4195: The Final F-22 Raptor

Commemorating the production of the final F-22 Raptor, number 4195, with a look a back from the people behind the development of the aircraft.

• Category

  Science & Technology

[88mroux]

We need more F-22s !187 F-22 Raptors is not enough!

[minuteman3]

You never know what the future may hold. Today we may be fighting the Taliban, but tomorrow you never know. You always plan for every eventual contingency. Besides, I would rather spend $20 Billion on this, because it furthers technology, manufacturing, and puts people to work than spend $100 Billion on Welfare.

[polyrhythmic1]

We should have built about 300 more of these. Thanks to Obama, the production was cancelled. 187 isn't enough...

[88mroux]

About one-third of the F-22’s current maintenance activity is associated with the stealth system, including the skin. It is important to recognize the F-22 currently meets or exceeds its maintenance requirements, and the operational capability of the F-22 is outstanding, in part due to its stealth system.

[88mroux]

Fact: Stealth is a breakthrough system capability and it requires regular maintenance, just like electronics or hydraulics. The skin of the F-22 is a part of the stealth capability and it requires routine maintenance.

[88mroux]

Facts: The F-22 is required to achieve 12.0 direct maintenance man-hours per flight hour (DMMH/FH) at system maturity, which is defined to be when the F-22 fleet has accumulated 100,000 flight hours. In 2008 the F-22 achieved 18.1 DMMH/FH which then improved to 10.5 DMMH/FH in 2009. It’s important to recognize this metric is to be met at system maturity, which is projected to occur in late 2010. So the F-22 is better than the requirement well before maturity.

[88mroux]

Facts: The F-22 is an all-weather fighter and rain is not an issue. The F-22 is currently based and operating in the harshest climates in the world ranging from the desert in Nevada and California, to extreme cold in Alaska, and rain/humidity in Florida, Okinawa and Guam. In all of these environments the F-22 has performed extremely well.

[88mroux]

Facts: The F-22s that were most recently delivered have a flyaway cost of $142.6M each, which is the cost to build and deliver each aircraft. This number does not include the costs for research and development (that were incurred since 1991), military construction to house the aircraft, or operations and maintenance costs.

[F22raptor46]

On what grounds are you even saying it was never meant to be a 1vs1 dogfighter?? So your saying they added stealth, high T/W ratio (better than all the Flankers) and the TVC and supermaneuverability and then said "the F-22 was never built to dogfight". Ok then please explain why it is winning every simulated air war in 1 vs 1 gunfights, it is just owning one plane after the other, please explain why this is happening???

[maydayfire]

only good for airshows..

[AmazingTNT]

Woah! Why so rude all of a sudden? I was adding another feature onto your list! Sidewinders (Along with the HMCS) can do some damage in dog-fighting....

[88mroux]

Were you watching Why the F-22 was cancelled by the Washington Post?! If you were then you're listening to the wrong people. They are anti-realistic about the world pretty much! Watch the video titled "F22 Raptor WP report = incorrect ."