F-22 achieves 2,000 flight-test hours
06/13/02 - EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFPN) -- After successfully reaching the 2,000-hour mark in the skies above Edwards on June 7, the F-22 Raptor flight-test program is pushing ahead toward the start of operational testing.
The 2,000th flight hour came with two Raptors in the sky and two more in preparation for flight tests later that day. Raptor 4006 was airborne on an avionics electronic warfare mission with Col. Chris Seat, F-22 Combined Test Force director, at the controls, while Boeing F-22 test pilot Randy Neville was in the air with Raptor 4003 flying an envelope expansion mission.
According to Seat, the 2,000 hours have provided critical data necessary for the continued development and evaluation of the Raptor's performance, maneuverability, stealth technology and integrated avionics. These capabilities will ultimately provide the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center with a weapon system that is ready to meet the operational requirement challenges of the Dedicated Initial Operational Test and Evaluation, slated to begin in 2003.
The 2,000 hours of safe flight test are a significant achievement for the Combined Test Force and F-22 program, said Seat.
"These hours are a real indicator of just how well the Raptor is performing and maturing as a weapon system and are a direct result of the hard work, dedication, discipline, and professionalism of the integrated government-contractor, development-operational test team," Seat added.
Neville agreed the entire team is working hard to field "a truly impressive airplane that will dominate the skies for decades to come."
"On a daily basis we are out doing heavy maneuvering at the extremes of the F-22 airspeed envelope, from supersonic to very low airspeeds," Neville said. "Envelope expansion testing, combined with avionics testing, is providing critical data on all of the major technological features of the Raptor."
With the 2000-hour mark behind it, the test force is poised to successfully complete the F-22 development flight-test program, said Seat. The director added that AFOTEC is an important member of the test team and is also readying for initial operational tests.
"Ultimately, the F-22 program is on track to provide Air Combat Command a fully developed weapon system with initial operational capability in December 2005," said Seat.
