Test flights of the Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 air superiority fighter began at Edwards AFB, California, on 17 May, with a 1h 20 min sortie.
Lt Col Steve Rainey, the first US Air Force pilot to fly the development standard F-22, flew the aircraft at speeds "at or below 350kt [650km/h]", says the USAF.
Three major test points were achieved, including flying qualities envelope expansion, speedbrake handling qualities, and formation flying qualities.
Rainey describes the F-22 as "-the best flying aircraft I have flown". The F-22, now attached to the 412th Test Wing, was accompanied by an F-15 chase aircraft flown by Lockheed Martin test pilot Paul Metz, the first man to fly the F-22 from the assembly line at the company's plant in Marietta, Georgia in September 1997.
The first test aircraft, "Raptor 01" (4001), will be joined by a second (4002) around September. Before then, Raptor 01 is expected to make about 50 flights as part of an overall test programme involving nine aircraft. Seven will be development aircraft and two the first low-rate initial production F-22s. The aircraft is due to achieve initial operational capability in 2005.
Source: Flight International
