The only US combat aircraft design to be in production before 2020 with the capability to penetrate and survive in modern Integrated Air Defence Systems is the F-22 Raptor. The depicted aircraft is dropping a GBU-32 JDAM guided bomb (US Air Force image).
From The Examiner:
A test pilot for Lockheed-Martin, which builds the stealth fighter, died in the accident, which occurred about 35 miles northeast of Edwards Air Force Base. The company identified the pilot as 49-year-old David Cooley, who was assigned to F-22 Combined Test Task Force, a unit comprised of civilian and military aviators who conduct flight evaluations of the fifth-generation fighter.
While the Air Force has released few details on the mishap, military sources tell the Examiner that Mr. Cooley did not eject prior to the crash. Statements from Edwards, where the flight originated, stated that the pilot was declared dead at a hospital in nearby Victorville, California, suggesting that he died after ejection. However, base officials later said that their comments were simply standard statements for the investigation.
Read more ....
My Comment: I lost count on how many F-16s crashed since the 1980s .... the F-22 fleet will lose planes, but like the F-16 fleet they will just have to carry on.
No comments:
Post a Comment