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Traditionally, in looking at the progression of aircraft a two-dimensional design depic-
tion has been used; the x-axis is time and the y-axis is performance.

That graph captures individual airplanes, but they do tend to cluster in generation im-
provement. Each aircraft clustered in a “generation” is a combination of improvements.

The aeronautical design “art” of blending together ever improving and evolving tech-
nology creates improvements in a linear fashion, if not performance would eventually
go asymptotic.

The airframe design characteristics blended together prior to F-35 have been constantly
improving range, payload (improved by system/and weapons carried), maneuverabili-
ty (measured by P Sub s), speed, and range (modified by VSTOL–a basing mobility plus
factor).

Second Line of Defense        December 2014

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