Ultimo F-22 completato

[richelieu]

Il generale non ha detto ..... NO .....

He Didn't Say No .....

Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh didn't shut the door on the possibility of restarting the F-22 production line, when asked about it Tuesday at AFA's Air & Space Conference outside Washington, D.C.

"I would never draw a line in the sand and say I would never consider buying the most capable aircraft in the world for the United States Air Force," said Welsh, when asked for comment in the context of Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney's recent statement on the F-22.

Romney said earlier this month he would add F-22s to the Air Force's inventory if he became Commander in Chief.

http://www.airforce-magazine.com/DRArch ... ising.aspx

Welsh said the current force of some 180 F-22s is not enough.

Quantity has a quality of its own, Welsh noted.

Beyond that, "I think there's s lot of 'it depends' on this one," he explained.

Welsh added, "I don't know what the cost of restarting the line is; it would probably be significant."

Further, "I don't know how many numbers we are talking about. I don't know how [the F-22] is prioritized with other things that we now have in our program that we would have to displace," said Welsh.

(Michael C. Sirak)


Gen. Mark Welsh, the new Air Force Chief of Staff, responds to questions from the audience during his Sept. 18, 2012, presentation at AFA's Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition at National Harbor, Md.

(Air Force Magazine photo/Chequita Wood)

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Doppio dispiegamento nel Pacifico .....

..... dal "Daily Report" dell' AFA del 24 Settembre 2012 .....

Double Raptors in the Pacific .....

A package of F-22s from JB Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, recently deployed to the western Pacific, joining an expeditionary contingent of Raptors that arrived in the region in late July from JB Langley-Eustis, Va.

http://www.airforce-magazine.com/DRArch ... Japan.aspx

Elmendorf's F-22s flew to Andersen AFB, Guam, according to Elmendorf's Sept. 18 release.


"9/18/2012 - Lt. Col. Nicholas Reed, 90th Fighter Squadron commander, steps to his aircraft in prior to deploying to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam.
This marks the first time since 2011 F-22's from the 3rd Wing have deployed to the Pacific Theater of Operations. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Tech. Sgt. Dana Rosso)"

The Langley Raptors are currently operating from Kadena AB, Japan.

The twin deployments are the Raptor's first to the region since the F-22 fleet returned to flight in 2011, said Elmendorf officials.

The deployments are "a prudent measure to maintain a credible deterrent posture and presence in the region," said base spokeswoman Capt. Ashley Conner, reported the Alaska Dispatch on Sept. 18.

http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/a ... hina-japan

Though territorial tensions are running high between China and Japan, the deployments are "not in response to any specific situation," explained Conner.

The Elmendorf contingent includes airmen from the Active Duty 3rd Wing and Air Force Reserve Command's 477th Fighter Group.

The latter unit earlier this month reached full operational capability.

http://www.airforce-magazine.com/DRArch ... tions.aspx

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Tutto per una questione di soldi ?

USAF working on 'non-minor fix' for F-22 oxygen problem .....

By: Dave Majumdar (Washington DC - 2 hours ago)
Source: FLIGHT Intenational

The US Air Force is working to modify the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor's on-board oxygen generation system (OBOGS) with a new oxygen concentration schedule.

"The programme office is in the process of implementing a change to the OBOGS concentration control schedule," the USAF says.

The modified schedule is designed to reduce the concentration of oxygen reaching the pilot's lungs at lower cockpit altitudes. The high concentration of oxygen has been identified (along with high g-forces) as the cause of acceleration atelectasis, a condition where air sacs in the pilot's lungs collapse. It is the formal medical term for the so-called "Raptor cough" that has been afflicting F-22 pilots.

Acceleration atelectasis has been identified as a contributing factor to a series of physiological incidents that have plagued the USAF's F-22 fleet from as far back as 2008. The main culprit, however, according to the USAF, is a faulty valve in the Combat Edge upper-pressure garment.

At present, the USAF is trying to figure out the best way to implement the modification to the digital OBOGS found on most of its F-22s.

"It's a firmware change. Therefore, the hardware needs to be opened up in order to load the software," the USAF says. "The change is not minor. In addition to the concentration schedule change, the warning band needs to be modified to accommodate the new schedule. In order to change the warning band, other features need to be incorporated, such as an automatic backup oxygen system."

The USAF is implementing the change now after having rejected a similar modification proposed in 2005 due to cost reasons.

In the meantime, the USAF is taking steps to mitigate the effects of the high oxygen concentration levels. It has rescinded guidance to use the OBOGS's maximum oxygen concentration mode-which was implemented when the USAF believed the problem was too little oxygen-to the more gradual automatic mode. "Procedural guidance to use the OBOGS' automatic mode below certain altitudes is already in place that will reduce the concern for high oxygen concentration," the USAF says.

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Insieme .....

Dal "Daily Report" dell' AFA di Lunedi 24 Settembre 2012 .....

An F-35A Lightning II (top) from the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin AFB, Fla., and an F-22A Raptor from the 325th FW at Tyndall AFB, Fla., soar over the coast of northwest Florida, Sept. 19, 2012.
This was the first time the Air Force's two fifth generation fighters have flown together, according to Eglin officials.
Air Force photo by MSgt. Jeremy T. Lock

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Un record ..... gli istruttori del 43rd Fighter Squadron della Tyndall AFB accumulano ore di volo .....

http://www.tyndall.af.mil/library/facts ... sp?id=4861

Dal "Daily Report" dell' AFA di questa mattina .....

Raptor Instructors' Record Day .....

F-22 instructor pilots at Tyndall AFB, Fla., flew 53 local Raptor sorties in a single-day surge to retain their currency and, in the process, set a 43rd Fighter Squadron record, according to base officials.

"We more than doubled the normal amount of flights, which averages from 18 to 24 per day," said Lt. Col. James Akers, 43rd FS operations officer, of the unit's historic accomplishment on Sept. 24.

The squadron launched 30 morning sorties; after the jets returned, ground crews refueled them with engines running for the remaining sorties, which occurred in the afternoon, states Tyndall's Sept. 25 release.

The F-22 schoolhouse "did not have any students fly" for the day," said Akers.

"It was strictly a day set aside for instructors to obtain flying hours" to recertify before the end of the fiscal year, he explained.

The previous Air Force-wide F-22 squadron record was 46 sorties in a day, noted Akers.

"If that's true, we smashed it," he said.

Tyndall report by SSgt. Kirsten Wicker ..... http://www.tyndall.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123319547

[richelieu]

Sarebbe proprio stata solo e soltanto una questione di soldi .....

Air Force Group Warned of Stealth Jet’s Oxygen Woes Years Ago .....

Years before the Air Force faced a crisis with the oxygen systems on its premier stealth jet, a group of Air Force officers warned that the expensive F-22 Raptor could choke its pilots.
Yet the Air Force, in the name of saving money, let the problem fester.
.....

As far back as 2005, a group of Air Force technical experts calling themselves the RAW-G, for Raptor Aeromedical Working Group, warned that the oxygen system on the F-22 needed an upgrade.
.....

The solution the RAW-G proposed would have cost approximately $100,000 per plane.
The F-22 Raptor costs, depending on how you count, between $137 million and $678 million per plane.
“The cost was considered prohibitive in light of other items that people wanted funded for the F-22,” the head of the RAW-G, who retired from the Air Force in 2007, told the AP.

Fonte ..... http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/09/f-22/

Sarebbe davvero il caso di dire ..... per qualche dollaro in più .....

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Alla luce dei risultati usciti dall' indagine interna condotta dall' USAF e da quelli evidenziati da un rapporto della NASA, che era stata a suo tempo interpellata, le ricerche continuano .....

USAF F-22 Cockpit Anomaly Studies Continue .....

Fonte ..... http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.asp ... 497809.xml

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"Raptors" nel cielo di New York City .....

..... dal "Daily Report" dell' AFA di questa mattina .....

Quiet Guardians .....

During separate responses, two F-22 fighters last week intercepted two general aviation aircraft that violated a temporary flight restricted area over the United Nations building in New York City, announced NORAD.

http://www.norad.mil/News/2012/092512.html

The intercepts occurred on Sept. 25 during the time that President Obama addressed the UN General Assembly.

We asked Air Combat Command if these engagements marked the first time that F-22s have scrambled to protect US airspace in support of Operation Noble Eagle since the Raptor fleet returned to flight in September 2011.

"It was not the first intercept" since then, Air Combat Command spokeswoman Kelly Sanders told the Daily Report on Sept. 28.

Instead, she said, "the F-22 has been performing ONE duties since it returned to flight."

ACC grounded the Raptor fleet for nearly five months starting in May 2011 as it investigated the physiological incidents that some Raptor pilots were experiencing in flight, like nausea and disorientation.

http://www.airforce-magazine.com/DRArch ... itely.aspx

Since the F-22 fleet resumed flight operations, the Air Force has been incorporating hardware changes in the Raptor cockpit, along with modified flight procedures, to keep the pilots safe as the fleet returns to normal operations in phases.

http://www.airforce-magazine.com/DRArch ... ation.aspx

Inoltre .....

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2 ... nyc-visit/



.

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"AW&ST" torna sull' argomento ossigeno ..... e gli studi per far luce sul problema continuano .....

USAF Still Reviewing Oxygen Concentration Levels For F-22 Cockpit .....

By: Michael Fabey
Source: Aerospace Daily & Defense Report (October 12, 2012)



The U.S. Air Force will continue to investigate the oxygen concentration levels in F-22 Raptor cockpits in the wake of reports about fluctuations of those numbers noted during studies of recent pilot breathing problems.

“We also will study and as necessary revise the schedule by which the Obogs (On-Board Oxygen Generation System) adjusts the oxygen concentration delivered to the pilot to better mitigate against the identified effects of too low or too high a concentration,” says service spokesman Lt. Col. Edward Sholtis.

Oxygen concentration level fluctuations were noted in the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) Report on Aircraft Oxygen Generation, which delved into the recent Raptor pilot breathing problems and was released last month.

“As the aircraft descends and the pilot puts eight Gs on the aircraft, the percentage of oxygen produced by the Obogs is reduced,” the report says. “As the pilot reduces the G load, the Obogs begins to recover and then the percentage of oxygen produced by the Obogs is reduced again when the pilot reapplies the Gs.”

The report says, “The amount of oxygen being produced does decrease to between 60 percent and 70 percent.”

A software “deep dive” is under way, the report says, as well as a further assessment of the reasons for the drop in oxygen concentration noted under G-loads.

By design, the Obogs oxygen level for the F-22 is lower by five or six percentage points than levels required for earlier-type fighters, and the SAB report says there is “limited understanding of the aviation physiology implications of accepting a maximum 93-94 percent oxygen level instead of the 99+ percent previously required.”

The report says, “Given the F-22’s unique operational envelope, there is insufficient feedback to the pilot about the partial pressure of oxygen in the breathing air,” adding there is “no indication of pilot oxygen saturation throughout the F-22 flight envelope.”

The report also cautions that “ECS (environmental control system) shutdowns are more frequent than expected and result in Obogs shutdown and cessation of breathing air to the pilot.”

Noting “some anomalies in the performance of the F-22 oxygen and anti-G delivery systems when the ECS cuts back or shuts down in-flight, or during the onset of High-G forces,” the report says the incidents “merit further analysis and testing.”

Obogs efficiency is key for flight operations, the report says. “Unlike most other aircraft oxygen generation systems, the breathing air to the F-22 pilot is not diluted with cockpit air to obtain the appropriate oxygen partial pressure (PPO2) necessary to maintain physiological function at a particular altitude, but rather it is concentrated to the necessary PPO2 by controlling the cycling of the Obogs.”

[richelieu]

Increment 3.1 hardware .....

..... dal "Daily Report" dell' AFA di questa mattina .....

Two More Raptors Upgraded .....

Two F-22 Raptors recently returned to JB Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, after receiving the Increment 3.1 hardware and computer upgrade in depot at Hill AFB, Utah.

Elmendorf's F-22s were the first combat-coded Raptors in the fleet to start receiving this upgrade; the base is home to more than 40 Raptors.

"Increment 3.1 gives the F-22 the ability to precisely locate, engage, and target emerging ground threats," said Lt. Col. David Piffarerio, commander of Air Force Reserve Command's 302nd Fighter Squadron, in an Oct. 11 base release.



Before the upgrade, Raptors had to rely on outside targeting information to drop guided air-to-ground weapons.

With the new performance enhancements, Elmendorf F-22s earlier this year pioneered autonomous operational employment of both joint direct attack munitions and small diameter bombs.

http://www.airforce-magazine.com/DRArch ... stone.aspx

The Increment 3.1 modifications are installed in depot instead of at Elmendorf to allow the base's maintainers to focus on keeping operational jets airborne, according to the release.

Elmendorf report by Capt. Ashley Connor ..... http://www.477fg.afrc.af.mil/news/story ... =123321821


The 302nd Fighter Squadron flagship F-22, Aircraft 05-4102, is now back in Alaska after getting a tune up at the depot facilities at Hill Air Force Base, Utah
(U.S. Air Force Reserve Photo/Tech. Sgt. Dana Rosso)

[richelieu]

Addestramento integrato fra caccia di 4^ e 5^ generazione .....

..... dal "Daily Report" dell' AFA di questa mattina .....

Raptors Rehearse with Eagles .....

F-22 crews from JB Langley-Eustis, Va., are taking advantage of their deployment to the western Pacific to conduct integrated training with F-15s based at Kadena AB, Japan, according to Kadena officials.

The Raptor deployment enables "outstanding fourth and fifth generation fighter integration training," said Col. Pete Milohnic, Kadena's 18th Operations Group commander, in the base's Oct. 11 release.

F-22s assigned to Langley's 27th Fighter Squadron deployed to Kadena in late July as part of a routine rotation of US combat forces to the region.

http://www.airforce-magazine.com/DRArch ... Japan.aspx

"We loved the opportunity to work with the F-15s," stressed Lt. Col. Cavan Craddock, 27th FS commander.

"It's valid training that we wouldn't get at home," he added.

In addition, "it sends a clear message that the US is serious about maintaining security and stability in the region," he noted.

A contingent of F-22s from JB Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, is also currently deployed to the western Pacific at Andersen AFB, Guam.

http://www.airforce-magazine.com/DRArch ... cific.aspx

Kadena report by A1C Brooke Beers ..... http://www.pacaf.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123321740

[richelieu]

Coming Home .....



..... dal "Daily Report" dell' AFA di questa mattina .....

Langley Raptors Back Home from Kadena .....

The contingent of airmen and F-22s that deployed to Kadena AB, Japan, from JB Langley-Eustis, Va., in late July returned home after completing a roughly 10-week stint in the Pacific, announced Langley officials.

These airmen and machines were part of a normal rotation of US combat forces to the region.

http://www.airforce-magazine.com/DRArch ... Japan.aspx

While at Kadena, the expeditionary unit "performed training" under the direction of Kadena's 18th Wing, states Langley's Oct. 22 release.

This was the first Raptor deployment to the region since the fleet-wide F-22 standdown in 2011, service officials have said.

http://www.airforce-magazine.com/DRArch ... cific.aspx

It overlapped with a Raptor deployment from JB-Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, to Andersen AFB, Guam.

The Langley aircrews and maintainers, a mix of more than 200 Active Duty and Air National Guard personnel, began arriving back at Langley on Oct. 13, according to the release.

Langley photo caption by MSgt. Carlos J. Claudio ..... http://www.jble.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123323175

[richelieu]

Ahi, le Hawaii ..... .....

..... dal "Daily Report" dell' AFA di questa mattina .....

Hawaii Reaches Raptor IOC .....

According to a Nov. 9 announcement from the Hawaii National Guard, the F-22 Raptor force comprising the Hawaii Air National Guard's 199th Fighter Squadron and Active Duty 19th FS at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam achieved initial operational capability last week.

http://hawaii.gov/dod/hawaii-based-f-22 ... capability

A Hickam photo release notes that the Hawaii-based Raptors are expected to reach full operational capability in December.

http://www.15wing.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123325909

Brig. Gen. Braden Sakai, commander of the Hawaii ANG's 154th Wing, said, "This is a huge milestone for our combined 154th and 15th Wings.

IOC means we are able to deploy a portion of our F-22 Raptors, anytime, anywhere, in support of theater operations."

[richelieu]

Verso il ritorno alla normalità?

USAF removes bulk of F-22 operating restrictions .....

The US Air Force has removed the majority of operating restrictions previously imposed on its Lockheed Martin F-22 fighter pilots, but is continuing to limit the maximum altitude to which the type can be flown.

Around 21,000 sorties have been completed without incident since the USAF lifted a safety-related grounding order imposed for three months late last year .....

Fonte ..... http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articl ... ns-379056/

.

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Precipita un F-22 ..... salvo il pilota .....

Dal "Daily Report" dell'AFA di questa mattina .....

F-22 Crashes at Tyndall .....

On Thursday, the same day that the Air Force released the details on the cause of an F-22 mishap at Tyndall AFB, Fla., back in May (see entry below) .....

http://www.airforce-magazine.com/DRArch ... ndall.aspx

..... another Raptor crashed at the northwest Florida base, announced officials there.

The fighter went down about one quarter mile east of the base's "drone" runway at 3:30 p.m. East Coast time, they said in a Nov. 15 statement.

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123326607

The pilot safely ejected from the aircraft and was under medical supervision on base, they said.

Panama City's News Herald reported that the fallen F-22 burned inside the base perimeter.

http://www.newsherald.com/news/update-f ... ll-1.50359

Col. David Graff, vice commander of Tyndall's 325th Fighter Wing, said the crash occurred while the F-22 was returning to base, according to the newspaper.

http://www.tyndall.af.mil/library/biogr ... p?id=15875

While Tyndall is home to the Air Force's F-22 schoolhouse, Graff said the pilot was not in training.

The accident caused local officials to close a nearby highway as a safety precaution.

The Air Force said it would release additional details as they become available.

La notizia ..... come l'ha riportata "Flight International" .....

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articl ... fe-379091/

.

[richelieu]

Altre informazioni relative agli incidenti .....

Another Day, Another $678 Million Stealth Jet Wrecked .....

The Air Force admitted losing two of its 184 — make that 182 — top-of-the-line F-22 Raptor stealth fighters on Thursday.
It was one of the worst days yet in what’s turning out to be a bad year for the pricey, radar-evading jet built by Lockheed Martin.

Fonte ..... http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/11/f-22-crashe/

[richelieu]

Un precedente .....

Prototype F-22 Fighter Burns After Emergency Landing (April 28, 1992) .....

A prototype Lockheed F-22 jet fighter caught fire and burned extensively on the main runway at Edwards Air Force Base on Saturday after experiencing problems during a test flight by a Lockheed company pilot, who escaped with minor injuries.

Fonte ..... http://articles.latimes.com/1992-04-28/ ... cy-landing


Video .....






Dall' archivio di "Flight International" .....

http://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFAr ... 201156.PDF

http://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFAr ... 201306.PDF

.

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Divulgate le immagini dei rottami dell'aereo precipitato il 15 Novembre scorso .....




(U.S. Air Force photos by Lisa Norman)

Intanto, mentre vengono messe in evidenza le misure di sicurezza prese, le indagini continuano .....

http://www.tyndall.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123326821

.

[richelieu]

Tyndall AFB ..... autorizzata la ripresa delle attività di volo degli F-22 .....

Dal "Daily Report" dell' AFA di questa mattina .....

F-22 Flight Operations Resume at Tyndall .....

The 325th Fighter Wing at Tyndall AFB, Fla., resumed F-22 flight operations on Nov. 19, four days after wing leadership stood them down following the crash of one of the unit's Raptors on the base grounds.

Wing Commander Col. David Graff .....

http://www.tyndall.af.mil/library/biogr ... p?id=15875

..... flew one of the first Raptor sorties as the flights resumed, according to the base's release.

http://www.tyndall.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123327024

"I have complete confidence in the F-22 and its reliability," stated Graff.

He added, "We will continue to accomplish our mission while the safety investigation board searches for the cause of last week's accident."

The Air Force has initiated a SIB to ensure there are no F-22 fleet-wide issues associated with the crash.

The service will then conduct an accident investigation board whose findings will be publicly releasable, said wing officials.

The pilot safely ejected from the F-22 during the Nov. 15 mishap .....

http://www.airforce-magazine.com/DRArch ... ndall.aspx

..... but the airplane was lost, as the photo below shows.


Shown is a photograph of the F-22 Raptor crash site from the incident Nov. 15 on Tyndall.
325th Fighter Wing officials are continuing to investigate and secure the scene.
The pilot safely ejected from the aircraft and first responders were on the scene in less than two minutes.
(U.S. Air Force photo by Lisa Norman)

Tyndall is home to the Air Force's F-22 schoolhouse.

[richelieu]

Tutti nel Texas .....

Dal "Daily Report" dell' AFA di questa mattina .....

F-22 Work Heads to Fort Worth .....

Now that F-22 production has ended .....

http://www.airforce-magazine.com/DRArch ... light.aspx

..... Lockheed Martin is shifting F-22 sustainment and engineering work from its plant in Marietta, Ga., to its facility in Fort Worth, Tex., where it is consolidating its fighter business, reported the Marietta Daily Journal.

http://www.mdjonline.com/pages/full_sto ... d=21013622

"Operating from a centralized location will improve our overall affordability, streamline operations, foster an environment of greater collaboration, and ultimately enhance the level of support we provide our customers," stated Jeff Babione, the company's F-22 and F-16 Integrated Fighter Group vice president, in the newspaper's Dec. 5 report.

The company has offered some 560 salaried employees—mostly engineers—the chance to move to Fort Worth along with the F-22 work, according to the newspaper.

Approximately 40 unionized employees who currently refurbish Raptor canopies and apply low-observable tail surface coatings will remain in Marietta, states the newspaper.

Lockheed Martin expects to save $250 million over five years through this relocation.

The Lockheed Martin Aeronautics facility, Fort Worth, Texas, circa 2010.
Fonte ..... Album di Lockheed Martin su "flickr" .....

.

[richelieu]

Alcuni mesi dopo avere ottenuto la qualificazione quale pilota di F-22, come d'altronde a suo tempo già segnalato .....

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123308756

..... il generale Hostage, capo dello Air Combat Command .....

http://www.af.mil/information/bios/bio.asp?bioID=5863

..... ha deciso di lasciare tale attività .....

ACC Commander ends time as F-22 pilot confident in Raptor .....

After five months in the cockpit and numerous discussions with combat-ready pilots and maintainers, the commander of Air Combat Command is ending his tenure as an F-22 pilot, confident that the aircraft is safe to fly and on a path toward unrestricted worldwide operations.

Fonte ..... http://www.acc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123328222


"Air Force Gen. Mike Hostage, commander of Air Combat Command, answers reporters questions during a media availability at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Va., Monday, April 30, 2012. "
(AP Photo/Steve Helber)

[richelieu]

Pearl Harbor ..... anniversario amaro .....

Un altro "Raptor" danneggiato ..... e questa volta la fattura ammonta a 1,8 milioni di Dollari .....

F-22 Raptor sustains $1.8M damage while landing at Pearl Harbor .....

An F-22 Raptor was damaged while landing during memorial services Friday for the 71st anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Fonte ..... http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/2029 ... arl-harbor

C'è da considerare comunque che il costo, in questo caso, è di gran lunga inferiore a quello che era stato rilevato in occasione di un altro incidente avvenuto alcuni mesi fa .....

However, the Raptor suffered damage that will take an estimated $35 million to repair.

Fonte ..... http://www.airforce-magazine.com/DRArch ... ndall.aspx

Certo che ..... se vanno avanti così ..... dilapidano l'intero budget dell'USAF .....

[richelieu]

Coming Home 2 .....



..... dal "Daily Report" dell' AFA di questa mattina .....

Alaska Raptors Return from Guam .....

An expeditionary squadron of F-22s began returning to JB Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, last week after nearly three months of operating out of Andersen AFB, Guam, as part of a rotational theater security package in the Pacific.

The F-22 deployment "was a typical movement testing the squadron's capability to rapidly respond and deploy to any environment with minimal notice and full combat capability," Elmendorf spokeswoman Capt. Ashley Connor told the Daily Report.

While in the Pacific, the Elmendorf F-22 pilots—from the Active Duty 90th Fighter Squadron and Air Force Reserve Command's 302nd FS—flew just shy of 500 sorties totaling some 800 flight hours, said Conner.

The Elmendorf F-22s took advantage of the rotation to exercise with the USS George Washington carrier strike group during "Valiant Shield", a joint air and sea exercise.

More than 250 personnel and 12 jets deployed from Elmendorf in September.

http://www.airforce-magazine.com/DRArch ... cific.aspx

As these airmen and their F-22s began arriving back home, members of Elmendorf's 525th FS left with their F-22s for weapons training at Tyndall AFB, Fla., noted Connor.

Joint Forces to Conduct "Valiant Shield" Exercise .....
..... http://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/Pages ... MbmEn5d6M9


"WESTERN PACIFIC OCEAN (Sept. 20, 2012) - Operating to ensure security and stability in the vital Asia-Pacific region, two of the U.S. Navy’s 11 global force aircraft carriers conducted readiness operations at the conclusion of exercise "Valiant Shield".
The Bremerton, Washington-based aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), fore, the forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), back, along with the San Diego-based guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG 53) exercised surface and anti-submarine training events as well as integrated flight operations in order to respond quickly to any future crises in the region."
(U.S. Navy photo by MC3 William Pittman)

.

[richelieu]

Modifiche imminenti .....

USAF to field F-22 life support mods this January .....

The US Air Force expects to start fielding life support systems modifications for its fleet of Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor air superiority fighters this January.

Fonte ..... http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articl ... ry-380820/

[richelieu]

Di nuovo in Giappone .....

Dal "Daily Report" dell' AFA di questa mattina .....

F-22s Return to Kadena .....

A contingent of F-22s and some 300 airmen arrived on Okinawa, Japan, from JB Langley-Eustis, Va., as part of a normal rotation of combat forces to the Asia-Pacific theater, announced Pacific Air Forces officials.

Capt. Kim Bender, PACAF spokeswoman, told the Daily Report on Tuesday that Langley's expeditionary squadron arrived at Kadena Air Base on Jan. 14 Okinawa time.

She said 12 F-22s are part of this four-month deployment, along with Active Duty personnel from the 1st Fighter Wing and members of the Virginia Air National Guard's 192nd FW.

The F-22s are part of a US Pacific Command theater security package meant to promote peace and stability in the region.

While on Okinawa, the F-22s and Langley airmen will train with Kadena's 18th Wing, states PACAF's Jan. 15 release ..... http://www.kadena.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123332491

The command said F-22s routinely deploy to the area as the Defense Department repositions forces as needed.
This deployment does come at a time of heightened tensions between China and Japan over territorial disputes in the East China Sea.

On Jan. 11, for example, Chinese J-10s and Japanese F-15s shadowed each other near the disputed Senkaku Islands, reported the Los Angeles Times ..... http://www.latimes.com/news/world/world ... 1692.story


"F-22A Raptors and about 300 Airmen from the 1st Fighter Wing, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., and the 192nd Fighter Wing, Va. Air National Guard, deployed to Kadena Air Base, Japan, on Jan. 14, 2013.
The F-22 deployment is in support of U.S. Pacific Command's security obligations in the Western Pacific.
The deployed unit will perform training under the direction of the 18th Wing."
(U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Justin Veazie

[richelieu]

Quell'ultimo motore .....

Pratt & Whitney to deliver last F-22 Raptor engine .....

Pratt & Whitney will deliver the last of 507 F119 afterburning turbofans to the US Air Force on 17 January. Two such engines, which the company says have an output in the 35,000lbs (154kN) class each, power the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor air superiority fighter.

Fonte ..... http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articl ... ne-381145/

.

[richelieu]

Pratt & Whitney Delivers Final F119 Engine .....

Il filmato .....

..... e il comunicato dell' azienda ..... http://www.airforce-magazine.com/SiteCo ... livery.pdf

Le conseguenze ..... http://articles.courant.com/2013-01-15/ ... tt-whitney .....

.

[richelieu]

Pratt & Whitney e il "dopo F119" .....

Pratt Shifts To Sustainment After Last F119 Delivery .....

Pratt & Whitney has delivered the last production F119 engine for the Lockheed Martin F-22 stealth fighter, and is shifting its attention to support continuing development of component improvements.

Fonte ..... http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.asp ... 538927.xml

[richelieu]

Colti al volo mentre vengono "allattati" .....

Photographer captures six F-22 Raptor fighter jets trailing three tankers over the Mediterranean Sea .....

Stealth planes might be invisible to radars but they can do nothing against human eye.

Fonte ..... http://theaviationist.com/2013/01/25/co ... QRcIn5d6M8

[richelieu]

Dopo essere stati "beccati" e fotografati mentre volavano nel cielo del Mediterraneo sulla via del ritorno dal Medio Oriente ..... i "Raptors" sono tornati a casa .....

On American soil .....

Multiple delays did little to dampen the spirits of friends, family and co-workers who showed up to Bldg. 908 to welcome back more than 200 Airmen from the 7th Fighter Squadron and 49th Maintenance Group from a 9-month deployment to Southwest Asia.

Fonte ..... http://www.holloman.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123334240


Four F-22 Raptors returning from deployment taxi toward a hangar on the Holloman AFB, N.M., flightline Jan. 28.
The aircraft and around 200 personnel returned Monday from a 9-month deployment to Southwest Asia ensuring regional security and joint tactical air operations.
(U.S. Air Force photo by 1st Lt. Stephanie Schonberger/Released)

Gli aerei, prima di arrivare alla destinazione finale (Holloman AFB, New Mexico), avevano effettuato, per una notte, uno scalo intermedio presso la base aerea di Pease (New Hampshire) .....


Aircraft that arrived at Pease on Sunday were:

Six F-22 Raptor fighters. The F-22 uses stealth technology and is the most sophisticated fighter aircraft ever built, according to the Air National Guard.
One C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft carrying maintenance equipment, parts and personnel.
Three KC-10 Extender air refueling aircraft.
Three KC-135 Stratotanker air refueling aircraft.
.

[richelieu]

I "Raptor" hawaiani hanno partecipato all'esercitazione "Red Flag 13-2" e sono rientrati nelle isole .....

Hawaiian F-22 Raptors successfully complete first Red Flag deployment .....

A total force team comprised of F-22 Raptors, active duty and Hawaii Air National Guard personnel successfully completed the Hawaiian Raptors first over-water deployment when they returned from Red Flag 13-2 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Feb. 2.

Fonte ..... http://www.pacaf.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123335410


"Maintainers deployed from the 15th Wing and 154th Wing, Air National Guard, perform maintenance checks on F-22 Raptors at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.
The crews and aircraft were deployed in support of Red Flag 13-2 from 21 Jan. through 1 Feb.
Red Flag provides valuable training and experience through realistic combat scenarios to prepare Airmen for future deployments.
(Courtesy photo/Ervin Booker)"
.

[richelieu]

A proposito dell'incidente di cui si parla in questo articolo risalente allo scorso Agosto .....

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articl ... it-375445/

..... ci sono novità .....

Dal "Daily Report" dell' AFA di questa mattina .....

DOD Inspector General Finds Fault in F-22 Accident Investigation ....

The Air Force's investigation of the crash of an F-22 in Alaska two years ago failed to prove that pilot error and disorientation caused the fatal accident, according to the Pentagon's inspector general.

Pacific Air Force's accident investigation board originally determined that pilot Capt. Jeffrey Haney's failure to recognize vertigo symptoms, on top of his mental fixation and visual inattention, primarily caused the Nov. 16, 2010, crash.

http://www.airforce-magazine.com/DRArch ... Crash.aspx

After reviewing the investigation, the Defense Department's IG found that the board's conclusions were "not supported by the facts" in the AIB report, according to the summary of the IG's findings, dated Feb. 6.

http://www.dodig.mil/pubs/report_summary.cfm?id=5025

Furthermore, the conclusions were "not consistent with the clear and convincing standard of proof" set forth in Air Force regulations, states the summary.

Air Force officials rejected the IG's assertion that its conclusions were flawed, but admitted there were flaws in the report, according to the service's comments included in the IG summary.

The IG responded that it did "not concur with the Air Force response," reiterating that the AIB's conclusions were not "sufficiently supported by clear and convincing evidence."

Air Force officials told the IG that they plan to address some—though not all—of the IG's concerns, but drew additional fire from the IG for failing to detail what measures they would take.

Thereupon, the IG asked the Air Force to provide by the end of February a detailed description of the remedial action to be taken.

In January 2012, at the time when the IG announced its "self-initiated evaluation" of the F-22 accident probe .....

http://www.airforce-magazine.com/DRArch ... Probe.aspx

..... then Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz called the IG's inquest "routine" oversight.

http://www.airforce-magazine.com/DRArch ... ormal.aspx

DOD IG report ..... caution, large-sized file ..... http://www.dodig.mil/pubs/documents/DODIG-2013-041.pdf

Anche su "Flightglobal.com" .....

DOD Inspector General finds USAF F-22 crash report conclusions not supported by the facts .....

The US Department of Defense (DOD) inspector general (IG) has found that the conclusions of an US Air Force Accident Investigation Board (AIB) report into the fatal 16 November, 2010, crash of a Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor are not supported by the facts. The crash took the life of Capt Jeff Haney, a pilot assigned to the 525th Fighter Squadron based at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.

L'articolo ..... http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articl ... ts-382199/

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[richelieu]

Ma l'USAF non è del parere di riaprire l'indagine .....

USAF refuses to reopen F-22 accident investigation despite damning Inspector General’s report .....

The US Air Force will not reopen the Accident Investigation Board (AIB) that examined the 16 November, 2010, crash of a Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor despite the US Department of Defense (DOD) Inspector General's (IG) findings that the board's conclusions were flawed.

Fonte ..... http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articl ... rt-382309/

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[MatteF88]

Stealth, mega sofisticato e mega costoso, ma non può "dialogare" via data link 16 con gli altri assetti, o meglio, come spiegato nell'articolo, i typhoon (ad esempio) possono inviare dati ai raptor i quali però non possono rispondere inviando i loro...


http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2013/02 ... s-stealth/

[Valerio Ricciardi]

Forse decidere di puntare alla capacità stealth implica tanti di quei vincoli tecnici e tanta di quella tecnologia specifica aggiuntiva da rendere più difficile una armonica gestione di moltissimi altri aspetti più tradizionali...
Forse se ti accontenti di contenere quanto possibile l'impronta radar ti semplifichi la vita non poco, in quel senso il Typhoon potrebbe essere stato un saggio compromesso

Ma l'articolo specifica come non preoccuparsi troppo della comunicabilità con velivoli diversi fosse legato al profilo di missione immaginato quando l'aereo fu impostato...