 |
 HOME |
ARTICLES |
FORUMS |
COLUMNS |
GALLERY |
STORE |
SPONSORS |
CONTACT US |
BRIDGES
A COMMENTARY BY DOUG MEYERSaturday April 8th, 2006
Your Tax Dollars At Work
Here is the Raptot making a low pass at around 400 mph. Note the reflection from the heads up display glass panel in front of the pilot.
The F-22 is an advanced stealth design and is coated with "RAM" a Radar Absorbsion Material making it literally invisible to even the latest ground or airborne fire control radars. It can "Supercruise", or fly supersonic (over 750 mph), without afterburners lit, giving it incredible range at supersonic speeds.
Note the lack of reflective surfaces and external "stores" or weapons mounts. All missles and bombs are carried internally.
The Raptor features Vectored Thrust which utilizes exhaust noxxels that can direct the thrust up or down to enable the aircraft to fly at extremely high "alpha" or pitch angles.It does not move conventionally. It seems to be able to just move around in the air without the usual radiuses of turn or climb angles. It's simply amazing.
A feature of the demonstration was an Air Force "Heritage Flight" with the F-22 flying formation along with an F-15 with a P-51 Mustang. These are BIG airplanes.
The Raptors cost about 140 million dollars per copy. There are currently 62 of them.
I guess that works out to about 62 bucks per taxpayer. I, for one, think it's money well spent!
Posted by Doug @ 21:24 - Permalink - 1 Comments - 0 Trackbacks
Comments
"The F-22 Raptor made its' first civilian airshow appearance yesterday."
Hey Doug, I saw the F-22 at the Miramar Air Show last year, Oct. 2005. It was open to the public, but on a military base. Does that void it of being a "civilian" airshow?
From hawkman on 2006-09-25 23:04 - Permalink
TrackBacks
No Trackbacks
THE AUTHOR
Doug Meyer has been working with race engines professionally and as a hobby for the past 45 years. He has built engines for everything from dragbikes and cars to outboard race boats, from the famous Can-Am sports cars and an F-1 car to motorcycle streamliners. He spent many years as a professional race team member and engine builder. Everything from nitrous to nitro, Doug's had his hands in it. He has set 16 Bonneville speed records...
Click here to continue
Click here to continue
RECENT ENTRIES
- The Brits call it an "Off"
- Makin' Stories......
- A Veterans Day Story
- I sold my 1098.... And here's why
- Torque - The question you didn't ask
ArchiveAll photographs by Doug Meyer unless otherwise noted