F22 Raptor


B O N Y

MODERATOR & FGT OWNER
Mark IV Lifetime
Sep 5, 2005
12,110
Fresno, Ca.
wow... sleep well at night with the bird protecting us...

http://www.f22-raptor.com/media/video_gallery/videos/F22_AirShow_Langley.wmv
 
has to have an amazing flight computer to allow those flat spins and moves that normally no pilot could master. Jason, what do you think?
 
While with the F-35/Joint Strike Fighter team last year, they shared that during flight testing, a combination of 5, F-18 and F-22's (I can't remember the mix) were taken out by one F-35 before any one of the 5 could get a mechanical lock on the F-35.
 
F-22 represents "Air Superiority" over "air dominance".

The F-22 uses thrust vectoring. The rear thrust nozzles can change the direction of the thrust to "steer" the back of the plane (like a fork lift steers from the rear so to speak). This plane can be stalled out & have no chance of going in to a flat spin & fall (like in Top Gun). The thrust can be directed in such a was as to force the rear up to point the nose down to regain its areo dynamics & recover. In fact, the pilot can let go of his controls during a vertical stall & the computer will restore the planes attitude & regain safe level flight.

The is the ULTIMATE in a fighter. You wouldn't want to be in front of or behind one. It's turn radius far exceeds any thing else in the air, thus he can get behind very easily. Not to mention, his weapons are superior as well...big time!!!! Very cool indeed!!!
 
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has to have an amazing flight computer to allow those flat spins and moves that normally no pilot could master. Jason, what do you think?

I was able to get an up close look at a Raptor squadron last year at Langley, and our squadron did some work with a Raptor squadron a couple of months ago.



They are truly impressive machines. I am a big fan of anything that wears US markings and can rule the skies. I would not want to mess with one. For security purposes I really can't comment on much more than that.

The Marine Corps is planning on ordering the F-35B STOVL variant of the JSF to replace our AV-8BII and F/A-18C/D. In my opinion the F-22/F-35 will compare somewhat closely to how the F-15/F-16 compare today. The F-35A/B/C variants will not only have the benefit of all the R&D that went into the F-22, but it will have then benefit of 10 additional years of avionics and computer development.

As impressive as the F-22 is and the F-35 will be, history has shown that most successful air to air kills are a result of the skills of the pilot. Advanced weapons and aircraft are useless if not properly employed by well trained pilots.

Best Regards,
Waldo