VIDEO - F-22 Raptor’s power and agility displayed at airshow [Langley AFB]

Flight ^ | June 1, 2007 | Graham Warwick

[LurkedLongEnough]

Here is a video showcasing the capability of the US Air Force’s first F-22A flight demonstration routine, now wowing audiences at North American air shows and challenging perceptions of the Raptor.

This fighter best known for stealth, speed and sensors, has been designed to evade radar, supercruise above Mach 1.5 and fly at 65,000ft.

With its two Pratt & Whitney F119 engines vectoring their 35,000lb of afterburning thrust through +/-20º as an integral part of the flight-control system, the F-22 proves itself to be surprisingly agile, performing helicopter turns, tailsides and backflips.

[Minutemen]

Audio only. No video.

[jazusamo]

Their fullest potential and the fact that we have them is the very reason that potential may never have to be used.

[papasmurf]

That made my day. (I'm havin' a crappy one)

What a fantastic bird, thanks for the post.

:O)

P

[doorgunner69]

Remember the older Sukhoi Flankers did it without vectored thrust. It was a crazy maneuver that required them to override the flight control system. For them, it was more of a stunt. It is the newer Sukhoi's that have vectored thrust.

Kirkwood, the lack of vectored exhaust nozzles is why the Russian planes look a bit sloppy, and with the flight control system bypassed, the pilot got no help with stability issues, had to do it seat-of-the-pants.

[skinkinthegrass]

KEWL! :D

[Tailback]

In real combat the Raptor will be firing AMRAAMs from 30 miles away, and the enemy never sees it coming.

Well you know that and I know that, but this kind of video is what those retards otherwise known as politicians need to see. Then they say "I just have to have a unit of those in my district or state".

[antiRepublicrat]

Hollywood special effects are getting good these days, as it actually looked real. We all know an airplane can’t really do that.

:)

[jagusafr]

I don’t think they’ll ever be used to their full potential, because nobody else makes or will make an adversary fighter that performs well enough to require the F-22 to fly at its limit. Of course, that’s the idea behind a vigorous defense program: make it so obvious we’re the 800lb gorilla that nobody will challenge us.

Colonel, USAFR

[rlmorel]

Holy frikkin cow!

[GBA]

It's an amazing airplane and a very valuable asset to have in our inventory. It should be at least a decade before we sell F-22s to anyone, even the Brits and Israelis. By then, the Russians will probably have something fielded that will be close to F-22's performance.

[RobbyS]

I remeber when I first saw the F-16 at a Ramstein air show. THAT was amazing. This is something else.

[rlmorel]

Yes...what I found most amazing is just how in control the aircraft seems doing those things.

[RachelFaith]

Sad indeed that W has turned out to be LBJ of the 21st century.