Elegant Aerospace Design
Canopy on one of Langley’s Raptors sticks shut on pilot, Daily Press
“Air Force pilots can’t wait to get into the F-22A Raptor, the newest, fastest thing in fighter planes. But on a recent morning, Capt. Brad Spears had to wait about five hours to get out of one that was parked at Langley Air Force Base.”
In The Loop, Washington Post (scroll past first story)
“What do you do when the canopy on a new F-22A fighter jet doesn’t open and the pilot is trapped inside for five hours? Get out the chainsaws. That’s what maintenance technicians at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia did a couple weeks ago after calling Lockheed Martin Corp., the plane’s manufacturer, to find out how to free the pilot.”
F-22 03-041 Stuck Canopy TSgt Robinson 1st MXG/MXQ – briefing charts
On 10 April 06 at approximately 0815 aircraft 03-041 had a Red Ball for a canopy unlock indication. Attempts to clear the problems by cycling the canopy failed. The final cycling of the canopy resulted in it being in the down and locked position. The canopy would not cycle up form this position trapping the pilot in the cockpit. The aircraft subsequently ground aborted.
Attempts to manually open the canopy were unsuccessful
27th AMU consulted Lockheed Martin and the F-22A System Program Office to determine alternate methods to open the canopy and extract the pilot
After all maintenance options were exhausted, the canopy was cut by fire department personnel and the pilot was extracted at approximately 1315
Trouble-shooting of the aircraft is in work
Canopy replacement cost is $182,205
