F-22A Raptor Can't Cross The International Date Line

F-22A Raptor Can't Cross The International Date Line

Source Link: www.infomaticsonline.co.uk

A software glitch forced 12 United States Air Force F-22A Raptor stealth fighters to cancel their first overseas flight.

The problem seems to have arisen not from the time change, but from the change in longitude from W179.99 degrees to E180 which occurs on the International Date Line.

The $125m planes, the most expensive fighters ever built, returned safely, but the situation may have been disastrous if they had not been with their tankers or the weather had turned bad.

(visit the link for the full news article)

So wait, your telling me we spend years, and hundreds of millions
developing this plane.

And now we find out some tiny computer error can be fatal to it??



Wow, now I know why no one buys American anymore.

bet its a microsoft program

yup, and the ENTIRE WORLD had to have it's software updated to reflect the year 2000 problem. glitches happen, get over it.

That's not a glitch, that's a freakin' embarrassment.

I'd be asking for a refund or at least some freebies - coffee mugs, baseball caps, that sorta thing.

To be fair though, maybe they only ever envisaged it flying in continental US airspace in defence of the realm sorta stuff. Best to check the contract smallprint just the same

Snafu - Y2K was a problem they didn't foresee 40 years into the future when the first commercial operating systems were developed. This is a problem that every plane with an on-board nav. computer deals with daily...

Wow. I wonder what would happen if it had to fly over one of the poles. Would it encounter the same type of problem latitudinally?

Originally posted by Icarus Rising
Wow. I wonder what would happen if it had to fly over one of the poles. Would it encounter the same type of problem latitudinally?

I got a U2U for you, sent to me by mistake. It's from Lockheed Martin, they want to know if you'd consider a job offer.

www.abovetopsecret.com...

Already in discussion.

This story is at least two weeks old...

Bu anyway, one of the most technologically complex systems on the plant had a software glitch in it's second year of operational service and OMG, get a refund! Never mind the incredible accomplishments and capabilities F-22 has demonstrated or the leap in technology it brings.

It was a software issue that was overlooked, all it took was a little update and the problem was fixed. All twelve F-22's are now in Kadena AFB, and they can cross the international date line. All F-22's that have already been produced are being retrofitted with this upgrade and the ones coming off the assembly line in the future will not have this problem.

Almost all complex military systems have problem at first since they are not yet fully mature platforms, they all have their critics too. I want to point out that the M1 Abrams, F-16 and F-15 all faced similar problems and criticisms, we all know how that turned out.

Originally posted by WestPoint23

It was a software issue that was overlooked, all it took was a little update and the problem was fixed.

Yep it was a microsoft product.

American Soliders cannot get proper equipment and armor because of funding going to Air Force pet projects that still fall flat on their face. Thank god for a system of checks and balances...oh wait we gave that with the democracy we sent to Iraq....

Originally posted by CAConrad0825
American Soliders cannot get proper equipment and armor because of funding going to Air Force pet projects that still fall flat on their face. Thank god for a system of checks and balances...oh wait we gave that with the democracy we sent to Iraq....

So you're saying you think we shouldn't have developed the F-22 at all?

No, who have we fought that has out gunned us when we have our F-16, and F-18s and A-10's?

The US has only attacked countries with a non-viable air force. Anyone that has one is for the most part referred to as our ally. Some say China is our enemy, but our trade argues otherwise. If the Air Force and other parts of the military budget were decreased and given back to the tax payer, you'd see a huge increase in the standard of living and private investment.

Originally posted by BlueRaja
www.abovetopsecret.com...

Already in discussion.

A topic can be discussed both in a normal section and in the news section.

Written in en.wikipedia.org...
The USAF is currently planning a massive Reduction-in-Force (RIF). Because of budget constraints, the USAF will reduce the service's current size by 40,000 full time equivalent positions by 2011, with approximately half to be eliminated in FY 2007. Approximately 35,000 active duty positions, or one year's cycle of enlistments and retirements, will be eliminated over 5 years.[3] The current size of the active-duty force is roughly 70% of that of the USAF at the end of the first Gulf War in 1991.[4]

There you go.

Its about time, the defense budget is outrageous and continues to drag the US deeper into debt with no collateral to back it up.

Also, please never insult us with a wikipedia source, find real data and then post. Anyone can edit Wiki.

[edit on 27-2-2007 by CAConrad0825]

Originally posted by CAConrad0825
No, who have we fought that has out gunned us when we have our F-16, and F-18s and A-10's?

The US has only attacked countries with a non-viable air force. Anyone that has one is for the most part referred to as our ally. Some say China is our enemy, but our trade argues otherwise. If the Air Force and other parts of the military budget were decreased and given back to the tax payer, you'd see a huge increase in the standard of living and private investment.

BS. every single civilization in history that has decided it was too "civilized" to maintain a proper military very soon thereafter ceased to exist. the very reason we havent had to defend ourselves from more advanced countries is because we do dominate in the air power arena....and time and time again modern history has shown that he who maintains air superiority wins the battle and therefore the war.

i for one have no problem with my tax dollars being used to maintain and upgrade an airforce capable of dominating all others....and i should think my opinion matters considering that almost 40 percent of my check goes to the freaking government.

Johnmike, don't bother anyone with half brain cell will realize that if you don't control the skies no amount of body armor in the world will save you.

Also, the idea that we should stick with F-15's and F-16's forever is irrational, by that logic since no one beat the F-86 when it came out we should have always used it. What they fail to realize is that you don't train and equip yourself to fight yesterdays battle. With sophisticated radar and SAM systems becoming more prevalent and cap pale and with "foreign" fighters becoming more advanced the F-22 is an absolute necessity. It is an insurance policy, it will dominate anything out there right now (and in the foreseeable future) meaning we can do as we please in the skies and we will lose less people. I don't know about you but I don't won't to have a 35+ year old airframe (F-16, F-15) until 2040 when one considers what might be developed by then. Also, I would not be comfortable winning 51 to 49 in an F-15 or F-16 air force against a capable foe, when I can win 90 to 10 in the F-22 and F-35.

Complacency kills and you never want to stay stagnant, technology and capability must always be improved and developed.

Originally posted by grover
bet its a microsoft program

LMAO. Maybee the F22 didn't come with SP2.

Seriously though, it worries me that such an oversight could have occured. Based on the source article, the raptors "had to turn back using only visual contact with the tankers". Their nav systems went belly up. could you imagine what would potentially have happened if this wasn't caught? Thank god this isn't fully operational and deployed yet! The f22 raptor is such a cool plane. For that kind of money, someones head needs to roll for that oversight. If the tankers weren't within "visual contact" we potentially could have lost 2 VERY expensive planes, not to mention the lives of the pilots flying them.