F-35 pilot explains why fighter jets can't make turns when flying at fast speeds

An experienced F-35 pilot has explained why going too fast in a fighter jet can actually put pilots at a disadvantage during combat.

While most people view speed as the ultimate sign of performance, the truth is more complicated.

The F-35, considered one of the most advanced jets in the world, is slower than older aircraft like the F-16 Fighting Falcon, yet it’s far more capable overall.

That’s because modern air combat is about much more than raw speed.

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The faster a plane is, the more exposed a pilot may be

For context, the F-16 can reach Mach 2.0, crossing the continental United States in about 1 hour and 37 minutes.

That’s also about the speed of the legendary Concorde, which flew so fast that the passengers could see the Sun rising on an evening flight.

The F-35, on the other hand, tops out at Mach 1.6, taking around 2 hours and 4 minutes for the same trip.

At first glance, that seems like a disadvantage.

But former F-35 pilot Hasard Lee, who once served as Chief of F-35 Training Systems, has shed light on why sheer speed isn’t always the winning factor in a dogfight.

According to Lee, every aircraft is ‘G-limited,’ meaning there’s a maximum amount of force – between 7.5 and 9 Gs – that the jet and the pilot can withstand.

The faster a plane goes, the wider its turning radius becomes.

In other words, if an F-35 pilot enters a turning battle at excessive speed, they risk overshooting their target, leaving themselves exposed.

In that instant, the hunter can become the hunted.

Older 1970s jets can actually be faster than an F-35

This explains why modern fighter designs focus less on maximum top speed and more on other performance metrics.

For example, the MiG-25 Foxbat, built in the 1970s and developed by the Soviet Union, could scream through the skies at Mach 3.2.

While that’s even faster than modern fighter jets, stealth and sensor technology eventually made such extreme speed less relevant.

This is unlike the world of Top Gun, where experimental aircraft that can fly up to Mach 10 are the focus of the military.

Today, fighters like the F-35 and F-15EX prioritize stealth coatings and advanced radar systems.

So while the F-35 may be slower on paper than fighter jets like the F-16, its design reflects a broader shift in priorities.

Turns out modern aerial warfare isn’t like a drag race, where 0-60mph numbers reign supreme.

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