it ahead of other legacy automakers like General Motors GM. But as EV sales growth slowed, material costs soared, and Tesla TSLA began aggressive price cuts, Ford's EV business started looking less appealing. Ford's electric vehicle business has been a drag on its bottom line. Over the past two and a half years, the division has racked up roughly $12 billion in losses, including $2.17 billion in just the first half of this year. In contrast, General Motors took a slower, more methodical path to EV production. It focused on developing standardized batteries to lower costs and formed joint ventures that quickly built battery plants. 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It now expects a net $2 billion tariff hit for 2025, up from earlier forecasts. The gross impact could be as high as $3 billion, though Ford aims to offset $1 billion through cost-cutting Ford has been leading the auto industry in recalls so far in 2025. These headwinds contrast with GM's steadier profitability in recent years and highlight how far Ford must go to stabilize its earnings. And while BYD's low-cost manufacturing model poses a serious threat in global markets, it also sets a benchmark Ford will need to match or beat if it hopes to gain share internationally. F Not Without Strengths It's not all bad news. Ford's Pro division, which serves commercial and government fleets, continues to perform well. Hybrid sales are growing, giving Ford a hedge as EV adoption slows. The company also boasts a strong balance sheet and an attractive dividend yield, appealing to long-term income-focused investors. The Zacks Rundown on Ford Stock Shares of Ford have increased around 10% over the past year, underperforming the industry. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research From a valuation standpoint, F trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 0.27, below the industry average. It carries a Value Score of A. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research See how the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ford's earnings has been revised over the past 60 days. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The Bottom Line on Ford Ford's new EV strategy has potential, especially if it can deliver a $30,000 electric pickup with decent margins. The shift to U.S.-made LFP batteries and streamlined production is a smart response to rising costs and fierce competition from Tesla, GM and BYD. But the benefits are still years away. Also, lest we forget, the company has scaled back some of its earlier EV ambitions, pausing one of four planned battery plants. CEO Jim Farley has, in fact, warned that there are 'no guarantees' the new manufacturing approach will succeed. For now, the focus is on proving the economics of its affordable EV program before scaling further. For new investors, it may be too soon to jump in. The stock could gain momentum once Ford shows real progress in executing its affordable EV plans and improving profitability. Until then, patience may pay off. Existing shareholders, however, can take comfort in Ford's dividend and long-term prospects — provided they're willing to weather some short-term bumps along the way. F stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Ford Motor Company (F) : Free Stock Analysis Report General Motors Company (GM) : Free Stock Analysis Report Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) : Free Stock Analysis Report Byd Co., Ltd. (BYDDY) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research
