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[Penguin]

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Raptor Puts on the Ritz
http://dailyreport.afa.org/AFA/Features/newtech/box051807demo.htm

May 18, 2007— The Air Force’s new stealth fighter, the F-22A Raptor, makes its air show flying program premier today at Andrews AFB, Md., about a year ahead of schedule. Last fall, plans called for an F-22 to merely make flybys at a few select air shows. However, Air Combat Command recently approved a “version 1.0” demonstration program that showcases some of the aircraft’s unique capabilities. The routine features a series of maximum-performance climbs, turns, flips, “tail slides,” and other maneuvers that makes use of the F-22’s extraordinary flight controls and thrust vectoring—all of which are currently unfamiliar to the general public.

“This is not the final version,” F-22 demo pilot Maj. Paul Moga told reporters in Washington yesterday. “But we wanted to get this out as soon as we could.” He predicted that ACC would permit more maneuvers as the 2007 season progresses.

The F-22 demonstration routine, which runs about 12 minutes, is heavy on tight turns, slow flight, and thrust vectoring because the aircraft’s main attributes—stealth, ability to supercruise and networked data collection—can’t be demonstrated for an air show crowd, explained Moga. He continued, “We wanted to show people that this is a much more capable jet than the F-15.” Nevertheless, in a high-speed pass, the F-22 will whoosh by spectators at .94 Mach—about 600 knots indicated airspeed. The maneuver is called the “car alarm” because the sudden onset sound of the F-22’s powerful engines sets off car alarms for miles around.

However, ACC’s sole F-22 demo pilot insists that the impressive maneuvers in the F-22’s air show routine are “nothing crazy.” The maneuvers are part of the flying training that all Raptor pilots receive. Even those that aren’t especially tactically useful—but look great—are part of any Raptor pilot’s repertoire because instructors want the pilots to develop total confidence in the airplane. ACC believes such training will prevent the pilot from creating an unrecoverable situation.

A breathtaking “tail slide” maneuver, in which the aircraft stops ascending and begins to fall backwards—under total control—is something performed by Raptor students on their third sortie, Moga said. In designing the routine—and the F-22 syllabus at Tyndall AFB, Fla., the fighter’s schoolhouse—Moga said instructors sat around and made a list of “what did we always wish we could do in an airplane,” and then built it into the course. Many of the moves come in quite handy in close-in dogfights, he said.

The F-22 air show program is “thoroughly tested” and never puts the aircraft or the pilot into an unrecoverable situation, stated Moga. That’s different from the air show routines flown by MiG and Sukhoi pilots, whose aircraft can do some of the same maneuvers, he said, adding that they use aircraft specially configured for air shows. The fighters have unique fuel systems, center of gravity, and gaudy paint, and are bereft of fighting systems. Moga said that, in the midst of certain flashy maneuvers, “they are literally out of control,” unlike his routine which he can perform with “any operational Raptor.” And, he added, “I can land, arm, and go fight” with the same aircraft.

Moga noted that he recently pulled 10.2 Gs in the F-22, performing a pullout from a hard turn. The F-22’s specifications say only that the aircraft can pull 9.5 Gs, but can take more, depending on “the ability of the pilot” to bear the pressure. Still, technicians checked the fighter for signs of strain but found none.

For the present, Moga is the only Raptor pilot permitted to fly air show demonstrations, and he says those shows will be limited in number. There are not enough F-22As to do more.
—John A. Tirpak

[Penguin]

F-22 Raptor Validates Quantum Leap in Capability of 5th Generation Fighters
Jun 20, 2007
http://www.defencetalk.com/news/publish ... 012361.php

PARIS: The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor 5th generation air dominance fighter continues to compile an overwhelming record of performance and reliability since entering operational service with the U.S. Air Force 18 months ago, based on data that includes statistics and reactions from pilots, commanders and maintainers.

"Joint and allied force commanders talk about the commanding presence of the F-22 and how the Raptor makes everyone in the battlespace better," said Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Executive Vice President and F-22 Program General Manager Larry Lawson, at the 2007 Paris Air Show. "Pilots will tell you about the quantum leap in situational awareness the Raptor provides, and maintainers are amazed at how much easier it is to keep the F-22 in the air, day-in and day-out in any environment. That is the level of performance and reliability the F-22 is delivering today."

Lawson said the F-22 has recorded several major milestones over the past year including its first overseas deployment and the first participation by a Raptor unit at Red Flag, the Air Force's highly realistic combat training exercise.

In early May, a dozen F-22s and more than 250 personnel from the 1st Fighter Wing's 27th Fighter Squadron returned to their base at Langley Air Force Base, Va., after a 90-day deployment to Kadena Air Base, Japan. More than 670 sorties were flown during the deployment, which proved the Air Force's worldwide reach with the Raptor. The 27th FS pilots flew sorties with both U.S. and allied forces during the deployment.

Pilots and maintainers from the 1st Fighter Wing's 94th Fighter Squadron participated in the Raptor's first trip to Red Flag earlier this year. This large-scale exercise, conducted over the vast range complex near Nellis AFB, Nev., involves realistic air-to-air and air-to-ground engagements, including ground-based defenses. The F-22 showcased its advantages of stealth, supercruise, maneuverability and sensor fusion during the exercise with a 100 percent sortie generation rate for the 94th Fighter Squadron pilots.

"This Red Flag exercise was the first exposure to the Raptor's capabilities for many of the participants," noted Lawson. "The Aggressor pilots quickly became very frustrated because the Raptor's stealth, speed, agility and 360 degree situational awareness ensured an overwhelming advantage."

On June 8, 2007, the National Aeronautic Association awarded the Raptor team the 2006 Collier Trophy, the most prestigious award in American aviation. The Raptor was cited for its overwhelming performance in the demanding Northern Edge joint military exercise.

During the large-scale, force-on-force exercise, Raptor pilots flew 97 percent of their scheduled missions, achieved an 80-to-1 kill ratio against their Red Air opponents and scored direct hits with 100 percent of their 1,000-pound, satellite-guided GBU-32 Joint Direct Attack Munition air-to-ground weapons. In addition, Raptor pilots increased overall situational awareness for the entire Blue Force team through the F-22's integrated avionics package.

The Raptor's performance in Northern Edge confirmed that it is the most lethal, reliable, survivable and revolutionary fighter the world has ever seen. NAA President and CEO David Ivey said the fighter's performance has "established the unquestionable superiority of the Raptor, a culmination of years of visionary design, rigorous testing and innovative manufacturing."

A total of 131 Raptors are currently on contract, and 101 Raptors have completed final assembly at the Lockheed Martin facility in Marietta, Ga. Deliveries to the Air Force total 95 F-22s so far. Raptors are delivered at a rate of approximately one every six weeks.

Currently, the Raptor team is working with the Air Force on incremental upgrades to the Raptor fleet to include GBU-39/40 Small Diameter Bomb integration and a new communications system that will enable greater information sharing from the F-22 to other aircraft and combatant commanders. Future upgrades will include synthetic aperture radar (SAR) integration, electronic attack, geolocation improvements and Global Positioning System-guided weapon retargeting. Operational testing of these upgrades is scheduled to start in 2009 with fielding beginning in 2010.

The F-22 Raptor is one of two of the world's only 5th generation fighters, both built by Lockheed Martin. The F-22 is produced in partnership with Boeing and Pratt & Whitney with parts and subsystems provided by approximately 1,000 suppliers in 44 U.S. states. F-22 production takes place at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics facilities in Marietta, Ga.; Fort Worth, Texas; Palmdale, Calif.; and Meridian, Miss., as well as at Boeing's plant in Seattle, Wash. Final assembly and initial flight testing of the Raptor occurs in Marietta.

Raptors are currently assigned to four bases across the United States. Flight testing takes place at the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards AFB, Calif. (411th Flight Test Squadron). Operational tactics development is ongoing at Nellis AFB, Nev. (422d Test & Evaluation Squadron). Pilot and crew chief training takes place at Tyndall AFB, Fla. (43rd Fighter Squadron and 325th Maintenance Group). Operational Raptors are assigned to the 1st Fighter Wing at Langley AFB, Va. (27th and 94th Fighter Squadrons) and will be delivered to the 3rd Wing at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska (90th Fighter Squadron) later this summer. Future Raptor beddown locations include Holloman AFB, N.M., and Hickam AFB, Hawaii.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products, and services. The corporation reported 2006 sales of $39.6 billion.

[Penguin]

O fato novo...

(...) During the large-scale, force-on-force exercise, Raptor pilots flew 97 percent of their scheduled missions, achieved an 80-to-1 kill ratio against their Red Air opponents (...)

Em um ambiente com muitos cacas no ar (Red Flag), os Aggressors conseguiram abater o Raptor, pelo menos uma vez.

[Sintra]

O fato novo...

(...) During the large-scale, force-on-force exercise, Raptor pilots flew 97 percent of their scheduled missions, achieved an 80-to-1 kill ratio against their Red Air opponents (...)

Em um ambiente com muitos cacas no ar (Red Flag), os Aggressors conseguiram abater o Raptor, pelo menos uma vez.

Não é novo, existem informações fidedignas de pelo menos três abates confirmados em exercicios. Neste caso especifico foi um Viper que conseguiu o "shot", e conseguiu porque o piloto do RAPTOR foi demasiado confiante. E se o que tem saido do 17(R) sqn RAF no ultimo ano tiver 1% a ver com o que realmente se passou, foram mais do que três...

[Roberto]

Sintra, boa noite!

Vc poderia dar mais detalhes sobre esses outros abates confirmados?

Até então eu só tinha conhecimento do caso da Red Flag.

[Roberto]

Sintra, sem querer incomodar muito, mas vc poderia responder minha pergunta???

[Sintra]

Sintra, sem querer incomodar muito, mas vc poderia responder minha pergunta???

Sorry, não me apercebi, este fórum s´o tem apenas um defeito, as respostas aos nossos textos são tantas que por vezes passamos algumas em claro porque nem nos apercebemos...
Existe uma primeira descrição, já com uns dois anos de um Viper da ANG em exercicios de WVR ter conseguido uma vitória sobre o Raptor (tenho a descrição numa das revists AFM ou outra qualquer na garagem), temos aquela fotografia de um Raptor num HUD de um "Super Bug" (as informações que existem sobre isso indicam que o piloto do hornet quebrou todas as regras possiveis e imaginárias para obter a foto) e finalmente esta no "Colonial Flag". Entretanto, desconfio que quando soubermos mais sobre o destacamento do 17sqn RAF nos Estados Unidos vamos ter de juntar mais uma série de "kill marks" a estas três.

Abraços

[Roberto]

Obrigado pelas informações Sintra e entendo as dificuldades.

Vc tem sido uma boa referência neste forum com as informações transmitidas.

Obrigado,
Roberto.

[Einsamkeit]

Sintra, sem querer incomodar muito, mas vc poderia responder minha pergunta???

Sorry, não me apercebi, este fórum s´o tem apenas um defeito, as respostas aos nossos textos são tantas que por vezes passamos algumas em claro porque nem nos apercebemos...
Existe uma primeira descrição, já com uns dois anos de um Viper da ANG em exercicios de WVR ter conseguido uma vitória sobre o Raptor (tenho a descrição numa das revists AFM ou outra qualquer na garagem), temos aquela fotografia de um Raptor num HUD de um "Super Bug" (as informações que existem sobre isso indicam que o piloto do hornet quebrou todas as regras possiveis e imaginárias para obter a foto) e finalmente esta no "Colonial Flag". Entretanto, desconfio que quando soubermos mais sobre o destacamento do 17sqn RAF nos Estados Unidos vamos ter de juntar mais uma série de "kill marks" a estas três.

Abraços

Seria mesmo meio dificil um F-22 conseguir um 10 x 1 contra os Typhoon da RAF, esses 60x1, 90x1 Fica dificil de acreditar....

[Jacobs]

Sintra, sem querer incomodar muito, mas vc poderia responder minha pergunta???

Sorry, não me apercebi, este fórum s´o tem apenas um defeito, as respostas aos nossos textos são tantas que por vezes passamos algumas em claro porque nem nos apercebemos...
Existe uma primeira descrição, já com uns dois anos de um Viper da ANG em exercicios de WVR ter conseguido uma vitória sobre o Raptor (tenho a descrição numa das revists AFM ou outra qualquer na garagem), temos aquela fotografia de um Raptor num HUD de um "Super Bug" (as informações que existem sobre isso indicam que o piloto do hornet quebrou todas as regras possiveis e imaginárias para obter a foto) e finalmente esta no "Colonial Flag". Entretanto, desconfio que quando soubermos mais sobre o destacamento do 17sqn RAF nos Estados Unidos vamos ter de juntar mais uma série de "kill marks" a estas três.

Abraços

Seria mesmo meio dificil um F-22 conseguir um 10 x 1 contra os Typhoon da RAF, esses 60x1, 90x1 Fica dificil de acreditar....

Pois é, dizem por ai que o Captor é tão bom que o radar CAESAR vai ser deixado pra mais tarde, lá pra 2012.

[Einsamkeit]

É obvio que o F-22 é uma aeronave superior ao Typhoon, mas um F-22 conseguir um Kill de mais de 10 x 1 contra Typhoon eu nao acredito, acredito até que menos.

[VICTOR]

Menos eins

[soultrain]

Segundo Larry Lawson, Vice presidente executivo da Lockheed e F-22 General Program Manager o Raptor não vai ter HMD/HMSS.

[[]]'s

[Carlos Mathias]

Mas vem cá, um caça de 5ºG enfrentando caças de 3ºG, e custando o que custa, tem mais que fazer 100 X 1. Não precisa nem tanto, bastaram os F-16 israelenses com seus P-IV e DASH para conseguir 40 X 1 contra os americanos.

[Einsamkeit]

Menos eins

Como menos Victor?