Raptor testing entering its final stages at Nellis

Jace Radke

Friday, Feb. 4, 2005 | 9:03 a.m.

The 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron was scheduled to be recognized today for its work in testing two state-of-the-art flight helmet systems before moving on to the final phases of testing for the Air Force's newest stealth fighter, the FA-22 Raptor.

Today marks the beginning of the Force Development Evaluation for the controversial fighter that will require the Nellis-based 422nd to fly more than 80 missions in the FA-22 while putting together the tactics bible that future Raptor pilots will rely upon.

"They are going to start writing the playbook for operating the FA-22," Nellis Air Force Base spokesman Capt. Steve Rolenc said.

The 422nd is scheduled to complete the tactics book on the Raptor in October, and the first operational Raptor Squadron is scheduled to be assigned to Langley Air Force Base, Va., in December.

By 2008, a squadron of 17 Raptors are expected to be stationed at Nellis so that the base's weapons school can begin operating the equivalent of doctorate-level instructor training for the aircraft.

Currently Nellis has seven Raptors, down from eight after the Dec. 20th crash of a Raptor at Nellis that was caused by a software problem that affected flight control.

Future Raptor pilots will very likely be using helmet technology put through its paces by the 422nd. Dr. Hendrick Ruck, Director of the Air Force Research Laboratory, was at Nellis today to recognize the work the 422nd did in testing two helmet system.

The first system, known as VCATS (Visually Coupled Acquisition Targeting System), equips a magnetic tracker inside the helmet allowing pilots to target an enemy through the helmet without having to have the nose of their aircraft pointed toward the enemy.

The 422nd tested VCATS from 1997-2004 on three F-15C Eagles specifically modified for air-to-air combat.

The second system is a panoramic night vision goggle that increases a pilots night vision from the limited 40 degree field-of-view that older goggles provide. The 422nd completed testing of the new goggles last year and both the goggles and the targeting system are being used by pilots today, Rolenc said.

Ruck was scheduled to present the 422nd with two helmets with fully tested, operational targeting and night vision systems equipped to celebrate the squadrons ongoing partnership with the Air Force Research Laboratory located at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.