What a shame the F/A-18 wasn't mentioned.. A timeless aircraft, and a reliable one too!
Posted on 03/12/2012 9:11:31 PM PDT by U-238
The U.S. Air Force is still having problems with the pilot's air supply in its F-22 fighters. Recently, there were three more cases of F-22 pilots apparently experiencing problems. The term "apparently" is appropriate because the pilots did not black out and a thorough check of the air supply system and the aircraft found nothing wrong. There have been nearly 30 of these "dizziness or disorientation" incidents in the last four years. That's about one incident per hundred sorties. Only one F-22 has been lost to an accident so far and, while that did involve an air supply issue, it was caused by pilot error, not equipment failure. Meanwhile the air force is spending $7 million to install commercial oxygen status sensors in the air supply systems of its F-22 fighters. This is part of a ten month effort to find out what's causing the air supply on F-22s to get contaminated and cause pilots to become disoriented or pass out. Twice in the past year the entire F-22 fleet was grounded because of the air supply problems. The first grounding lasted 140 days and ended last September. The second grounding lasted a week and ended four months ago. The 180 F-22s comprise the most powerful component of the air force's air combat capability and the brass are eager to find out what is wrong.
(Excerpt) Read more at strategypage.com ...
Things begin to dwindle after a sortie or two:)
That said, our F-15Cs can still take on anything anyone else has at a ratio of 10-1. Minimum.
I agree with you but the Air Force and Lockheed needs to figure out the problem.If they have to ground the planes but do it a few at at time. I am willing to bet its some small part that is causing the problem.
Could it be that the F-22’s flight capabilities exceed that which the human body can tolerate (even pilots)? Maybe we’re at the breaking point with the F-22?
Small part, yep.. Just like cars.. Start with the small stuff and work your way up from there.
These are fifth generation jets. The pilots should not worry that their oxygen supply is going to freeze up.
We can still put 150 of them in the air, downing AT LEAST 900 enemy aircraft with each sortie...if we can find them.
Things begin to dwindle after a sortie or two:)
That said, our F-15Cs can still take on anything anyone else has at a ratio of 10-1. Minimum.
I like those numbers.
Perhaps you are correct but in none of the reports did I hear anything about a high G failure of the O2 system.
Note: An F16 can put some serious G forces on the pilot. My question is what is the difference between the oxygen system on the F-16 as compared to the F-22.
I agree
I don’t think it is a small part. Instead, it is a complex system, which in some circumstances leads to tragic results. I believe the basic scenario is that the intake system, which comes from an engine bleed, gets mucked up. It is believed that this is the result of too much cold or moisture into the bleed system.
The problem is that, apparently, there are no monitors to identify this scenario. Instead, the pilot starts to feel light-headed. Unfortunately, it is not a minor maneuver to kick the backup oxgen system into gear.
As I understand it, the likely scenario for the crash was that the pilot did not complete this maneuver successfully before he passed out. That is the heart of the problem, as far as I have read to date.
Yes, that was from Nellis AFB. It was the pilots G Suit. I have the link for you.
http://www.lvrj.com/news/air-force-seeks-maker-of-g-suit-in-fatal-crash-142292155.html
Good Points
I know several guys in two different types of aircraft that have almost been killed by OBOGS problems where the jet didn't even know it had a problem.
I also personally know a guy that died in an OBOGS aircraft where his last transmissions to ATC indicated that he was probably incoherent to the point of incapacitation. At the altitude he was at he would have had to have had his mask on, pointing to an OBOGS issue.
One in one hundred sorties is a fantastically high rate for such a critical safety of flight component. They really need to get this figured out soon.
Not because it's a better airplane, but because it has better pilots. The SU-35 is a formidable aircraft. It's radar might not be quite as good as the latest AESA version on some F-15Cs, but it's at least close. The exchange ratio would be close to unity, if the USAF (and IAF, JSADF and other) pilots were not better trained and utilizing better tactics than Russian or Chinese pilots.) If Obama realizes he can save a bunch of $$, and not use so much oil, by cutting flying hours to the level those other countries have for training, that could and likely will, change.
But the F-22 will eat SU-35s and even the not yet deployed T-50, for lunch.
No, that happened with the F-16. The plane knows how much the pilot can take, and doesn't exceed that limit, even though aerodynamically and structurally it could. (It's all fly by computer, starting with the F-16, although not a digital computer until the C/D models. (Redundant computers in both cases, first analog and then digital) But that was over 35 years ago.
Got it. Thanks.
Is this something that typically only occurs above a certain altitude, or is it more of a random thing?
I really do not know. I would suggest that the USAF/Air Combat Command and Lockheed Martin ground the jets and re-install new oxygen units. Yes, its going to cost millions of dollars but they have to keep in mind there is a human operator. There is something clearly wrong.
Rod Serling, call your office....
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