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Some USAF Pilots Refuse To Fly F-22 Raptor

Hugh Pickens writes "The LA Times reports that some of the nation's top aviators are refusing to fly the radar-evading F-22 Raptor, a fighter jet with ongoing problems with the oxygen systems that have plagued the fleet for four years. 'We are generally aware of a small number of pilots who have expressed reservations about flying the F-22, and each of those cases will be handled individually through established processes,' says Maj. Brandon Lingle, an Air Force spokesman. Concern about the safety of the F-22 has grown in recent months as reports about problems with its oxygen systems have offered no clear explanations why there have been 11 incidents in which F-22 pilots reported hypoxia-like symptoms. 'Obviously it's a very sensitive thing because we are trying to ensure that the community fully understands all that we're doing to try to get to a solution,' says Gen. Mike Hostage, commander of Air Combat Command. Meanwhile Sen. John McCain says that the jets, which the Air Force call the future of American air dominance, are a waste of their $79 billion price tag and serve no role in today's combat environment. 'There is no purpose, no mission in Afghanistan or Iraq, unless you believe that al Qaeda is going to have a fleet of aircraft,' says McCain, a former combat pilot himself. '[The F-22] has not flown a single combat mission... I don't think the F-22 will ever be seen in the combat it was designed to counter, because that threat is no longer in existence.'"

5 of 569 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Not only that... by dreamchaser · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    McCain is a senile old man who never got his PTSD treated. It's unfortunate that he is still in office but just because he says the threat isn't there doesn't mean people are going to pay heed.

  2. Re:Not only that... by Beelzebud · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    War mongers like you really have no shame do you?

  3. Re:Not only that... by Alex+Belits · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    Actually yes.

    Wherever anyone else is thinking about causing trouble, US with its sycophants club (NATO) jumps in and causes more death and destruction than the original ashole could ever hope to achieve. On sides that make no sense. Seriously, supporting Kosovo separatists (muslim terrorists)? Shia in Iraq (more muslim religious nuts)? Muslim coup in Libya? Oh, I see the pattern...

    So maybe there are worse aggressors, maybe there are not, but it's not visible behind all the destruction US causes.

    --
    Contrary to the popular belief, there indeed is no God.
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  5. congrats by nuzaaboy · · Score: -1, Flamebait

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