Looks like yet ANOTHER Class A accident involving an F-22. This one was on the ground, at Tyndall AFB, in Florida. I heard about last week, but they finally came out with the story. It involves a Canadian CF-18 and an F-22. They haven't released many details, but said the aircraft were parking in their shelters, and the F-22 clipped the Hornet, causing just over a million dollars in damage to the Raptor. As one PA spokesperson said (and I love this quote) "it was just barely a Class A". There was minor damage to the Hornet, and both aircraft will be repaired.

If relatively minor damage to an F-22 is considered Class A in nature, then what about the B-2 Crash, is that AAA? Lol, these aircraft are running some sky high price tags indeed.

The really interesting question in all this is, where are they doing the repairs?



If minor scratches on the F-22 cannot be repaired in the field...

I would assume if it's non-flyable, they'll bring a depot team in to make it flyable, then take it to the depot to fix everything else. I would assume that it IS fixable in the field though, otherwise any kind of accident like this, and they're screwed.

Why do I find it ironic and not at all surprising that the first country to damage an F-22 is the Americans' best buddies?

One concern that this kind of brings up is the multiplication in the cost of repairs of cutting-edge aircraft. If something that causes "minor damage" to a CF-18 (which, given our budget, probably means it won't be fixed) deals over $1 000 000 dollars in damage to an F-22, what about the various dings and scrapes that it is going to incur during combat missions in a country that is actually harsh? I understand that they've done Red Flag, but I'm not sure how that stacks up to working out of substandard or partially cleared runways as in some combat areas.

Come to think of it, I wonder what the effect on RCS would be after the RAM gets dinged up or scratched by a few rock hits and some sand abrasion?

Just some random thoughts.

The only aircraft you would see flying out of substandard or partially cleared runways would be A-10s and MAYBE AV-8s. Fighters suffer engine damage from FOD at a prodigious rate if the ramp isn't clean. We used to call the F-16 a vacuum cleaner, because anything left on the ramp near it wasn't there after they went by.

The only model we have would be Operation Desert Storm and Operation Allied Force. In both cases F-117's & B-2's operated from secure friendly airbases close to the AOR (not so much the B-2). I do not see why it would be any different for a future scenario involving the F-22. Also, I believe the F-22's have a sort of self diagnosis system that lets the crew know when the signature has deteriorated to compromising levels. The only problems may come from having to make an emergency landing of sorts at less than world class facilities.

Originally posted by WestPoint23
Also, I believe the F-22's have a sort of self diagnosis system that lets the crew know when the signature has deteriorated to compromising levels.

I'd love to know how a self-diagnosis tool that can detect chips in the external surfaces would work.


(Remember we are taking about chips on the mm scale)


Its possible the mechanics walk around it with some kinda radar gun... maybe - but self-diagnosis... nah, I don't believe it.

Originally posted by kilcoo316
I'd love to know how a self-diagnosis tool that can detect chips in the external surfaces would work.

I'll ask around to see if my impression of how the system works is off or not. I do concede that a ground system is more plausible than an internal one.

Much as i like to take my petty stabs at the F-22 i suspect this is not the worse time in the world to remind the 'detractors' that war and the machines built to prosecute them does not make for a perfectly safe working environment. If one is trying to even partially simulate high sortie rates for both newer and older aircraft these type of incidents are bound to happen with the only question being how far your protocols and general safety standards allows your ground crew to be when things do go wrong.

On another note last time i checked the F-22's maintenance hours were still increasing per flight hour; anyone have updates on that?

Stellar

One other thing people should put into perspective is the cost.

If you hit another car with yours, your lucky if the cost to repair yours is under $3000 for even a car that costs 50000. We are talking about a multi million dollar jet that has to go through alot of testing post repair before it flies again.