Thoughts on the F-55
Why the F-55 does - and doesn't make sense, and remembering an emergency landing in the desert
“Only our individual faith in freedom can keep us free.”
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
Before we get into the main article this week - I wanted to comment on the “F-55” the proposed upgraded version with two engines. Here’s my take: It isn’t happening. I’m not saying the F-35 and F-22 won’t get significant upgrades (read on for that story) but I am saying that a twin engine F-35 makes no sense. It would basically be an all-new aircraft, even more so than the Super Hornet was from the “Legacy” Hornet. In that regards, F-55 makes sense, again it is essentially an all-new aircraft - heck even the wings would have to be redesigned. As you’ll see later in the newsletter, I link to a video I did on “Generation 5.5” which goes into even further detail on the F-35+ and F-22+. I didn’t address the twin engine F-35 because as you’ve just read it would be an all new fighter. The F-22 could get an engine upgrade, but honestly with less than 180 airframes I’m not sure the investment would be worth it - unless the Raptor gets whatever engines are going into the F-47…now THAT would be something…
Anyway, on to the regular featured sections of HFWT:
Mission Briefing
Lockheed Fights Back: Gen 5.5 and the Race for Air Dominance
If there’s one thing that defines American innovation—and that of our allies—it’s our relentless drive to improve what we already have. We soup up our cars, build custom PCs that could run NORAD, and turn basic houses into smart homes. So it’s no surprise that Lockheed Martin, after losing the U.S. Air Force’s crown jewel contract for the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter, is turning that same spirit loose on America’s most iconic jets: the F-35 Lightning II and the F-22 Raptor.
And they’re not just making tweaks—they’re going full throttle.
After Boeing’s sleek new F-47 design won the NGAD contract, many assumed Lockheed would go quiet. Instead, they’re going loud. Very loud. Lockheed is now applying what it learned from its own sixth-generation research and turbocharging its fifth-gen fighters into something more: Generation 5.5.
From Setback to Supremacy
The NGAD contract was more than a loss—it was a wake-up call. Lockheed's F-35 and F-22 may be legendary, but in a world of emerging AI-powered threats, stealth drone swarms, and rapidly evolving adversaries like China and Russia, legacy hardware needs to adapt—or get left behind.
Lockheed's response? Upgrade everything. From stealth coatings and next-gen engines to aerodynamic refinements and new software brains. These aren’t mere patches. They're transformative changes aimed at delivering 80% of a sixth-gen fighter’s capability at half the cost.
The Mods That Matter
Here’s a quick look at what Lockheed’s Gen 5.5 upgrades bring to the table:
Stealth Reimagined: Advanced radar-absorbing coatings, even building on chrome testbeds, make these jets harder to see and track—across radar, optical, and infrared spectrums.
Adaptive Engines: Imagine a jet that changes performance profiles mid-flight. That’s the promise of adaptive propulsion—longer range, better fuel efficiency, and the right power when you need it.
Reshaped Aerodynamics: Modified airframes allow for better high-speed handling, reduced drag, and potentially even Mach 2+ performance for the F-35.
Lockheed claims that these upgrades could bring these fighters dangerously close to matching the performance of Boeing’s NGAD F-47. And considering there are already over 1,000 F-35s in service worldwide, this isn’t just theoretical. This is a flying, fighting reality.
The Battle Lines Are Drawn
Boeing’s F-47 may be the future—but the future takes time. Full deployment could take a decade or more. In the meantime, upgraded Raptors and Lightnings may be the stopgap that becomes the new standard. The F-47 can’t be everywhere at once, but the F-35 already is.
So the question isn’t just whether the F-35 Gen 5.5 can match the F-47 on paper. It’s whether a fleet you already have—upgraded, proven, and pilot-ready—can win the fight today, not ten years from now.
Why It Matters
As tensions rise across the Pacific and Europe, air superiority is no longer a long-term goal—it’s a day-to-day requirement. Lockheed’s Gen 5.5 program ensures that even if the F-47 is the future, the present is still very much in play.
This isn’t just an arms race—it’s a philosophy: modify, adapt, overcome.
And in true American fashion, Lockheed’s betting that upgrading what works may just beat starting from scratch.
This Week in Aviation History
19 May 1976: A Stratofortress, a Dry Lake, and a Pilot’s Calm Under Fire
On a routine training flight out of Carswell Air Force Base, Texas, a Boeing B-52D Stratofortress experienced a catastrophic hydraulic failure just after takeoff. The right front landing gear partially retracted and jammed in an unsafe position—and that was just the beginning. The same failure knocked out the bomber’s brakes, rudder, and steering, effectively turning the eight-engine giant into a 488,000-pound runaway train.
Captain James A. Yule, serving as the Instructor Pilot that day, immediately assumed command. With the bomber's systems crippled, Strategic Air Command headquarters diverted the aircraft to the vast, forgiving lakebed at Edwards Air Force Base in California—one of the few places where a damaged B-52 could even attempt a landing.
After a tense five-hour flight and several low passes to test control response, Captain Yule brought the bomber down on the dry lakebed. With no brakes and limited directional control, the B-52 coasted for two and a half miles as the jammed landing gear bucked and bounced beneath it. Incredibly, the landing was executed without further damage or injury.
Captain Yule’s actions that day didn’t just save a multimillion-dollar strategic asset—they saved lives. He was awarded the Mackay Trophy for the most meritorious flight of the year, and the rest of the crew received commendations for their calm professionalism under pressure.
This flight stands as a reminder that even the most routine missions can quickly turn into complex and daunting emergencies. They can be conquered with leadership, teamwork, and nerves of steel—qualities that define the best of military aviation.
In Case You Missed It
My take on Gen 5.5 and the F-55 in video format:
Photo Outlet
Every issue of Hangar Flying with Tog gets you a free image that I’ve taken at airshows:
Feel free to use these photos however you like, if you choose to tag me, I am @pilotphotog on all social platforms. Thanks!
Post Flight Debrief
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– Tog
The F-35 and F-22s biggest drawback is their immense IR signature. China even claims to be able to track the F-35 from earth orbit with satellites. The F-55 would just double down on that with twin engines.
IR signatures have to be reduced for next generation stealth. If/how that happens it's above my pay grade.