Air Force returns 170 grounded F-22s to service

Air Force returns 170 grounded F-22s to service

www.f-16.net

The U.S. Air Force ended the stand-down of all 170 jets after 12 incidents of pilots' experiencing hypoxia. With a mystery still swirling around why some pilots became light-headed while flying F-22 Raptors, the jets returned to the skies Wednesday nearly five months after the nation's fleet was grounded.

(visit the link for the full news article)

Looks like the only combat-capable 5th gen jets are about to go airborne again.

However, think that the life-support malfunction story is just a cover-up for something else because I know a Raptor flyboy who I talk to regularly who has refused to tell me much (Even rumors that he may have heard) about this issue, while in the past he answered about each and every question that I had about the F22. Only thing he was willing to tell me was that the grounding of the birds was for both fixing a few issues and "something else that he was not willing to talk about" which told me a lot about the sensitivity of the "Something else" since in the past, he was more than willing to disclose a lot of information about the Raptors flight-characteristics (Which is highly classified).

My own opinion aside, you people in the USA should feel a hell of a lot more safe, knowing that "frikkin" Raptors are again guarding the skies while we, where I live, have cute little Vipers doing that. I hope the day never comes that our birds have to go face-to-face against Raptors and get annihilated 70-1.

IT--

www.f-16.net
(visit the link for the full news article)

The F-22 is a damned fine warplane. Too bad our government was too stingy to give the USAF more than a few.

Also noted on the OP link... F-16.

There is an extreme makeover variant of the venerable F-16 that makes it semi-stealthy, increases performance and adds speed that is due out shortly. Surprised no one has yet to run a post on them.

i thought the f-22 program was ended and not because of accidents but government cut backs ?

confused on this one cause never heard of that.

When are they due to be back in the skies? Another coincidental timing if you ask me.