I'd love to talk about observations I made shooting this plane. Now I would LOVE to know ALL the answers to the questions I am about to ask. I would love to know more answers then I have questions BUT!!! Please do NOT violate OPSEC!!!
OK, That being said lets start with this horrifically blown out aft shot:
The first thing that comes to mind is Why is the port Elevator deflected while the Starboard remains fixed in a 'normal' position?
Next question is the splayed tabs are obviously in place for thrust vectoring up and down. Do the two parts in the middle and outside of the exhaust move as well, and how IE do they just compress in or vector as well?
Next Picture:
Working left to right there are 3 remove before flight tags. Obviously pitot on the far left, almost obviously static ground on the far right. I'm guessing the middle one is pitot static, but the mechanisim looks strange, almost like the thing attached to the tag has to hold the static port out to cover it.
Next:
Several things are curious.
#1 this is our best fighter, yet despite known canopy issues (ok maybe just one event), it sits there in the hot sun with no protection for the HUD or ejection seat; Why?
#2 I'm guessing the obvious access hatch in front is standard computer access whatnot
#3 Right in front of that access panel is what I would think is the 'real' pitot static port.
#4 Just inside the intake there are grills that support airflow away from the engine? What for?
#5 The two Dark patches just above the intake (Guessing sensors)
#6 The Bright patch aft of the canopy (Guessing sensors)
#7 The barely visable buble Immediately behind the canopy
And Finally:
#1 The bright metal Diamond above the bay door, Looks like another pitot staic port candidate
#2 That NASTY ASSED exhaust port above the aft part of the rail that obviously seems to emit smoke during flight judging by the port landing gear door.
#3 What's the patch in front of it that's clean?
#4 Ok, they opened the doors and extended the rail, Why? To me it makes it obvious what can and cannot be carried there
#5 Just Aft of the port Rail doors are another pair of doors obviously seperated by a bulkhead, SO whatever those doors open up for have nothing to do with the front main doors, what are they 'hiding'?
#6 There is obviously a sensor package at the root of the wing encompasing top to bottom.
#7 The seperate sensors top and bottom of the wing just aft of the wing root sensor(s).
Thanks for answering what questions you can, I apreciate it!!
BladeLWS From United States of America, joined Dec 2005, 386 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (6 years 4 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 4317 times:
I'll try and answer some of the stuff from what I see...
First pic
#1 The elevators might be in two different positions due to two different systems, left and right possibly?
#2 The parts in the middle and outside of the intakes do not move.
Second pic
No answers there.
Third pic
#1 Maybe they forgot?
#2 I believe you are correct that it is an avionics/computer access hatch.
#4 That grill is probably for an APU intake if the Raptor has one (which I assume it does)
#5 Most likely, the Raptor has infrared search and track systems among others.
#6 More sensors
#7 Probably satellite communications
Fourth pic
#2 Probably an APU
#3 Probably access to said APU
#4 You might not be interested but others might be.
#5 I'm guessing those doors are where the fuel filling ports are?
KevinSmith From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (6 years 4 weeks 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 4178 times:
Quoting TedTAce (Thread starter): #1 this is our best fighter, yet despite known canopy issues (ok maybe just one event), it sits there in the hot sun with no protection for the HUD or ejection seat; Why?
I don't think I've ever seen too much in the way of HUD or ejection seat protection. I've seen leather coverings over the HUD and the top of the seat. Is that what you are referring to or have you seen more elaborate devices?
Quoting TedTAce (Thread starter): #4 Just inside the intake there are grills that support airflow away from the engine? What for?
My guess is for some kind of RAM air system.
Quoting TedTAce (Thread starter): #5 Just Aft of the port Rail doors are another pair of doors obviously seperated by a bulkhead, SO whatever those doors open up for have nothing to do with the front main doors, what are they 'hiding'?
This again is a guess but I would think those might be the chaff and flare compartment. One other a/c they are usually on the wingtips however to allow the vorticies to mix the chaff. If you ever get a chance to look at the underside of an A-10 you can see it very easily.
KevinSmith From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 7, posted (6 years 4 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 4052 times:
Quoting TedTAce (Reply 6):
I will make that observation next chance I get.
That being said let me clarify my own words as to avoid confusion. The flare/chaff pods look like a grill and are on the underside of the tips of the wings.
Vzlet From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 820 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (6 years 3 weeks 6 days 4 hours ago) and read 3756 times:
Quoting TedTAce (Thread starter): #2 That NASTY ASSED exhaust port above the aft part of the rail that obviously seems to emit smoke during flight judging by the port landing gear door.
That's the exhaust for the Stored Energy System (SES).
Quoting TedTAce (Thread starter): #5 Just Aft of the port Rail doors are another pair of doors obviously seperated by a bulkhead
That's where the chaff and flares are located.
"That's so stupid! If they're so secret, why are they out where everyone can see them?" - my kid
DeltaDC9 From United States of America, joined Apr 2006, 2844 posts, RR: 4 Reply 11, posted (6 years 3 weeks 4 days 6 hours ago) and read 3534 times:
Quoting TedTAce (Thread starter): #4 Ok, they opened the doors and extended the rail, Why? To me it makes it obvious what can and cannot be carried there
It is no secret what can be carried in the bays, and as I say below, it appears to be at an Airshow or display of some sort.
Quoting TedTAce (Thread starter): #1 this is our best fighter, yet despite known canopy issues (ok maybe just one event), it sits there in the hot sun with no protection for the HUD or ejection seat; Why?
This appears to be on display, and they must be designed to sit out in the sun or what good would they be? The sun is much more intense at 60,000 feet
Did you catch the episode of Monk with the F-22? I was surpised ad how many close up shots there were.
Dont take life too seriously because you will never get out of it alive - Bugs Bunny
GrandTheftAero From United States of America, joined Nov 2003, 254 posts, RR: 5 Reply 12, posted (6 years 3 weeks 3 days ago) and read 3418 times:
Quoting TedTAce (Thread starter): #4 Just inside the intake there are grills that support airflow away from the engine? What for?
This is probably boundary layer suction. It's not unique to the F-22. Most military aircraft have it. It's to bleed off boundary layer growth before air enters the engine.
Quoting Vzlet (Reply 9): That's the exhaust for the Stored Energy System (SES).
What's a Stored Energy System? Is this anything like the hydrazine-fueled emergency power system on an F-16?
I have never found myself appreciating the commercials for Monk, so.. I have never bothered. If you can tell me when the f-22 episode is going to air again, I'll try to catch it, and maybe you'll 'convert' me
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From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
Everytime I see a military A/C out in the sun and closed off there is usually a shroud for the HUD and top of the eection seat.
From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2006, 1522 posts, 
I have never found myself appreciating the commercials for Monk, so.. I have never bothered. If you can tell me when the f-22 episode is going to air again, I'll try to catch it, and maybe you'll 'convert' me 
kewel
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