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Software Bug Halts F-22 Flight
mgh02114 writes "The new US stealth fighter, the F-22 Raptor, was deployed for the first time to Asia earlier this month. On Feb. 11, twelve Raptors flying from Hawaii to Japan were forced to turn back when a software glitch crashed all of the F-22s' on-board computers as they crossed the international date line. The delay in arrival in Japan was previously reported, with rumors of problems with the software. CNN television, however, this morning reported that every fighter completely lost all navigation and communications when they crossed the international date line. They reportedly had to turn around and follow their tankers by visual contact back to Hawaii. According to the CNN story, if they had not been with their tankers, or the weather had been bad, this would have been serious. CNN has not put up anything on their website yet." The Peoples Daily of China reported on Feb. 17 that two Raptors had landed on Okinawa.
CNN television, however, this morning reported that every fighter completely lost all navigation and communications when they crossed the international date line.
I've heard of a software glitch causing a crash before, but this is ridiculous.
The theory of relativity doesn't work right in Arkansas.
We will happily sell y'all Eurofighters. Half the price, twice the bombs... and who the hell do you need stealth to fight anyway? Expecting the France to try and invasion any day now or something?
Beep beep.
That's the real reason why they don't want to give source code to foreign armies... They don't want to be covered in shame :)
I have discovered a truly marvelous proof of killer sig, which this margin is too narrow to contain.
I just want to know if this is in any way connected to the nuclear subs that lost navigation after they switched to Microsoft Windows based software. Generally, when this kind of thing happens, some external vendor is to blame.
I got to thinking if we had any decent alternatives (at least in C++). And yes there are alternatives and all of them looked equally bad to me. Looks like the F22 guys might have had the same problem finding and using a robust fault tolerant time library.
Sure, but it seems they turned Aero off..
My 0.02 cents
So, when is Service Pack 1 coming out?
You are flying to Japan, Cancel or Allow?
Someone is going to get fired for this.
Welcome to defense contracting, you must be new here.
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PGP Key ID 0xCB8FF658
in other news: Lockheed Martin has decided to open it's sources and announce a bug-athon
check out https://repo.airforge.gov/raptor/
but don't everyone look at once - you'll slashdot the server.
"NASA do not fly the space shuttle during 31 Dec -> 1 Jan"
:).
But they fly over the international date-line every 90 minutes or so with no problems
Nah, this rule is in place simply because NASA throws a really wild New Years Party and no one wants to miss it.
...not to run Windows on those machines. They HAD to upgrade to Vista because of all the cool 'features' the pilots would like to see. First we had to put more ram in and an extra video card, now this... I'm telling ya, next time Microsoft gives them a better deal because they're switching to Linux, they shouldn't accept.
Custom electronics and digital signage for your business: www.evcircuits.com
Not to worry...the next generation, the F-35 fighter cures this problem....at only a cost of a few billions of dollars or more.....
The are velco-mounted to the wings. Shh... top secret technology from the Apollo days. ;)
"Your aircraft is attempting to crash into the sea, Confirm or Deny?"
Oh shi...
But the new YF-22 runs windows Vista WMD edition! Why it's the most stable Aircraft OS ever made!
My advice to F-22 pilots: 1) Superglue a handheld GPS into your cockpit. 2) Carry a backup radio. Superglue this to your cockpit. 3) Remove your cockpit, and superglue it onto an A-10. 4) Fly safe. Carry superglue.
They wouldn't have made it here. I knew there was a good reason.
If my call is important, why am I talking to a recording?
How do you really feel about Rockwell Collins?
In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is usually crucified.
You're saying that because I can see the moon, people who've walked on the moon should have been killed?
Yes. I hate those guys.
-- This and all my posts are in the public domain. I am a lawyer. I am not your lawyer, and this is not legal advice.
What's more, one pilot tried to turn off Aero Glass -- suddenly, he lost cabin pressure.
"Strangers have the best candy" -Me
The F-15's should have headed towards the international date line....
Because it's a Slashdot!
Dumb vote for stupid ;)
You missed a point in that story.
NASA is extremely careful with its software.
They don't fly from Dec 31 to Jan 1 because they know exactly what would happen.
Tharkban (It is a signature after all)
That sound you just heard, the one right over your head? It was not an F-22 returning to base.
One man's -1 Flamebait is another man's +5 Funny.
I'd like to mod it +1 hindsightful.
There's nothing Intelligent about Intelligent Design.
I say this whole International Date Line thing is just a cover up for the real reason - the pilots were listening to unlicensed mp3 in their cockpit radios and the system shut down to prevent further copyright violations.
So you say. But if you think sharks with frickin' lasers on their heads are scary, imagine sharks with fricking' AMRAAMs.
...following the principles of Heisenburger's Uncertain Cat...
BTW, I am quite happy my country barely needs a national defense.
What country is that? Is it a European country? You are aware that since 1960 the United States has funded 60% of all NATO funding - so while your country may not need a national defense, maybe it benefits from the US's.
Or maybe you hail from an Asian country like Japan or South Korea or Taiwan. In which case you don't need a national defense because you are under the shield of the US. Perhaps you live in Afghanistan or Iraq, in which case, the US's national defense is all that stands between the current situation and an oppressive Islamic regime.
Or maybe you live in South America. Even with all its recent talk of independence from the "Great White Satan", all of North, Central, and South America is directly protected by the Monroe Doctrine. Thanks be to many US presidents and the US military that South American didn't follow Cuba into Communism.
Maybe you live in a country that has no formal relations with the United States, perhaps an enemy or some country in Africa. Even still, every piece of food, clothing, or medicine that comes into our out of your country is implicitly protected by the US Navy. Why are pirates mostly a thing of the past? Thanks to the US national defense.
You know what? I too am quite happy your country barely needs a national defense. It says a lot about mine.