> American jets need a shiny aircraft carrier and a coin can mess them up.

Marine variants are VTOL, USAF operates no carriers. As for the coin story, I'm sure you're confusing A) carrier FOD sweeps, which are because small debris traveling at high-speed will cause serious damage or B) one of those stories about some old Chinese woman throwing coins into a jet engine and causing a major delay and extrapolating from there.

there's a documentary I forget where that shows a russia jet closing their front of intakes and opening the top of them at take off, preventing debris on the runway from being sucked in.

That was on the early versions of the MiG-29.

The latest 29M and K models eliminated the intake plates and over-wing louvres in favour of simpler swing-down intake grilles. That saved a lot of weight and drag and gave extra volume for fuel.

There are several U.S. military aircraft that can operate from rudimentary airstrips, such as the A-10. While it's true most U.S. fighters aren't designed with engine protection systems like the MiG's, the requirement to operate from unpaved runway surfaces is so rare that it's not a real problem -- reducing weight and mechanical complexity.

So you claim that in a naval battle, there's no chance that the surface of a carrier gets polluted with debris?

As a naval aviator myself, no I don't think this is a much of a problem as you're trying to make it out to be.

I think that in a more symmetric engagement it would harder to keep things as clean. But that is just a thought. I appreciate your opinion.

It gets "polluted" frequently. Google "FOD walk."

This doesn't sound right. The USAF is the largest air force in the world and, as far as I know, it has exactly 0 air craft carriers. I'm sure a well-placed coin could mess up a lot of machines. Can you back up anything you said with evidence?

I mentioned the jets, not air force. Many branches of the American armed forces operate jets. Allied countries also operate American jets, even the F-35.

The F-35 has many variants, and can fulfill many roles.

Hmm... here's what you said:

> American jets need a shiny aircraft carrier and a coin can mess them up

Now it sounds like you're trying to claim that you weren't including American Air Force jets in the term "American jets". I'm not sure how anyone was supposed to know that. Without additional qualifications, "American jets" clearly includes Air Force jets. And, again, Air Force jets generally do not take off from air craft carriers, shiny or otherwise.

> Many branches of the American armed forces operate jets

> Allied countries also operate American jets, even the F-35.

> The F-35 has many variants, and can fulfill many roles

Yes. Those are all facts. Facts than have no bearing on your original post.

It's ok to admit you were wrong, you know. It doesn't reflect poorly on you.

The original statement is true as it is, no additions needed. The clarification was for you, given your reply.

Here there's an article of an American F-35 on an American aircraft carrier, just for you, enjoy (and remember, I never said air force):

https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2018/03/26/navy-con...

Now please respect HN comment guidelines and don't personally attack people :)

What