The second Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 has been rolled out at Marietta, Georgia, and is to fly in July. The first of the nine development F-22s, meanwhile, has been transported by Lockheed C-5 to Edwards AFB, California, where it is scheduled to fly in April, after re-assembly.
The F-22 was first flown at Marietta last September and completed two flights before being grounded for structural modification and strain gauge calibration. The aircraft was partially disassembled for air transport to Edwards, where high speed taxi tests will be conducted before flight testing resumes. The first F-22 will be used for flying qualities and structural loads testing.
The second will be ferried to Edwards in September, after initial airworthiness testing and flight refuelling qualification at Marietta. Assembly of the third flight test aircraft has just begun. The fourth aircraft, the first to be equipped with the full avionic system, is due to be flown late in 1999.
Source: Flight International
