The maiden flight of the F-22 Raptor took place on September 7, 1997, at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The aircraft was piloted by Lockheed Martin test pilot, Paul Metz. The F-22 was developed by Lockheed Martin and Boeing as a stealthy, highly maneuverable air superiority fighter.

The F-22's first flight was a significant milestone in the development of the aircraft. The flight lasted for around 50 minutes, during which the aircraft performed a series of maneuvers to test its flight characteristics and systems. The F-22 performed well, with no major issues reported during the flight.

The F-22 Raptor is considered to be one of the most advanced fighters in the world. It is designed to be stealthy, highly maneuverable, and able to fly at supersonic speeds without using afterburners. The aircraft is also equipped with advanced avionics and weapons systems, making it a formidable opponent in air-to-air combat.

The F-22's first flight was a major achievement for the United States Air Force and the companies involved in its development. The aircraft has since gone on to become a key component of the U.S. Air Force's air superiority fleet. The F-22 is currently in service with the United States Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force.

The maiden flight of the F-22 marked the beginning of a new era in air superiority fighters, and the aircraft continues to be a vital asset to the U.S. military. The F-22's advanced capabilities and stealth capabilities are a testament to the capabilities of modern aircraft technology and the dedication of the engineers and pilots who developed and fly the aircraft.

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 62 ft 1 in (18.92 m)
Wingspan: 44 ft 6 in (13.56 m)
Height: 16 ft 8 in (5.08 m)
Wing area: 840 sq ft (78.04 m2)
Aspect ratio: 2.36
Airfoil: NACA 6 series airfoil
Empty weight: 43,340 lb (19,700 kg)
Gross weight: 64,840 lb (29,410 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 83,500 lb (38,000 kg)
Fuel capacity: 18,000 lb (8,200 kg) internally, or 26,000 lb (12,000 kg) with two 2× 600 US gal tanks
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 augmented turbofans, 26,000 lbf (116 kN) thrust each dry, 35,000 lbf (156 kN) with afterburner
Performance

Maximum speed: Mach 2.25, 1,500 mph (2,414 km/h) at altitude
Mach 1.21, 800 knots (921 mph; 1,482 km/h) at sea level
Mach 1.82, 1,220 mph (1,963 km/h) supercruise at altitude
Range: 1,600 nmi (1,800 mi, 3,000 km) or more with 2 external fuel tanks
Combat range: 460 nmi (530 mi, 850 km) clean with 100 nmi (115 mi, 185 km) in supercruise
590 nmi (679 mi, 1,093 km) clean subsonic
Ferry range: 1,740 nmi (2,000 mi, 3,220 km)
Service ceiling: 65,000 ft (20,000 m)
g limits: +9.0/−3.0
Wing loading: 77.2 lb/sq ft (377 kg/m2)
Thrust/weight: 1.08 (1.25 with loaded weight and 50% internal fuel)
Armament
Guns: 1× 20 mm M61A2 Vulcan rotary cannon, 480 rounds
Internal weapons bays:
Air-to-air mission loadout:
6× AIM-120 AMRAAM
2× AIM-9 Sidewinder
Air-to-ground mission loadout:
2× 1,000 lb (450 kg) JDAM or 8× 250 lb (110 kg) GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs
2× AIM-120 AMRAAM
2× AIM-9 Sidewinder
Hardpoint (external):
4× under-wing pylon stations can be fitted to carry weapons, each with a capacity of 5,000 lb (2,270 kg) or 600 U.S. gallon (2,270 L) drop tanks
4x AIM-120 AMRAAM (external)
Avionics
AN/APG-77 or AN/APG-77(V)1 radar: 125–150 miles (201–241 km) against 1 m2 (11 sq ft) targets (estimated range), more than 250 miles (400 km) in narrow beams
AN/AAR-56 Missile Launch Detector (MLD)
AN/ALR-94 electronic warfare system: 250 nautical miles (460 km) or more detection range for radar warning receiver (RWR)
Integrated CNI Avionics
MJU-39/40 flares for protection against IR missiles

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