June 13, 2006 The U.S. Air Force F-22 Combined Test Force team of Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Air Force pilots continued to successfully push the F-22 Raptor’s capability last week when it released a Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) munition at supersonic speed, high altitude and standoff range. Flying at an altitude of 50,000 feet and a speed of Mach 1.5, the F-22 released a GPS-aided, 1,000-pound JDAM from a range of 24 nautical miles, destroying a ground target in the aircraft’s fastest and highest JDAM delivery to date. The ability to release a munition at supersonic speeds and standoff ranges greatly enhances the aircrew’s survivability against heavily defended targets.
I think hes just saying that the F-22 has been around for a while and that as amazing as the plane is, the technology has been getting better over the years with the f-22 model.
Exactly, the 2 surviving YF-23’s are non-flying; one is at the end of the runway at Edwards, and the other I believe is at the smithsonian in DC.
The F-35 is the new fighter, but is no where’s near close to the performance of the F-22 Raptor. As of right now the only aircraft close to the F-22 in performance is the Russian Su-37 I believe (The only other twin engine aircraft in production with thrust vectoring I believe).
Most of the skin, as well as the engine ducting and some structural members are most defenetly CF.
Infact I was at the F-22 Center-fuselage; F-16, and new F-35 final production assembly line last week; down in Ft. Worth Texas at the LM Aero Plant. I actually got up-close and got to touch and look at my parts on the first SDD F-35 aircraft which is in the final stages of preperation for first flight later this year.
The Autoclaves that they use to build the CF panels for the F-22 and F-35 are ENORMOUS; like the size of my 2-story, 4-bedroom house. It’s a pretty unbelieveable sight to see full size vehicles pulling in and out of an autoclave.
F22 ftw
