Maddow on the F-22 Raptor
tags:The raptor has finally been killed.
Maddow reviews the history behind this $356M jet (each) and lays out some of its mindboggling features.
For example, for every hour this baby spends in the air, 30 minutes of maintenance are required.
Maddow reviews the history behind this $356M jet (each) and lays out some of its mindboggling features.
For example, for every hour this baby spends in the air, 30 minutes of maintenance are required.








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will suck if we have to fly sucky planes while the aliens send spaceships down
that sounds a bit extreme.
i wonder if they counted crashed prototypes into this equation?
or chipped paint on a screw holding a cover of an altimeter indicator is counted as "critical failure"
Air supremacy fighters are pretty much a moot point in todays warfare anyway. The face of warfare has changed so much in the last 20 or so years it's difficult to imagine a conflict where a nimble dogfighter would be necessary for success. Still, I liked the idea of the F22. Though I would have preferred the RAH-66 Comanche to see the light of day, maybe they could've afforded that one if the F22 had been given up early. That thing was stunning and the old Kiowa (I understand that the Comanche was supposed to be a recon chopper, a replacement for the Kiowa, at least partially. If you know better feel free to correct me.) really is getting old.
Also, I should point out that the F22 isn't really a "nimble dogfighter" in the traditional sense. If you're flying circles around other planes in one of these then you have failed as an F22 pilot. While it is in theory a decent dogfighter it's intended that it never be in a dogfight, having shot down the enemy aircraft long before establishing visual contact and ideally without them ever knowing where the missile came from.
-Karl
Wow, Rachel really shot herself in the foot there at the end. You can't rant about how totally useless a piece of equipment is then be all afraid of how it might be used against us... that's a Republican tactic. Bad, Rachel, bad.
actually not really.
this would be a useful tool if the U.S. picked a fight with a country that had a chance to fight on equal ground.
these things were made to win the modern fighters.. unfortunately they never get the chance unless the U.S. either attacks or sells them to a first world country to use against another first world country.
much like a sniper rifle is a fine weapon, but if you're hunting for mice in your house it's useless.. use mouse traps and poisoned cheese instead.