Posted on 04/25/2006 4:14:09 PM PDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity
April 25, 2006 (by Jeff Hollenbeck) - A pilot was trapped in an F-22 cockpit for five hours on April 10th after the canopy failed to open. Several attempts to open the canopy failed, and ultimately the canopy was cut by fire department personnel.
The F-22A Raptor is the U.S. Air Force's newest, most expensive, and most capable aircraft ever, but sometimes even the best have a bad day. On 10 April 06 at approximately 08.15h aircraft 03-041 had a Red Ball for a canopy unlock indication during pre-flight checks. Attempts to clear the problems by cycling the canopy failed. After the final cycling of the canopy, it remained down and locked position, trapping the pilot in the cockpit. The aircraft subsequently ground aborted.
The 27th AMU consulted Lockheed Martin and the F-22A System Program Office to determine alternate methods to open the canopy and extract the pilot. However, all attempts by maintenance personnel to open the canopy failed.
After all maintenance options were exhausted, the canopy was cut by the fire department and the pilot was freed from the cockpit at approximately 13.15h. the cause of the problem is currently being investigated. Replacement cost of the canopy will be $182,205.
Should have ejected. :D
At a gazillion a copy, the damn canopy should open!
If the Air Force gets screwed the same way that the Army does, this thing probably only costs about $10 to manufacture.
$182,000 for the canopy. Is there anything on this plane that hasn't been gold-plated by the generals?
After five hours, they probably had to hose it out.
A can opener is to be included into all emergency kits.
Sounds like a missed opportunity for some improvised ejector seat testing.
The F-16 canopy is gold plated. The inside of the canopy is covered with a thin gold film which dissipates radar energy to reduce the radar cross section, especially from the front. Maybe the F-22 is too.
I think y'all are trying to be funny, but a fighter canopy has to be strong enough to withstand bird strikes, has to be durable, stay clear...etc. This isn't like a car windshield.
ding
"$182,000 for the canopy. Is there anything on this plane that hasn't been gold-plated by the generals?"
Keep in mind the requirements.
Surviving bird strikes at 500 knots, optically designed to not distort the view out of the cockpit, god knows what radar low observability requirements, coatings for UV and IR?, surviving the heat of mach flight, and extremely cold altitudes. Not crack, not haze. How long is it required to last too?
Lots of requirements to meet I'm sure.
Maintenance note: Make sure to include a Jonny-bottle behind the seat.
Actually some aircraft had gold impregnated canopies to protect the aircrew from radiation when using high powered jammers.
Lots of requirements to meet I'm sure.
But they all fall to the Saws-All!
I understand that a canopy has to be designed to withstand all kinds of things and, for the F-22, have stealth characteristics. I'm a bit skeptical of a canopy that costs more than the landing gear, though. The F-16's canopy costs about $30,000.
"Hey... thanks for showing up guys... I know I shouldn't have had the large big-gulp but it came with the hot dog and I've really gotta pee..."
"guys... where you going... guys... hey... come back... yeah, real cute... now come back and open this thing up... guys... hey... guys...? "
UNICOR maintenance?
What's the deductable?
Isn't there a guarantee by Boeing? Did the USAF buy the extended warranty?
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