F-22 Pilots Don’t Want to Fly the F-22

Gizmodo ^ | May 1, 2012 | Sam Biddle

[Daffynition]

[RexBeach]

I thought F-22s we going to TDY to the UAE soon?

[Army Air Corps]

Ping.

[Mr Rogers]

If so, then the modern USAF pilots have gotten pretty wimpy. They’d wet themselves at the thought of an F-104...

[kosciusko51]

Yesterday, it was how the F-35 is a terrible platform. Now, its the F-22. What the heck has happened to manned military aviation?

[cll]

That's like when we switched from Hueys to Blackhawks in the Army. I don't recall a single flight where I didn't have a caution or warning light come on or some sort of a problem with the damn things. Almost every single flight ended in a precautionary landing. Had a few electrical fires in flight as well. That's why I jumped at the opportunity to fly the boring Army fixed wing missions the second a slot opened up.

[saganite]

I don’t blame them. The plane has a serious issue with its oxygen system. This won’t affect their readiness though. There are still plenty of pilots willing and able to fly the plane.

[UCANSEE2]

A beautiful, flowing design. When I see an F-22, it reminds me of this:

[Jack Hydrazine]

Mission commander: Alright, ladies! Who wants to pilot the flying deathtraps (aka F-22) for today’s mission?

Hand raises in the back: I do! I do! If I run out of O2 I’ll just roll down the window!

[A.A. Cunningham]

Air Force leader says some pilots want to avoid F-22 because of oxygen-deficit problems

[SpinnerWebb]

Those TAMU grads... whoop!

[RonInNaples]

My first thought also. What a fine-looking airframe that is. From a decidedly unqualified point-of-view, I’d love to fly one. Damn, us Americans do make some pretty fine military aircraft. Functionality may be a problem that has to work itself out, but it is always going to look good doing it’s job.

[Osage Orange]

Glad to see...them using Red Neck duck tape on that baby!!!

[Hot Tabasco]

Is that bondo or strips of duct tape on top of that jet?

[longtermmemmory]

is someone pushing drones?

[Secret Agent Man]

It’s one thing if you know a plane is a bear to fly.

The air supply/blackout issue is not yet fixed and I can understand this is a problem that can happen and you not be aware of it until you’re nodding off and blacking out. It is also intermittent so you never know if or when it will happen.

[Mr. Jeeves]

It’s so expensive, they will get in career-ending trouble for ejecting if there is a problem.

[Secret Agent Man]

One can reasonably assume that after having 30+ more years experience building jets since the f-104, that it should not be like flying an f-104.

[saleman]

Look it up.

Every time...and I mean every time a major weapon system is being developed there are articles and complaints.

Same as these for f-22 and f-35.

Too costly, too complicated, cost overruns, wrong for the mission etc. Every time.

See M-1 abrams, f-15, f-16, Osprey...You name it, there are the same complaints. Usually coming from those who hate the military and cover their true intentions by saying they are just “looking out for the troops” or “looking out for the peoples money”. When the truth is they hate the military and spend every dime that’s sent to Washington.

[saleman]

Oh, just another example.

B-1 bomber.

You ever seen one of these fly? Beautiful.

I was at Lake Martin one summer day, on a boat close to the dam. Along comes this B-1 flying low and slow. Looked a lot like a huge f-16. Anyway, that thing just pulled the nose up, hit the gas, and it was just.....gone.