How to solve our F-35 problems

As some of you may know, since Kirsten and I first watched the NFB's The Defender about a year ago I've been a real evangelist for the film.  At almost every opportunity I try to encourage people to watch the film.




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Just moments ago I realized that I'd been completely missing at least one aspect of the film's timeliness - which is that aspects of the film parallel (or should parallel)  the F-35 process.  

When the film was originally created the plane development process followed in the film was in the context of the costly development of the CF-18.  Bob Diemert, the plane's creator, was hoping that his low-tech, low-cost plane would be adopted instead of the technologically advanced CF-18.  Maybe now that we're in the midst of the F-35 development process we need another prairie inventor the champion a low-tech, low-cost alternative to the F-35?  

Or given that we're now well into the 21st century maybe we could crowdsource the design?

And shouldn't there be a new NFB film charting the development of the 21st century version of the The Defender?

Even if this project doesn't lead to a viable alternative to the F-35 it might at least raise a few questions about plane design, approaches to military engagement, and procurement.  And, who knows, maybe it would lead to a movie as fun as The Defender.