F-22 Pilots refusing to fly the Raptor - 60 Minutes
Saw this on 60 Minutes tonight. Interesting. It's being speculated that this might have been the actual cause of the Raptor crash in Alaska some time back rather than pilot error.
Military officers rarely speak out against their services, but in our lead story you'll hear from two elite pilots who question the safety of Air Force's most sophisticated, stealthy, and expensive fighter jet, the F-22 Raptor. Maj. Jeremy Gordon and Capt. Joshua Wilson have chosen to stop flying the F-22 because they say during some flights they and other pilots have experienced oxygen deprivation, disorientation, and worse. They are concerned about their safety in the air, as well as the long-term health consequences. The Air Force says it is doing all it can to investigate and solve the problem, and are keeping the jets in the air with careful supervision of the pilots.
Staphory, paging Staphory (weren't you a Raptor Crew Chief?)
I read recently that Russia just developing the Sukhoi T-50 for Pak FA and they are claiming it's a superior fighter to the F-22. I hate to hear about this as we have enjoyed Air Supremacy for such a long time.
I read recently that Russia just developing the Sukhoi T-50 for Pak FA and they are claiming it's a superior fighter to the F-22. I hate to hear about this as we have enjoyed Air Supremacy for such a long time.
They claimed that with the Suhkois they built for India. IAF says they initially did not get what they thought they were getting. It took a while for the Russians to deliver on most of the promises they made.
That is going to be a big issue with the Raptor as time goes on.
When I was in the program, I laughed at some of the crap that they were telling us about the airplane. The fast burners bought into it hook, line and sinker. The more realistic among us suffered a little for our obvious skepticism.
They claimed that with the Suhkois they built for India. IAF says they initially did not get what they thought they were getting. It took a while for the Russians to deliver on most of the promises they made.
That is going to be a big issue with the Raptor as time goes on.
When I was in the program, I laughed at some of the crap that they were telling us about the airplane. The fast burners bought into it hook, line and sinker. The more realistic among us suffered a little for our obvious skepticism.
Do you think the YF-23 would have been the better option then?
Do you think the YF-23 would have been the better option then?
No.
Of course, its impossible to say definitively because the airplane lost the contest. What I do know is that both aircraft were very similar with both doing certain things better than the other.
The reason the YF-22 won was pretty much because it was a more complete aircraft and demonstrated certain things better that the YF-23. The USAF had more confidence in the General Dynamics (and Partners, it only became a Lockheed product because of consolidation in the defense industry) ability to actually produce the thing in the numbers then required (700+). Northrup was having a very difficult time with the B-2 and could only answer certain questions about its aircraft with theory.
The bigger problem with the F-22 is the fact that the Air Force made a conscious decision to buy it with no warranty at all. The fix for this mess will come from us. Of course, one wonders what has changed to cause the more recent problems with the oxygen system (called OBOGS). I never heard of any trouble with it during the six years I was working the aircraft.
No.
Of course, its impossible to say definitively because the airplane lost the contest. What I do know is that both aircraft were very similar with both doing certain things better than the other.
The reason the YF-22 won was pretty much because it was a more complete aircraft and demonstrated certain things better that the YF-23. The USAF had more confidence in the General Dynamics (and Partners, it only became a Lockheed product because of consolidation in the defense industry) ability to actually produce the thing in the numbers then required (700+). Northrup was having a very difficult time with the B-2 and could only answer certain questions about its aircraft with theory.
The bigger problem with the F-22 is the fact that the Air Force made a conscious decision to buy it with no warranty at all. The fix for this mess will come from us. Of course, one wonders what has changed to cause the more recent problems with the oxygen system (called OBOGS). I never heard of any trouble with it during the six years I was working the aircraft.
A close friend that has been a flight attendant for 22 years tells me all the time how pilots have mentioned that they hate flying the Air Bus planes.
They said that the plane is always fighting whatever they try to do.
I was under the impression the F-22 program was being phased out anyway for the f-35?
F-22 is phasing out the F-15, The F-35 is phasing out the F-16, A-10, and F-18.
It will be many, many years before this happens though, we are slatted to have the F-15C until 2025.
F-16's will probably be around until at least 2035,
A-10's are starting to get phased out now, the recent DOD budget cuts took a big axe to a lot of A-10 squadrons.
I was at Edwards right after the F-22 won the flyoff with the F-23, many people out there said the 23 was a better plane, haven't worked either so i dont know.
I do know that watching the F-22 fly during airshows it does stuff that no plane should be able to do.
F-22 is phasing out the F-15, The F-35 is phasing out the F-16, A-10, and F-18.
It will be many, many years before this happens though, we are slatted to have the F-15C until 2025.
F-16's will probably be around until at least 2035,
A-10's are starting to get phased out now, the recent DOD budget cuts took a big axe to a lot of A-10 squadrons.
I was at Edwards right after the F-22 won the flyoff with the F-23, many people out there said the 23 was a better plane, haven't worked either so i dont know.
I do know that watching the F-22 fly during airshows it does stuff that no plane should be able to do.
Interesting..so the F-35 is the naval air superiority counterpart. Sounds like the A10 program is just getting axed, with traditionally armored fighter/bomber aircraft or choppers assuming that duty.
That's amazing that the F-16's will still be rolling until 2035. That means third world countries will still be using them until 2050 at least probably, what a run for that design and a testament to it.
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