Raptors fly high — even in arctic temps

Raptors fly high — even in arctic temps
By Michael Hoffman - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Dec 20, 2009 13:10:46 EST

ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska — The F-22s here proved the doubters wrong. They can handle the cold.

Even at temperatures as low as 60 degrees below zero, the Raptors fly just fine — though they do sit in heated hangars when they’re not in the air.

The 40 jets arrived here two summers ago for the 525th and 90th Fighter squadrons. But it was when winter came in 2007 that the commanders started sweating.

Col. Chris Niemi, the 525th’s commander, had serious doubts about whether the Raptor could withstand the arctic blasts. The jet had tolerated severe weather conditions at the McKinley Climactic Laboratory at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., but tests are only tests, Niemi said.

“It has done much better than I ever expected,” he said. “We thought there might be some problems, but it has really performed well. … It’s important the F-22 fly in these different types of environments.”


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2009/12/airforce_F22_121909/

not just stupid planes.

:shrug:

gack.