Further, Test and Evaluation officials discovered a handful of cracks on the right wing and right engine of the U.S. Air Force F-35A version, as well as multiple cracks on the bulkhead flange of the Marine shorttakeoff F-35B version.
Instead, another plane -- probably the smaller C-17, with its short landing and takeoff characteristics -- would be the likely choice for the first hop out of Afghanistan.
With its ability to takeoff and land from a short runway, the jetpod's inventors believe the options to build a supporting infrastructure in the city center are endless.