Ghost of a flea: I can't see the [expletive deleted] thing

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October 08, 2007

I can't see the [expletive deleted] thing

An extended consideration of the F-22 Raptor's capabilities includes a succinct assessment on the part of the Royal Australian Air Force.

"I can't see the [expletive deleted] thing," said RAAF Squadron Leader Stephen Chappell, exchange F-15 pilot in the 65th Aggressor Squadron. "It won't let me put a weapons system on it, even when I can see it visually through the canopy. [Flying against the F-22] annoys the hell out of me."

Which might account for kill ratios against F-15s of up to 108:0. Nice.

Related: A quote from a DefenseTech post on the prospect of a two-seat F-22 Raptor. Leaving aside the merits of such a beast, this piece suggests a feature which is in some ways scarier than the Raptor's invisibility or its lethality.

(Aviation Week and Space Technology's David) Fulghum states in his article "Recent operational experience with the F-22 produced an aural environment, described by participants as “spooky,” where aircrews seldom speak and move information by data link, which is faster and more accurate than talking."

Posted by Ghost of a flea at October 8, 2007 07:57 AM

Comments

I like it that my side has this stuff.

Posted by: harrison at October 8, 2007 08:42 AM

I saw the F-22 at the Air Show this year. It was awesome.

Posted by: cm at October 8, 2007 09:43 AM

The really sad thing is that all the information passed through the data link is in the form of LOLcats.

It's all "I can haz Sidewinderz?" and "I had a Bogy, but I bloweded him up" and "INVISIBLE [expletive deleted] THING!"

Posted by: dorkafork at October 8, 2007 10:23 PM

"The really sad thing is that all the information passed through the data link is in the form of LOLcats."

I'm relieved to hear that. I was worried that you'd have to think the command for "FIRE" in Russian to launch a missile.

Posted by: Sean M. at October 9, 2007 01:43 AM

Awesome.

Posted by: Ghost of a flea at October 9, 2007 09:12 AM

"..I'm relieved to hear that. I was worried that you'd have to think the command for "FIRE" in Russian to launch a missile..."

Ha ha ha ha! And the 1980s pop culture reference goes to...

lol

Posted by: Gorthos at October 9, 2007 01:39 PM

OMG! It's A MINBARI FIGHTER!

Posted by: Orion at October 15, 2007 12:17 AM