Posted on 04/18/2006 6:13:33 PM PDT by SandRat
4/18/2006 - HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah (AFPN) -- A new era is under way for members of the 309th Maintenance Group here as they modify their first F-22A Raptor.
This was the first of 12 to 14 aircraft scheduled to visit Hill this year for minor modifications. A total of 18 are contracted to undergo work here.
"We're excited," said Guy Phillips, F-22 maintenance squadron director for the 309th MXG, about its new customer. "Most of us are a little apprehensive, but are well prepared and have lots of experience on aircraft. We're also confident that, with the experienced Lockheed contractors training us, we'll establish our comfort zone and reduce our training curve quickly."
Maj. Evan Dertien flew the aircraft from Langley Air Force Base, Va., to Hill for the modifications, and was met by a group of local media representatives interested in everything from the Raptor's increased capabilities to how comfortable it was to fly.
"It's really very comfortable," Major Dertien said. "There's nothing like it anywhere else in the world. Flying it is a dream come true for me, having heard about it during its initial development stage years ago."
The major said even its closest rivals aren't in the same league. The Raptor combines sensor capability, integrated avionics, situational awareness and weaponry, providing pilots first-kill opportunity against threats airborne or on the ground. F-22 pilots use a sophisticated sensor suite to track, identify, shoot and kill air-to-air threats before being detected.
"We can track targets and initiate contact before they even know we're in the area," Major Dertien said. "By the time they realize we've engaged it's too late."
According to Mr. Phillips, each F-22 should spend 35 days here.
"Our first modification is night air-to-air refueling designed to enhance the boom operator's night vision and receptacle location while performing in-flight refueling."
Mr. Phillips said the first three aircraft will be modified by one shift due to ongoing training, but the remainder will be modified by two shifts.
Many of the maintainers attended classes at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., to bring them up to speed, in preparation of the F-22's arrival.
"(The Nellis instructors) have been excellent to gear up and train not only the depot civilians, but also our 649th Combat Logistics Support Squadron here that is part of our F-22 team," Mr. Phillips said. "Due to the complex nature and constant advancements in aircraft technology, our people are always being trained and certified. Our on-the-job training is being provided by Lockheed Martin and Boeing, the original manufacturers of the Raptor."
(Courtesy of Air Force Materiel Command News Service)
An F-22A Raptor arrives at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, on Sunday, April 9, 2006, for minor modifications. Members of the 309th Maintenance Group will modify this, the first of 18 F-22s that will receive various modifications at Hill. (U.S. Air Force photo/Bill Orndorf)
RAPTOR PING!
After 20 years in development and only several months on active duty, they are already at Hill for minor modifications?
Beautiful plane, one of the most impressive feats of US engineering.
As I understood it they were built ahead of much of the technology they'll be needing in the future.
Any complex system will be constantly modified thoughout its lifetime. It's not the least bit unusual. I'm sure the pilot will be glad to get that new cupholder installed, too.
It's an awesome aircraft, but this type of modification should have been incorporated years ago... unless it's more than "advertised".
The increase in speed with which new military technology debuts has been quite noticeable in the last five years and I suspect that the raptors will continue to be upgraded rapidly as new goodies are developed.
Hey... for anyone in the know....
It seems like this bird does a whole lot of stuff automatically. Why would it need a pilot?
Couldn't some computer weenie program this thing to smoke anything not identifiable as a "friendly" out there?
....just wondering...
....oops... seems like I got my answer here....http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1617402/posts
looks like we're not too far off from a pilotless F-22
You would want somebody on board to make decisions. Not everything can be programmed.
LOL!!!
NIght refueling aids seem a bit of a stretch for a new fitting out. I would suspect that you're right, some new gizmo that will be an asset over the skies of Iran.
Seems doable.
Not only doable - it's already underway. The Air Force is training ground pilots, and the next generation of aircraft will be smaller, lighter, cheaper, stealthier, more maneuverable, and MUCH faster, thanks to not having a pilot on board who otherwise couldn't handle the G-forces.
The F-22 is going to rule the skies for about ten years - after that, the drones shall inherit the Earth. ;)
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