In contrast to the modeling and simulation testing, the flight test program at Edwards Air Force Base will be the first look at the real F-22.
Although the team built and flew the prototype YF-22s and gained quite a bit of knowledge about the technologies involved, there have been some significant changes in the design for the production F-22s.
Many differences
The YF-22 and the F-22 are similar in shape but there are a number of differences.
Externally, the wing sweep has been reduced 8 degrees (from 48 on the prototype to 42 degrees on the F-22) and the canopy has been moved 7 inches and the inlets have been moved aft 14 inches to increase the pilot's visibility. The wing trailing edge and horizontal stabilator shape have been changed for low observability reasons, as well as structural strength and aerodynamic refinements.
The prominent vertical tails of the prototype have been reduced in size by approximately 20 percent.
Internally, the F-22 has all new subsystems based on the prototype’s approach, built to an 8,000-hour service life.
F-22A is self-contained
While the YF-22s were essentially engine and airframe demonstrators, the F-22A has complete sensor and weapons capability. The aircraft is fully self-contained for starting and can use its auxiliary power unit to perform most maintenance tasks.
In addition to a screwdriver and wrench, the F-22 maintainer will also carry a laptop-sized computer.
The maintainer accesses the F-22 by a laptop-sized computer called a "portable maintenance aide" that can read and record aircraft consumables such as fuel and oil, but can also control aircraft systems during maintenance, as well as upload new operational flight programs – the computer software that runs the aircraft.
Information from the web sites of Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Pratt & Whitney were used in this story.