F-22 fleet grounded

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Where no men, has gone before. Volendo riassumere in una frase, i problemi del Raptor potrebbero essere dovuti alle sue eccezionali prestazioni. Volare alto a considerevole forza G, potrebbe essere una combinazione nuova per l'Air Force e l'OBOGS sarebbe spinto oltre i suoi limiti.

Ma è presto per dirlo con certezza.

[TT-1 Pinto]

La soluzione è forse vicina ....

 

"We have some recent data that we are starting to believe we are coming to closure on that root cause," says Lt Gen Janet Wolfenbarger, military deputy to the USAF acquisitions chief ....

.... e i due piloti non saranno puniti ....

 

The US Air Force will not punish two F-22 Raptor pilots who publicly spoke out about problems with the Lockheed Martin-built aircraft's oxygen system, a senior service official tells Congress ....

 

Fonte .... .... http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/usaf-moves-closer-to-solving-raptor-oxygen-woes-whistle-blower-pilots-wont-be-punished-371588/

 

 

[TT-1 Pinto]

Vorremmo tornare a volare ....

 

Dal "Daily Report" .... .... Thursday May 10, 2012

 

 

F-22 Pilots in 60 Minutes Piece Want to Resume Flying

 

The two Virginia Air National Guard pilots who just days ago told the nation that the F-22 fighter wasn't currently safe to fly now want to resume flying the jet.

 

The pilots are more comfortable about operating the aircraft now that the Air Force has removed a charcoal filter from the jet that service officials had installed to monitor for contaminants in Raptor pilots' air supply, reported 'The Daily Press' of Newport News, Va., on May 9, citing the two pilots' attorney.

 

The two pilots thought this filter—meant to help identify why some F-22 pilots, including both of them, have experienced hypoxia-like symptoms in the cockpit—was making it harder for them to breathe, according to the newspaper.

 

The Air Force leadership is treating both 192nd Fighter Wing pilots—Maj. Jeremy Gordon and Capt. Josh Wilson—as whistleblowers, USAF headquarters spokesman Lt. Col. John Dorrian told the 'Daily Report'.

 

This means they are protected from punishment under federal law for appearing on CBS News' 60 Minutes television broadcast on May 6 to air their concerns.

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Bene, adesso si comincia a parlare di come i piloti di Raptor siano affetti più di altri da quello che si potrebbe definire grossolanamente la tosse del pilota, un effetto che normalmente è dovuto all'effetto delle manovre che si provano su un caccia, ma che nei "Raptor" potrebbe dipendere anche da agenti contaminanti nell'aria respirata dai piloti.

[TT-1 Pinto]

"Rapaci" .... volate pure .... ma non allontanatevi troppo dal nido ....

 

Pilots operating the stealthy twin-engine air dominance fighter must remain close enough to an airfield to recover the aircraft quickly in case they encounter problems with their oxygen system ....

Fonte .... .... http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/us-defence-secretary-orders-additional-f-22-safety-measures-371943/

 

Inoltre ....

 

DOD News Briefing with George Little and Capt. Kirby from the Pentagon ....

Fonte .... .... http://www.defense.gov/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=5033

[Vultur]

Come rapaci scarsini, ma come apneisti formidabili. Basta un po' d'allenamento costante. (Il problema è che sono convinto che, oltre a poter dare dipendenza, il giochino alla lunga non faccia un gran bene ai neuroni cerebrali).

 

Modificato 17 Maggio 2012 da Vultur

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L'audio di un pilota di Raptor che dichiara emergenza a causa dell'ipossia.

 

http://defensetech.org/2012/05/17/audio-of-an-f-22-pilot-getting-hypoxia/#more-17261

 

 

[TT-1 Pinto]

Ipotesi recenti ....

 

Combat Edge anti-g ensemble might be causing the Raptor's woes ....

Fonte .... .... http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/the-dewline/2012/06/combat-edge-anti-g-ensemble-mi.html

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Se davvero fosse la tuta Combat Edge il problema, sarebbe già qualcosa di più gestibile che rifare impianto OBOGS.

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Anche in quest'altro articolo di Flight Global si parla della tuta Combat Edge, come di un elemento che potrebbe essere una delle cause dell'ipossia dei piloti sul Raptor.

 

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/combat-edge-anti-g-ensemble-might-be-causing-raptors-oxygen-woes-372642/

[TT-1 Pinto]

Ne hanno "scassato" uno ....

 

F-22 Raptor damaged during training flight ....

 

The aircraft was being flown by a student pilot transitioning to the Raptor from another aircraft type ....

.... ma non sembra vi sia relazione con i problemi relativi ai casi di ipossia in precedenza registrati .... comunque è, ovviamente, in corso un'inchiesta ....

 

Fonte .... .... http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/f-22-raptor-damaged-during-training-flight-372787/

[TT-1 Pinto]

E' in corso un'inchiesta .... ci informa Amy McCullough sul "Daily Report"di questa mattina ....

 

 

F-22 Mishap at Tyndall Under Investigation

 

Air Force officials are releasing few details on a recent F-22 "mishap" at Tyndall AFB, Fla., pending the results of a safety investigation board review.

 

"Everything surrounding that incident is under investigation," Herman Bell, spokesman for Tyndall's 325th Fighter Wing, told the "Daily Report" June 8.

 

The wing trains new F-22 pilots.

 

The incident occurred on May 31 during an orientation course intended for new Raptor pilots to get familiar with the aircraft, said Bell.

 

Although he said it's not clear whether mechanical or pilot error caused the mishap, he noted that it was only the pilot's second solo F-22 flight.

 

The pilot was not injured, but the aircraft suffered "a number of scrapes on the bottom," leading maintainers to tow it from the scene, he said.

 

The F-22 is "still fully intact," noted Bell.

 

Officials are still assessing the repair costs, but Bell said he thought the accident likely would be classified as a Class A mishap.

 

These types of accidents involve more than $1 million in damages. "The individual walked away unharmed.

 

That's the important thing," said Bell.

Modificato 11 Giugno 2012 da TT-1 Pinto

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Un'articolo sul problema del Raptor, ed uno sui dettagli della tuta di volo Combat Edge.

[madmike]

The Air Force has disclosed that the rate of oxygen problems among F-22 Raptor pilots is worse than it previously reported: about nine times higher than the rate for any other U.S. military aircraft, according to documents released today by Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.).

 

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/article-view/release/136040/f_22-oxygen-problems-worse-than-previously-stated%3A-senators.html

 

http://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2012/6/sen-warner-rep-kinzinger-release-new-information-on-f-22-probe

 

The rate of hypoxia or hypoxia-like incidents, reported among F-22 pilots through May 31, 2012 was 26.43 per 100,000 flight hours, according to the latest Air Force disclosure. The F-16, in contrast, has a rate of 2.96.

[TT-1 Pinto]

Si avvicina una risposta ....

 

US Air Force Nearing Answers On F-22 Oxygen Issue ....

Fonte .... agenzia di informazioni Reuters .... ripresa da http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/awx_06_15_2012_p0-468308.xml

[TT-1 Pinto]

Però .... non è ancor detto che le tossine non c'entrino ....

 

Sources: Too soon to rule out toxins in F-22 case ....

Fonte http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/sources-too-soon-to-rule-out-toxins-in-f-22-case-373144/

[Andrea75]

F-16 Co-Designer Claims F-22’s Glues Causing Hypoxia

 

notizia da prendere con le pinze

 

the glue, made of classified chemicals and is routinely reapplied to the jets, emits toxic gasses when the jet is travelling at Mach 1.6 and above.

[Andrea75]

USAF Air Combat Command chief qualifies on F-22 Raptor

 

The head of the US Air Force's Air Combat Command (ACC) has qualified to fly the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor.

Gen Mike Hostage started training to fly the stealthy fifth-generation fighter in solidarity with the Raptor pilots under his command. F-22 pilots have been experiencing a series of hypoxia-like physiological incidents which have yet to be explained.

"I'm asking these airmen to assume some risk that exceeds the norm in day-to-day training, and I have to be willing to do it myself and experience firsthand what they do," Hostage says.

[TT-1 Pinto]

The head of the US Air Force's Air Combat Command (ACC) has qualified to fly the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor ....

Qualche ulteriore dettaglio dal sito del Comando ....

 

http://www.acc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123308740

[TT-1 Pinto]

I legislatori chiedono risposte .....

 

..... dal "Daily Report" dell' AFA di questa mattina ....

 

Lawmakers Seek Answers on F-22 Issues ....

 

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) sent a letter to Air Force Secretary Michael Donley on July 10 expressing their appreciation for the service's efforts thus far to ensure the health and safety of F-22 pilots, but also voicing their continued concerns over recent hypoxia-related incidents with Raptor pilots.

 

Specially, they cite a "hypoxia-related in-flight emergency declared by an F-22 pilot" at JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, on July 6; a "restricted airflow" incident at JB Langley-Eustis, Va., in late June; and a mishap at Tyndall AFB, Fla., on May 31 in which an F-22 "reportedly impacted the runway without extending its landing gear."

 

Warner and Kinzinger ask for a briefing within 30 days to get updated information on the aircraft's onboard oxygen-generation system and whether it provides enough oxygen to pilots at higher altitudes while they are sustaining powerful G-forces.

 

They also seek information on the pilot's survival gear, including the upper pressure vest, which has come under scrutiny again of late as potentially restricting the pilot's airflow and possibly contributing to the cases of pilots' disorientation and dizziness.

 

[Andrea75]

More Bad News For F-22’s oxygen system

 

There’s good news and there’s bad news for the latest round of oxygen system incidents for the Air Force’s F-22 Raptor. The bad news is they are still popping up, the good news is the Air Force says they know why the two most recent ones occurred.

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A pilot from the 1st Fighter Wing reported a restriction of air reaching his face mask on his final approach before landing on June 26. After he landed he engaged the emergency oxygen system on the runway. The investigation found the restriction was caused by a “stuck valve” and the pilot has returned to flying, according to the CNN report.

 

The most recent incident on July 6 is still under investigation. A Hawaii National Guard pilot’s warning indication popped for the Onboard Oxygen Generating System and declared an in-flight emergency. Because the pilot received the OBOGS warning, the Air Force is confident that was the cause of the problem, Sholtis told CNN.

 

 

Read more: http://defensetech.org/2012/07/17/more-bad-news-for-f-22s-oxygen-system/#ixzz20xQCoyRq

Defense.org

 

[TT-1 Pinto]

Dal "Daily Report" dell' AFA di questa mattina ....

 

Mechanical Failure Caused Recent F-22 Incident in Hawaii ....

 

A July 6 incident in which a Hawaii Air National Guard F-22 pilot "experienced a hypoxic symptom" in flight during a routine training sortie has a known cause: an in-flight life-support system malfunction, an Air Force official told the Daily Report on July 17.

 

While the investigation into the matter is still under way, the Air Force categorizes this malfunction as "a physiological 'cause-known' event," said the official.

 

Accordingly, it is not one of the cases for which the service is still trying to determine why Raptor pilots have shown symptoms like disorientation and nausea in flight.

 

The official said the Hawaii Air Guard pilot received a cockpit warning at the end of his training sortie from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam that his onboard oxygen-generation system was underperforming in delivering oxygen.

 

The pilot experienced a hypoxic symptom and then activated the aircraft's emergency oxygen system, said the official.

 

"The symptom immediately subsided, and the pilot returned uneventfully to base," stated the official.

 

The pilot had no lingering physiological effects and has returned to flight status, said the official.

 

(See also Lawmakers Seek Answers on F-22 Issues .... http://www.airforce-magazine.com/DRArchive/Pages/2012/July%202012/July%2011%202012/LawmakersSeekAnswersonF-22Issues.aspx ....)

Modificato 18 Luglio 2012 da TT-1 Pinto

[TT-1 Pinto]

Sarà la volta buona ?

 

Daily Report .... Wednesday July 25, 2012 -

 

You Can Breathe, Now ....

 

The Air Force believes it finally understands the cause of hypoxia-like issues affecting some F-22 pilots in the last several years, and is taking a "phased approach" to retrofitting hardware and getting flight restrictions lifted on the stealth jets, said outgoing Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz on July 24.

 

At a Pentagon press conference to discuss his tenure as his Aug. 10 retirement looms, Schwartz said Air Force officials briefed Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on July 20 on the new findings.

 

Panetta, in turn, lifted some F-22 flight restrictions—enough to clear a squadron-sized group of F-22s to deploy from the United States to Kadena AB, Japan, "in the next few days," said Schwartz.

 

The Air Force has data ruling out any "contamination" of Raptor pilot oxygen and has fixed on faulty valve connections in the upper part of the Combat Edge full-body G-suit and a charcoal filter as the culprits in the hypoxia-like episodes, said Schwartz.

 

Centrifuge and altitude-chamber tests have confirmed these findings, he added, explaining the problem as "the quantity, not the quality" of the air pilots are receiving.

 

The filters have already been removed and the G-suit modifications will start entering service in September, said Schwartz.

 

For the Japan deployment, Schwartz said the jets would follow the "northern island chain" route so they are never more than 90 minutes from a usable runway, and tankers accompanying them will carry enough fuel so that the F-22s could descend and fly at lower, less fuel-efficient altitudes, if necessary.

 

Schwartz said the Air Force still has to go back to Panetta with a final report to get his "head nod" to resume unrestricted F-22 flying.

 

Schwartz transcript .... http://www.defense.gov/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=5086

 

See also Little transcript .... http://www.defense.gov/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=5085

 

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Speriamo.