F/A-22 external fuel tank jettision pictures

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - F/A-22 external fuel tank jettision pictures

Posted: 8/14/2004 9:54:42 AM EDT

Here are some pictures from the first in-flight external fuel tank jettison test. They are 600 gallon tanks.

Here is a graphic showing what the F-22 can carry. The 100# JDAM is incorrect, it should be 1000#. In the ferry configuration the external missles cannot be fired.

Posted: 8/14/2004 9:56:59 AM EDT

[#1]

Nice pics..thanks.

Posted: 8/14/2004 9:57:21 AM EDT

[#2]

What's the point? That was sold as being long range supercruise on internal fuel and arms to stay stealthy.

Posted: 8/14/2004 9:59:27 AM EDT

[#3]

Cool!

Posted: 8/14/2004 9:59:33 AM EDT

[#4]

Quoted:

What's the point? That was sold as being long range supercruise on internal fuel and arms to stay stealthy.

Uhhh, my guess would be.......
1- To test a system to make sure if its ever needed it works.
2- to use the external tanks untill they reach enemy territory then drop and have plenty of fuel to carry out mission and then some.

Posted: 8/14/2004 10:10:17 AM EDT

[#5]

There's also talk of using the F-22 as a strike bomber, like the F-117 or the F-111. It's go the speed over the F-117 and B-2 and the stealth over the F-111. As soon as you get close enough to drops, you take advantage of the stealthy characteristics.

Posted: 8/14/2004 10:13:48 AM EDT

[#6]

You know when you drop those tanks, what happens to them. Are they recovered for scrape metal?

Posted: 8/14/2004 10:19:42 AM EDT

[#7]

CooL!

Posted: 8/14/2004 10:21:32 AM EDT

[#8]

I'm sure the externals are for extended range, not for loitering or actual time in enemy airspace.

Posted: 8/14/2004 10:22:55 AM EDT

[#9]

You know when you drop those tanks, what happens to them. Are they recovered for scrape metal?

No but you don't dorp tanks unless you need to.

Posted: 8/14/2004 10:27:11 AM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:
There's also talk of using the F-22 as a strike bomber, like the F-117 or the F-111. It's go the speed over the F-117 and B-2 and the stealth over the F-111. As soon as you get close enough to drops, you take advantage of the stealthy characteristics.

only 2 JDAM's?
It would seem that such a role would warrant greater air to ground ordanance, but hey, if no one or nothing can catch or shoot you, I guess a lighter load works

and BTW: great pix

Posted: 8/14/2004 10:30:38 AM EDT

[#11]

How come the top two pictures don't match the bottom three pictures?

The bottom three photos show the external tanks painted black and white. The top two pictures show the tanks the same color as the aircraft.

Posted: 8/14/2004 10:30:51 AM EDT

[#12]

They are looking at the YF-23 again as a stealth bomber as IIRC its configuration is better suited.

Posted: 8/14/2004 10:44:58 AM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:
How come the top two pictures don't match the bottom three pictures?

The bottom three photos show the external tanks painted black and white. The top two pictures show the tanks the same color as the aircraft.

Opps, I forgot that the first two were from a captive flight test.

Posted: 8/14/2004 10:55:48 AM EDT

[#14]

Those tanks are only for a ferry role.

Posted: 8/14/2004 10:57:11 AM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:

What's the point? That was sold as being long range supercruise on internal fuel and arms to stay stealthy.

That's during combat missions.
The tanks are for self-deploying half-way around the world from US basing.

Posted: 8/14/2004 11:00:55 AM EDT

[#16]

Quoted:
How come the top two pictures don't match the bottom three pictures?

The bottom three photos show the external tanks painted black and white. The top two pictures show the tanks the same color as the aircraft.

Earlier flight test. When doing flight testing, flight envelope testing, they rarely test multiple operations on the same mission.

Posted: 8/14/2004 11:03:37 AM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:
You know when you drop those tanks, what happens to them. Are they recovered for scrape metal?

The VC grab them, stuff them full of explosives and use them to blow up tanks!

Posted: 8/14/2004 11:06:30 AM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:

What's the point? That was sold as being long range supercruise on internal fuel and arms to stay stealthy.

... Ferrying

Posted: 8/14/2004 11:07:05 AM EDT

[#19]

Awwww... I wanted to see some explosions.

Posted: 8/14/2004 12:26:25 PM EDT

[#20]

Quoted:
Awwww... I wanted to see some explosions.

We are working on that, JDAM drop testing just started.

In the mean time here's this;

Posted: 8/14/2004 12:35:49 PM EDT

[#21]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Awwww... I wanted to see some explosions.

We are working on that, JDAM drop testing just started.

In the mean time here's this;
img.photobucket.com/albums/v345/nanneya/4002Aim-91.jpg

Posted: 8/14/2004 12:46:58 PM EDT

[#22]

sweet. more pics for my desktop rotation

Posted: 8/14/2004 2:34:30 PM EDT

[#23]

Can those 8 missiles carried under the wings in the ferry configuration actually be fired? They look like they are semi recessed into the wing, is that just how they transport their own reloads?

The Raptor, and the F-35 that follows were always designed to be used as a normal fighter if needed, the stealth role is just what makes them DIFFERENT from existing fighters. On a defensive interceptor mission (like defending Taiwan or South Korean airspace), or for after air superiority has been won they always were expected to carry extra tonnage or missiles under the wings since by then high stealth is redundant, there is nothing left to shoot at them that uses radar.

Posted: 8/14/2004 2:42:51 PM EDT

[#24]

uber cool now got any photos of the YF-23?

Posted: 8/14/2004 2:50:19 PM EDT

[#25]

Dude, I just noticed, when the Raptor drops tanks it drops PYLON and ALL! Thats interesting.

Posted: 8/14/2004 4:56:12 PM EDT

[#26]

Quoted:
Can those 8 missiles carried under the wings in the ferry configuration actually be fired? They look like they are semi recessed into the wing, is that just how they transport their own reloads?

The Raptor, and the F-35 that follows were always designed to be used as a normal fighter if needed, the stealth role is just what makes them DIFFERENT from existing fighters. On a defensive interceptor mission (like defending Taiwan or South Korean airspace), or for after air superiority has been won they always were expected to carry extra tonnage or missiles under the wings since by then high stealth is redundant, there is nothing left to shoot at them that uses radar.

No, the external missiles cannot be fired in the ferry configuration; they are just being carried as a way to deploy with extra missiles. They are not recessed into the wing, they just fit so close to it that they cannot be fired due to the rocket motor exhaust.

F-16's also jettison the tank and pylon as one assembly.