The Air Force has decided to temporarily ground its fleet of F-22’s due to concerns over the airplane’s oxygen systems. A lot of the pilots reported having hypoxia-like symptoms, and that’s not good if you’re flying at altitude.
For those of you who don’t already know, hypoxia is a condition where you’re body is not getting enough oxygen and it impairs the brain and the body.
Symptoms are usually dizziness, light-headedness, impairment of judgment, and even a sense of well-being, belligerence, or paranoia. (Some pilots who’ve experienced hypoxia have been known to freak out or act like they’re drunk. I even heard one horror story about a fighter pilot diving his plane straight into the ground- laughing all the way down.)
Both pilot and plane must have ALL their systems working in order to fly a successful mission. Each flight comes with preparation, careful planning, and a go/no go decision to fly.
As you pursue your goal of becoming a fighter pilot in the Afterburner Club, take some time each day to make sure that you are meeting all the necessary criteria for success. A checklist of goals and things to do toward those goals can be really helpful. If you’re not already on the Afterburner Club and are not sure how to prepare or what to put on your checklist for success, then click the link above.
In the Fighter Pilot Power Pack, I will show you how to develop a winning strategy for success in achieving the career of your dreams. I’ll also be on our monthly Afterburner Club conference calls to share tips on how to be the safest and most effective fighter pilot that your country could hope for.
It could mean the difference between knowing when you should implement a no-go decision and flying a mission that could get you killed from a system malfunction.
Do you think that the Air Force was right to ground ALL of the F-22’s in their fleet? Why or why not?
Dave Eberhardt says
wow – pretty shocking if you ask me. I’d have to have more info to make better inputs here … but I’d have to guess that a LOX system could be trouble-shooted fairly easily. Leaking hoses or lines? Tubing used maybe corroding and and contaminating the flow?
Info: pilots must also monitor cabin pressurization at higher altitudes – physiologically speaking – it has something to do with Oxygen partial pressure as far as lungs absorbing the oxygen.
Dave Eberhardt says
read an article – “The Air Force is looking at all the systems on this new-generation fighter jet, but one area of focus is the On-Board Oxygen Generating System (OBOGS), according to Ferrau.”
Don’t know the system but it is not the traditional (reliable)liquid oxygen system …
(not your father’s Oldsmobile)
Robert Stambovsky says
The super Hornet has OBOGs, Too. The F-22 has alot of magic,but verrrry expensive. The F-35 is a slightly watered down version, but verrrry expensive. And when you lose one, the majority of your force capability is gone. For the same money, 100 F-20B/C Tigersharks, anyone???!!! You’re going to see more UAVs, anyway.
I fly L-29 Czech trainers and MIG-15 with less-than-sterling pressurization systems.Most guys that own L-29s don’t have functioning O2 systems, rather depending on the pressurization systems (mainly flying below FL 180).
I bought a Casio pathfinder watch with altimeter mode to check cabin pressure. My personal ex-RAF Jet Provost T5 ( google:N4XW)has a good air pac and O2 system, as well as cabin altimeter.
I light aircraft, I use a portable O2 system above 10,000′, and at night. Hypoxia can sneak up on ya.
Wanna fly? Don’t smoke, stay in shape-gives you a slight edge, but no one is immune. At FL 180, O2 volume and pressure is one half that of sea level.Alittle lower at night.
In the altitude chamber, I lasted on the average of 3-4 minutes at FL 250.My personal warning symptoms: slight headache, loss of color vision.
Semper Fi
Robert Stambovsky, ATP
Adjunct professor, ERAU
USMC (ret)
Bryan says
LOX is not commonly used now due to extensive use of refueling. Carrying enough LOX on board was not viable.
Robert Stambovsky says
We used LOX in the old A-4 Skyhawk. The O2 service cart was covered in frost due to low temp of LOX,and loading it was dangerous.Couldn’t allow any contaminents near the aircraft during servicing, or POOOF! Navy used constant flow O2 system, as apposed to USAF diluter-demand, due to over-water Ops. Breathing O2 would dry you out; first urge after shutdown was drink of water. When turn-around “Hot ” refueling in the pit, a good crew chief would bring a hose to the cockpit so’s the aviator could open the canopy, and get a drink!
Stambo
Line Division Officer
VMA-322
Ed Rush says
My history
T-2 = LOX (Liquid Oxygen)
A-4 = LOX
F-18D = LOX, then OBOGS (On Board Oxygen Generating System)
F-5 = Back to LOX
LOX also works well after a long night…but you did not hear that from me.
Ed Rush says
Good to hear from you Stambo!!!
Semper Fi, Marine.