Daryl Hunt
Your Worst Nightmare
- Banned
- #1
1. The cost of restarting it is in the billions. Money better spent on a real replacement
2. Less than half of the F-22s are combat ready at any time.
3. Even when they are, they can only be flown one flight per day. The Prep required is extensive.
4. Part of the reason for reason 2 and 3 is that the Stealth Cover is painted on. It's a 3 day start to finish job. And any chipping of the paint greatly reduces the Stealth qualities.
For instance, the F-35A can fly 2 and 3 missions per day. If each Pilot flies for 4 hours, it may take 2 pilots per aircraft to support it. 2+ hour missions are the norm. One of the prime reasons it can be turned around is that the panels have the stealth baked into them. They chip less and when they do, only that panel needs to be replaced and sent in for repair. The F-35 is designed to be worked on. Almost all components are behind removable panels and can be swapped out quickly. You can say a lot of ill things about the F-35 but it's designed to fly and fly a bunch of sorties. The F-35 is also a generation newer which shows in it's sensors, avionics and more. Even it's engine produce more power.
In order to justify something like the F-22 to be built again, all these things needs to be corrected. The cost of restarting the F-22 and correcting all these discrepancies means it's better and cheaper to build the follow on replacement fighter. One of the reasons that Lockheed is prohibited building the F-22/F-35 hybrid is that it would be a far cry better than anything we are flying today. And right now, the US controls the skies. Better to spring the next Gen on the World after it's been ironed out in secrecy for a bit for less money.
2. Less than half of the F-22s are combat ready at any time.
3. Even when they are, they can only be flown one flight per day. The Prep required is extensive.
4. Part of the reason for reason 2 and 3 is that the Stealth Cover is painted on. It's a 3 day start to finish job. And any chipping of the paint greatly reduces the Stealth qualities.
For instance, the F-35A can fly 2 and 3 missions per day. If each Pilot flies for 4 hours, it may take 2 pilots per aircraft to support it. 2+ hour missions are the norm. One of the prime reasons it can be turned around is that the panels have the stealth baked into them. They chip less and when they do, only that panel needs to be replaced and sent in for repair. The F-35 is designed to be worked on. Almost all components are behind removable panels and can be swapped out quickly. You can say a lot of ill things about the F-35 but it's designed to fly and fly a bunch of sorties. The F-35 is also a generation newer which shows in it's sensors, avionics and more. Even it's engine produce more power.
In order to justify something like the F-22 to be built again, all these things needs to be corrected. The cost of restarting the F-22 and correcting all these discrepancies means it's better and cheaper to build the follow on replacement fighter. One of the reasons that Lockheed is prohibited building the F-22/F-35 hybrid is that it would be a far cry better than anything we are flying today. And right now, the US controls the skies. Better to spring the next Gen on the World after it's been ironed out in secrecy for a bit for less money.
