Raptor survives three-week ice age

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Nora Anton
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Being located near the top of the world makes Eielson not only a strategic location; it also gives the team at Eielson the distinct pleasure of being the host to different aircraft undergoing cold-weather testing. The most recent visitor being the F-22 Raptor.

The Raptor came from Edwards AFB, Calif., for three weeks with the main objective being testing of the aircraft's braking system on ice in time for the first snow of Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, home to some of the F-22s since August 2007.

"We were validating the F-22 braking system's stability and performance as well as evaluating cold-weather operations and maintenance procedures," said Maj. Jack Fischer, 411th Flight Test Squadron deployment commander and Raptor test pilot. "We were testing the Raptor's behavior while maneuvering and stopping on slippery surfaces."

"Whether during a snow storm or ice fog, we have to be able to land on poor surfaces," he said. "Stopping on problem-surfaces is a challenge for every Air Force jet."

The F-22 has already undergone extensive hot and cold weather testing at the Air Force McKinley Climatic Lab at Eglin AFB, Fla., said the major. During said testing, the aircraft was subjected to incredible environmental conditions; however, they could not test the braking system there.

Richard Backs, 411th FLTS project manager, explained that the aircraft was tested on incrementally low-level runway condition reading surfaces, or how contaminated the runway is and how much concrete you will need to stop your aircraft, here at Eielson with temperatures ranging between 37 to -13 degrees.

The team needed the temperature to be cold enough to freeze water in order to create a test surface.

"We started with basic ground maneuvering on an icy surface and progressed to high-speed braking tests and eventually, both real and aborted, take-off and landings under low RCR conditions," he said.

The F-22's anti-skid system is only used in the F-22, no other planes have this kind of system, said Major Fischer.

"It's like an anti-lock brake system in your car--but on steroids," he said. "In addition to looking at wheel slip [like in your car] this system also accounts for deceleration through its navigation system, and allows the aircraft to safely and reliably stop on any surface that it may encounter."

The F-22 came up for a three-week deployment, however, the team was able to finish all mandatory test points within the first five days. They were able to use the rest of their time to fine tune and to collect as much data as possible.

"The biggest challenge wasn't so much the testing in itself," said Mr. Backs, "it was the logistics-related issues that posed the most challenges."

Mr. Backs said the deploying of the team, time restraint, equipment, aircraft and figuring out how to produce a good test surface--not to mention acquiring spare parts when needed, was the biggest hurdle.

"A lot of planning went into this test," he said.

All in all, the team concurred the testing went very well.

"The F-22 demonstrated incredible brake-system stability on low-friction surfaces," said the major. "Mother Nature also helped out by giving us the necessary weather conditions during the majority of our test window."

Testing is about finding strengths, weaknesses and limits; the team learned plenty.

"We obtained information that will enable us to update the aircraft's flight manuals to enhance the safety of the operators in the field," said Mr. Backs.

The data will also contribute to other important factors.

"We were also able to develop F-22 cold weather pilot and maintenance techniques and procedures, as well as gather enough data to update the takeoff and landing distance charts in the F-22 publications," said Major Fischer.

The major said that the team researched information from the civilian sector of aviation while designing their testing procedures.

"We tried to learn everything that worked (and didn't) during similar testing," he said. "I think our approach was so successful it will be the new standard for low RCR testing. It is our hope that when planning low RCR testing for new platforms people, military and civilian alike, will start with our report."

Major Fischer said he was in a debt of gratitude to the numerous units at Eielson who lent a helping hand in their testing.

"Our test team was able to accomplish a nearly impossible task on a shoe-string budget; that would simply have not been possible without the incredible support provided us by Eielson AFB," said Major Fischer. "I think this testing will have far-reaching implications for the Raptor fleet, and ultimately worldwide Air Force power projection."