View allAll Photos Tagged Versatile
The versatility of the King Raptor platform allows for numerous weapons loads to be fitted depending on the mission. This particular F-22C is outfitted with a typical air superiority loadout:
- 6x AIM-120G AMRAAMs in the centerline internal bay
- 4x AIM-120G AMRAAMs on pylons under the wings
- 2x AIM-9 Block IV Sidewinders in the side internal bays
- 2x 700 gallon external fuel tanks
- internally mounted M61A2 Vulcan 20 mm cannon w/ 600 rounds
This aircraft is assigned to the 325th Fighter Wing, based at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida.
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Something else that's been done since last August that I never took photos of.
Based off of Corvin's original F-22 design.
The 'Most Versatile' challenge is set by the Compositionally Challenged Group. Many thanks to Sharon for this months fab themes.
In this month's challenge, 9 members entered 90 photos, so all members completed all 10 themes. These members, in play order were: Ms. J, Dave, Maria, Robin, Sharon, Pat, Carissa, Andy and Lesley.
This montage features at least one photo per person, and at least one photo per theme. To view the complete challenge and entries, click Here.
Versatile leather with wingtip flare, ankle height, and available with or without broguing the new Hudsons are perfect to pair with a suit or just jeans.
Available as our exclusive this month at ALPHA:
Tailored for the following mesh bodies :
*Meshbody Legacy M (and Basic)
*Meshbody Legacy F (and Basic)
*Meshbody Athletic
*Anatomy
*Belleza Jake
*Signature Gianni
*Maitreya Lara and LaraX
*eBody Reborn
Discounted Eventpack contains both Brogue and Solids Versions of the Hudson Ankle Highs.
Fatpacks also available in either Brogue or Solids along with select single colors of each.
🎁**Flash Giveaway Winner - Sadal Suub has won a Hudson Ankle High Collection EVENTPACK!*
*pictures are not edited*
Charli - Pampered Pupz Charli - easy to edit and very versatile (new model)
Ciara - Princess Roxxi - mouth not vey easy to edit, but looks good with a lot of different themes (was in 2 contest, both canceled)
Nora - Flower Girlz Nora - pale face contrasts with the dark hair and purple eyes, easy to edit and versatile (new model)
Diana - Wild Wild West Dana - fierce face, never tried to use her as model before, not sure if she is to edit or if she is versatile (new model)
Katia - Forever Diamondz Katia - easy to edit and versatile (new model)
Sharidan - The Movie Sharidan - easy to edit and versatile (new model)
Tess - Twiins Tess - not very easy to edit, and not versatile like the others, but she has an unique latin/hispanic look (new model)
Naomi Aya Yoshiko - The Movie Jade - eyes not easy to edit, but she is versatile (new model)
Vinessa - Play Sportz Tennis Vinessa - flaws on her face and a hole on the mouth (fixed with wood glue) easy to edit and very versatile (reach top 2 in a contest, final result never revealed)
Our third Avalon Waterways tour stop of the day was to Mai Home, The Saigon Culinary Art Center.
After our visit John & I chose to walk back to the hotel so more HCMC street scenes.
The motorcycle in HCMC is so versatile for delivering goods.
Even barb wire looks kind of good when seen through the Zeiss 16-70mm. I do love this versatile lens dearly, especially the super-creamy bokeh at F4.
Nubia and Zaira with Pablo Picasso’s ‘Girl before a Mirror’. I like how the symmetry of the images in both the painting and the photo mirror each other and the sculptural shapes of the dresses create the ‘cubist’ effect 😊
The gorgeous pink Vivid Paradise Tatyana dress worn by Zaira together with the beautiful jewellery worn by Nubia are gifts from my sweet and lovely friend, Leslie (of several that I hope to feature in several shoots!). Nubia was already wearing Serenity Vanessa’s dress and I realised how good these two sculptural dresses in vibrant silk would look together. I wanted to pose them as close as possible so it would almost seem like they are wearing a single dress - the final effect reminds me of a cubist painting! Nubia decided she would wear Leslie’s beautiful long necklace hanging down her back and I have to agree with her - it does look perfect worn this way with this dress. Leslie’s jewellery is so pretty and so versatile - it goes with so many different looks and styles. Thank you so much dear Leslie! More photos of your gifts to come!
CC most versatile: Homemade
We were in the mood for Sloppy Joes for dinner last night. Then I realized there weren't any buns in the freezer. Sliced bread wouldn't be right. I didn't want to go to the store just for one item. It didn't take long to find the perfect solution for the problem - and a new recipe to keep handy. Of course, me being me, I had to modify the recipe because I didn't want a dozen buns.
Really like this outfit sort of casual but kind of dressy, and have to say how much more versatility girls have with clothing choices!
CC most versatile: Shadows
(went to explore before posting to CC)
I looked out the window while doing my exercises, as I often do, and spotted this little brown job hopping around under the shrubbery. It is larger than a sparrow and has quite a long tail. Shot through a window, so not as clear as I would like, but I'll take it.
The Merlin app identified it and declared that it is rare. And now it is on my Life List.
After thinking of some possibilities of using the musket, here are few themes I thought of; Armada, Pirate, and American Revolution.
I had a few other ideas, but these ones turned out best.
We did this shoot at a local business campus on a March day that felt like July - absolutely perfect shooting conditions, with three of my favorite models and some excellent photographers - life doesn't get better than this!!
I love shooting with Valerie but she is so busy and our schedules never match. She told me her goal is to get more shoots in and my cameras like the thought of that. We go way back and she is like family to us. It's been fun watching her mature and succeed over the years, but I really hope to get more shoots with her in soon!
Coach House Museum, Fielding. The cart to the right is a spring cart which was probably the most versatile of all horse-drawn vehicles. It was used for farm work, taking people to Church, children to school, to town for their monthly supplies and animals to the abattoirs, sale yards and milk or cream to the factory or local creamery. The saddles were solid in construction - sufficient to carry the heavy leather and adjustable belly strap that the tugs were attached to. The tugs carried the shafts of the spring cart. The saddle itself was tied securely to the horse's back by a heavy girth strap. It was stopped from moving forward by a crupper or britching or both.
Comil Versatile M. Benz OF1318/51
y
Neobus Spectrum Road M. Benz OF1418
Actualidad: Particulares (A&M Transportes)
Cámara: Galaxy S7
Introducing the PRIMA Basic Clothing Pack — a collection of essential pieces to complement your PRIMA body beautifully.
This pack includes ONE color of each of these versatile items:
PRIMA Babydoll Dress (Busty & Petite)
PRIMA Fall Tube Top (Busty & Petite)
PRIMA I Love Summer Bodysuit (Busty & Petite)
PRIMA Influence High-Waisted Jeans
PRIMA Stressy Denim Shorts
PRIMA The OG Denim Mini Skirt (Loose Fit)
The perfect foundation for your PRIMA wardrobe!
✨ For PRIMA VIP members: Get the pack at 50% OFF until February 28th!
💖 Don’t have the PRIMA body yet? Buy your future favorite body, and you’ll get the Basic Clothing Pack as a bonus! (Until February 28th)
Start your PRIMA journey with style!
🚕 maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Radiant%20Wonder/168/102/24
Day 1 - Here goes another week of hand self portraits! Appears as though my rain boots are very veratile!
Aerial shot of Point vicente Lighthouse during sunset. It is also my first tes result of DJI Phantom 4. It is an amazing tool for photographers and videographers. Versatile, easy to use and high image and video output quality.
Cross-country skiing has a long history in the Nordic countries. Today, this versatile sport is practiced on ready-made tracks, as here in Ylläs in northern Finland. Even today, during the darkest season and in severe frost, many enjoy this beloved species. In addition to skiing, you can then admire the ever-changing lights and colors of the North.
After my solo skateboarding session at the skate park, I headed home, still feeling that post-skate buzz. A warm shower was exacrtl what I needed also being able to have my new ink
from Hoodlem the wait of healing was so worth it and being able to showcase this new set from catarsis along with the new hand ink and we cant forget one of our new wigs from
monso this pony sure does make the look so the warm shower is truly needed, and as the water washed away the dustand sweat, I started thinkin about dinner. I had been waiting for the perfect
moment to wear not only my second wig from tram but also the new outfit I ordered from Tres Blah, along with these adorable pearl bow heels from Mantra plus my new accessories from both
Yummy and babyboo and tonight really felt like the right time. Slipping into the outfit, I admired the fit. Tres Blah always nailed that blend of chic and casual, perfect for a night
out at the new bistro in Portofino. The sun had just begun to set as I arrived, casting a warm glow over the outdoor seating area. I was lucky there was a beautiful table open outside,
tucked away enough for a little privacy but with a great view of path where the vines twirled and bloomed beautiful flowers on the gates. As I settled in, I decided to start my evening with
something special s'mores old fashioned from ChicChica. The drink arrived in a glass that looked as good as it tasted, the sweetness of the marshmallow and chocolate blending perfectly
with the smoky bourbon. It was the ideal start to what I knew would be a relaxing, enjoyable evening.
For more details on this location and outfit details look at my Blog ❣
#AbFav_MULTI_COLOUR_ 📱
Paper, so versatile, just think, we write on it, we read on it, we make things with it, decorate, and OH so much more!
Thank you very much for your time, visit, comments and awards..., M, (*_*)
For more: www.indigo2photography.com
IT IS FORBIDDEN (BY LAW!) TO USE ANY OF MY image or TEXT on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit permission. © All rights reserved
party, celebration, paper, fun, fan, props, colour, black-background, square, studio, "Nikon D7000", "Magda indigo"
I am making some stocking fillers for my great nieces and nephews. (I like to start Christmas early!)
These are only 6 inches tall (15cm in modern money) and are made up of so many small parts that they are fiddly. The fairy took a whole week to make!
This 'Most Versatile' challenge is set by the Compositionally Challenged Group. Thank you very much Linda, (left in charge by Sharon) for these super themes.
In this month's challenge, 9 members, entered 86 photos, and 7 members completed all 10 themes. These members, in play order, were: Ms J, Maria, Dave, Linda, Pat, Sharon, Keith and Joan.
This montage features at least one photo per person, and at least one photo per theme. View the complete challenge and entries, by clicking Here.
Genus Morph is so cool and really versatile but can have a bit of a learning curve compared to EvoX and SLUV heads. If you're not sure where to start ALT3 have got you covered. They make fantastic makeup, skins and appliers for Genus. And for Lelutka, Kreep and much much more. Right now till July 20th you can use the code blow (just copy and paste) to get 20% off the great stuff ALT3 makes. Make the most of your head and more at ALT3.
This season code: INFLUENCER
The code can be used 3 times, valid at the Mainstore Only, expiring July 20th.
I'm wearing the Luna Genus 4K Morph and eBody Reborn skins in the Djinn tone. Also wearing Waifu Body Skin toned belly and kuromori stiff masturbation arms toned arms addons.
You can also see the amazing Siren Cosmetics add-on (one of the first of its kind for Genus 4k), which gives me those cool ridge lines across my brow and forehead - more info below.
The next 3 items are available at Warehouse
June 23 - July 18
"Siren" Cosmetics ridge lines with materials
- Supports EvoX, Genus SLUV, Genus 4K and Kreep
- Materials appliers included
- 3 Modular and tintable layers
- Can be worn classic or inverted to suit your look
From Wraith available at GOTHCORE
June 24 - July 12 (ends tomorrow
"Vicious" shorts
- 20 Colour options, 10 Holos and 7 metals
- Latex, Leather, Satin, Holo
- Rigged for Reborn/Juicy, Lara X, Legacy F
- Copy/Mod/Materials
Wraith Mainstore
From PSYCHO:Byts available at their Mainstore
"Cyber Implants" prosthetic jaw, cheek and and forehead set
- Includes HUD many texture customisation
- 8 Pieces that can each added and customised separately
- Unrigged for easy positioning and customisation
- Materials/Mod/Copy
PSYCHO:Byts Mainstore
From Normandy available at Normandy Mainstore
"Diagnostics" Arm Band
- Black + 24 inner band colours
- Console screen UV included
- Includes PBR + legacy materials texture HUDs
- Materials/Mod/Copy
Normandy Mainstore
From SEKA available GOTHCORE
June 24 - July 12 (ends tomorrow
"Titty Utility" top
- Includes HUD that lets you customize your new item on the go!
- Each color pack comes with 2 looks for the main TOP to give you some different styling options
HUD Features:
- change the MAIN top texture (2 colors)
- mix 'n match the Pouch Details ( 8 colors x 3 versions>blank/X/heart )
- mix 'n match the Buckle ( 8 colors )
- mix 'n match the Top Edge ( 8 colors )
- mix 'n match the Harness Straps ( 8 colors )
- add GLOW to Pouch detail and make it stand out more
- Turn HARNESS with Titty Pouch ON>OFF (fun for some roleplay purposes winkwink)
- TINT all the parts and find your own intense shade
- FATPACK comes with all the Main Top and Pouch Textures and everything else and since you have all the colors now you can mix and match till infinity! and create some cool colorful looks
BUT don't forget! As with all SEKA items you dont necessarily need a FATPACK to create more looks, for example having only 2 packs still allows you to mix and match between those two etc ★ it's MODIFY (if you wish to tint more, remove scripts, etc..)
Rigged for LEGACY + Perky + Bombshell ,MAITREYA + Petite + LaraX + PetiteX,Inithium KUPRA + KUPSab, Inithium KHARA, eBODY Reborn + WAIFU
- Materials, Mod, copy
SEKA Mainstore
Other stuff:
CALLI - Veins
TF - Body Veins
HANZ - Electrical Discharges Upper [Light] BoM
SAXO - Dead Veins Body Unisex (Tintable) Soft
AII - Avarice Tail
KUROMORI - stiff masturbation arms
eBODY - REBORN and Waifus
GENUS - MORPH Head Square, Puppy eyes, Heavy Lips, Wavy Nose
SOLE - Headset SSR.SCO Kit Emitter (White Black)
A.D.D.Andel! - Circuit-Eye Overlay
PIXEL ART - Cat Claws
UNHOLY - EX MACHINA TAIL
VISTA ANIMATIONS-FACIAL BENTO HUD for GENUS-V1.1
VOID - Demure Lashes
KROVA - Metal Hawk
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The 'Most Versatile' challenge is set by the Compositionally Challenged Group. Big thanks to Sharon for this months fab themes.
In this month's challenge, 10 members entered 98 photos, and 9 members completed all 10 themes. These members, in play order were: Ms. J, Maria, Pat, Sandi, Sharon, Robin, Dave, Linda and Andy.
This montage features at least one photo per person, and at least one photo per theme. To view the complete challenge and entries, click Here.
Welcome to my Logo Designing Profile
I have a logo Design experience in Versatile, Flat minimalist, lettering, signature and many more sites.Are you looking for a creative and simple modern logo designer for your company, travel, school, fitness, Etc ?
Please order your design:
www.fiverr.com/pinkiakter69?up_rollout=true
Thanks.
Versatility is my final project after a one year photographic course. All the pictures are made from my old pictures of flowers.
The versatile Indologist James Prinsep (b. 1799, d. 1840) came to India in 1819. He joined as the assay-master of the Calcutta Mint in 1829 and simultaneously took charge of the Asiatic Society of Bengal as Secretary. During his tenure some of the important works were - preparation of scripts of Brahmi and Kharosti, introduction of uniform coinage of the East India Company's rupees, reformation of weights and measures, and the construction of the circular canal linking the Hoogly river and the Sunderbans.
After his death the citizens of Calcutta raised public funds to construct this monument on the eastern bank of the Hoogly river. The Monument is an example of Palladian architecture, an European architectural style derived from and inspired by the designs of Venetian architect Andrea Palladio (1508-1580). The building was restored in 2012 by the current government of West Bengal.
Simien Mountains National Park is one of the national parks of Ethiopia. Located in the Semien (North) Gondar Zone of the Amhara Region, its territory covers the Simien Mountains and includes Ras Dashan, the highest point in Ethiopia. It is home to a number of endangered species, including the Ethiopian wolf and the walia ibex, a wild goat found nowhere else in the world. The gelada baboon and the caracal, a cat, also occur within the Simien Mountains. More than 50 species of birds inhabit the park, including the impressive bearded vulture, or lammergeier, with its 10-foot (3m) wingspan.
The park is crossed by an unpaved road which runs from Debarq, where the administrative headquarters of the park is located, east through a number of villages to the Buahit Pass, where the road turns south to end at Mekane Berhan, 10 kilometers beyond the park boundary.
The Semiens are remarkable as being one of the few spots in Africa where snow regularly falls. First mentioned in the Monumentum Adulitanum of the 4th century AD (which described them as "inaccessible mountains covered with snow" and where soldiers walked up to their knees in snow), the presence of snow was undeniably witnessed by the 17th century Jesuit priest Jerónimo Lobo. Although the later traveler James Bruce claims that he had never witnessed snow in the Semien Mountains, the 19th century explorer Henry Salt not only recorded that he saw snow there (on 9 April 1814), but explained the reason for Bruce's failure to see snow in these mountains – Bruce had ventured no further than the foothills into the Semiens.
Despite their ruggedness and altitude, the mountains are dotted with villages linked by tracks. Historically they were inhabited by Ethiopian Jews (the Beta Israel), who after repeated attacks by the zealous Christian Emperors in the 15th century withdrew from the province of Dembiya into the more defensible Semien mountains.
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Six days of hiking in the area of Simien mountains, Ethiopia, was an unforgettable experience - I have enjoyed plenty of trekking trips in the past, however this one has been the most versatile and diverse of them all.
The plateau lies at the altitude of around 4000m, and the views from the escarpment are incomparable. Grand Canyon is awesome, but this place adds African moods and vibe into the overall picture. Unique, spectacular, unexpected, unknown. Definitely worth visiting.
This is a shot taken during our third day in the area - we hiked from the Geech camp to another camp called Chenek.
This montage is a representative selection of the ten themes, and contains at least one image per theme and at least one image per member. This particular canvas showcases 13 photos, selected from the 72 photos entered by 10 members, 4 of whom completed all ten themes. In play order these were Cheryl, Sharon, Andy, and Carissa. Congratulations to you all.
To view the complete challenge and entries, click Here.
Thanks Sharon for these fab themes for this Compositionally Challenged Group challenge.
An Air Force Lockheed Martin F-22 "Raptor" assigned to the 3rd Wing flies over Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Feb. 27, 2018. The Lockheed Martin F-22 "Raptor" is the U.S. Air Force’s premium fifth-generation fighter asset.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Lockheed Martin F-22 "Raptor" is a fifth-generation, single-seat, twin-engine, all-weather stealth tactical fighter aircraft developed for the United States Air Force (USAF). The result of the USAF's Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) program, the aircraft was designed primarily as an air superiority fighter, but also has ground attack, electronic warfare, and signal intelligence capabilities. The prime contractor, Lockheed Martin, built most of the F-22's airframe and weapons systems and conducted final assembly, while Boeing provided the wings, aft fuselage, avionics integration, and training systems.
The aircraft was variously designated F-22 and F/A-22 before it formally entered service in December 2005 as the F-22A. Despite its protracted development and various operational issues, USAF officials consider the F-22 a critical component of the service's tactical air power. Its combination of stealth, aerodynamic performance, and situational awareness enable unprecedented air combat capabilities.
Service officials had originally planned to buy a total of 750 ATFs. In 2009, the program was cut to 187 operational production aircraft due to high costs, a lack of clear air-to-air missions due to delays in Russian and Chinese fighter programs, a ban on exports, and development of the more versatile F-35. The last F-22 was delivered in 2012.
Development
Origins
In 1981, the U.S. Air Force identified a requirement for an Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) to replace the F-15 "Eagle" and F-16 "Fighting Falcon". Code named "Senior Sky", this air-superiority fighter program was influenced by emerging worldwide threats, including new developments in Soviet air defense systems and the proliferation of the Su-27 "Flanker"- and MiG-29 "Fulcrum"-class of fighter aircraft. It would take advantage of the new technologies in fighter design on the horizon, including composite materials, lightweight alloys, advanced flight control systems, more powerful propulsion systems, and most importantly, stealth technology. In 1983, the ATF concept development team became the System Program Office (SPO) and managed the program at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The demonstration and validation (Dem/Val) request for proposals (RFP) was issued in September 1985, with requirements placing strong emphasis on stealth and supercruise. Of the seven bidding companies, Lockheed and Northrop were selected on 31 October 1986. Lockheed teamed with Boeing and General Dynamics while Northrop teamed with McDonnell Douglas, and the two contractor teams undertook a 50-month Dem/Val phase, culminating in the flight test of two technology demonstrator prototypes, the YF-22 and the YF-23, respectively.
Dem/Val was focused on risk reduction and technology development plans over specific aircraft designs. Contractors made extensive use of analytical and empirical methods, including computational fluid dynamics, wind-tunnel testing, and radar cross-section calculations and pole testing; the Lockheed team would conduct nearly 18,000 hours of wind-tunnel testing. Avionics development was marked by extensive testing and prototyping and supported by ground and flying laboratories. During Dem/Val, the SPO used the results of performance and cost trade studies conducted by contractor teams to adjust ATF requirements and delete ones that were significant weight and cost drivers while having marginal value. The short takeoff and landing (STOL) requirement was relaxed in order to delete thrust-reversers, saving substantial weight. As avionics was a major cost driver, side-looking radars were deleted, and the dedicated infra-red search and track (IRST) system was downgraded from multi-color to single color and then deleted as well. However, space and cooling provisions were retained to allow for future addition of these components. The ejection seat requirement was downgraded from a fresh design to the existing McDonnell Douglas ACES II. Despite efforts by the contractor teams to rein in weight, the takeoff gross weight estimate was increased from 50,000 lb (22,700 kg) to 60,000 lb (27,200 kg), resulting in engine thrust requirement increasing from 30,000 lbf (133 kN) to 35,000 lbf (156 kN) class.
Each team produced two prototype air vehicles for Dem/Val, one for each of the two engine options. The YF-22 had its maiden flight on 29 September 1990 and in flight tests achieved up to Mach 1.58 in supercruise. After the Dem/Val flight test of the prototypes, on 23 April 1991, Secretary of the USAF Donald Rice announced the Lockheed team as the winner of the ATF competition. The YF-23 design was considered stealthier and faster, while the YF-22, with its thrust vectoring nozzles, was more maneuverable as well as less expensive and risky. The aviation press speculated that the Lockheed team's design was also more adaptable to the U.S. Navy's Navalized Advanced Tactical Fighter (NATF), but by 1992, the Navy had abandoned NATF.
Production and procurement
As the program moved to full-scale development, or the Engineering & Manufacturing Development (EMD) stage, the production version had notable differences from the YF-22, despite having a broadly similar shape. The swept-back angle of the leading edge was decreased from 48° to 42°, while the vertical stabilizers were shifted rearward and decreased in area by 20%. To improve pilot visibility, the canopy was moved forward 7 inches (18 cm), and the engine intakes moved rearward 14 inches (36 cm). The shapes of the wing and stabilator trailing edges were refined to improve aerodynamics, strength, and stealth characteristics. Increasing weight during development caused slight reductions in range and maneuver performance.
Prime contractor Lockheed Martin Aeronautics manufactured the majority of the airframe and performed final assembly at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Georgia; program partner Boeing Defense, Space & Security provided additional airframe components as well as avionics integration and training systems. The first F-22, an EMD aircraft with tail number 4001, was unveiled at Marietta, Georgia, on 9 April 1997, and first flew on 7 September 1997. Production, with the first lot awarded in September 2000, supported over 1,000 subcontractors and suppliers from 46 states and up to 95,000 jobs, and spanned 15 years at a peak rate of roughly two airplanes per month. In 2006, the F-22 development team won the Collier Trophy, American aviation's most prestigious award. Due to the aircraft's advanced nature, contractors have been targeted by cyberattacks and technology theft.
The USAF originally envisioned ordering 750 ATFs at a total program cost of $44.3 billion and procurement cost of $26.2 billion in fiscal year (FY) 1985 dollars, with production beginning in 1994. The 1990 Major Aircraft Review led by Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney reduced this to 648 aircraft beginning in 1996. By 1997, funding instability had further cut the total to 339, which was again reduced to 277 by 2003. In 2004, the Department of Defense (DoD) further reduced this to 183 operational aircraft, despite the USAF's preference for 381. A multi-year procurement plan was implemented in 2006 to save $15 billion, with total program cost projected to be $62 billion for 183 F-22s distributed to seven combat squadrons. In 2008, Congress passed a defense spending bill that raised the total orders for production aircraft to 187.
The first two F-22s built were EMD aircraft in the Block 1.0 configuration for initial flight testing, while the third was a Block 2.0 aircraft built to represent the internal structure of production airframes and enabled it to test full flight loads. Six more EMD aircraft were built in the Block 10 configuration for development and upgrade testing, with the last two considered essentially production quality jets. Production for operational squadrons consisted of 37 Block 20 training aircraft and 149 Block 30/35 combat aircraft; one of the Block 35 aircraft is dedicated to flight sciences at Edwards Air Force Base.
The numerous new technologies in the F-22 resulted in substantial cost overruns and delays. Many capabilities were deferred to post-service upgrades, reducing the initial cost but increasing total program cost. As production wound down in 2011, the total program cost is estimated to be about $67.3 billion, with $32.4 billion spent on Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) and $34.9 billion on procurement and military construction (MILCON) in then year dollars. The incremental cost for an additional F-22 was estimated at about $138 million in 2009.
Ban on exports
The F-22 cannot be exported under US federal law to protect its stealth technology and other high-tech features. Customers for U.S. fighters are acquiring earlier designs such as the F-15 "Eagle" and F-16 "Fighting Falcon" or the newer F-35 "Lightning II", which contains technology from the F-22 but was designed to be cheaper, more flexible, and available for export. In September 2006, Congress upheld the ban on foreign F-22 sales. Despite the ban, the 2010 defense authorization bill included provisions requiring the DoD to prepare a report on the costs and feasibility for an F-22 export variant, and another report on the effect of F-22 export sales on U.S. aerospace industry.
Some Australian politicians and defense commentators proposed that Australia should attempt to purchase F-22s instead of the planned F-35s, citing the F-22's known capabilities and F-35's delays and developmental uncertainties. However, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) determined that the F-22 was unable to perform the F-35's strike and close air support roles. The Japanese government also showed interest in the F-22 for its Replacement-Fighter program. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) would reportedly require fewer fighters for its mission if it obtained the F-22, thus reducing engineering and staffing costs. However, in 2009 it was reported that acquiring the F-22 would require increases to the Japanese government's defense budget beyond the historical 1 percent of its GDP. With the end of F-22 production, Japan chose the F-35 in December 2011. Israel also expressed interest, but eventually chose the F-35 because of the F-22's price and unavailability.
Production termination
Throughout the 2000s, the need for F-22s was debated, due to rising costs and the lack of relevant adversaries. In 2006, Comptroller General of the United States David Walker found that "the DoD has not demonstrated the need" for more investment in the F-22, and further opposition to the program was expressed by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon R. England, Senator John McCain, and Chairman of U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services Senator John Warner. The F-22 program lost influential supporters in 2008 after the forced resignations of Secretary of the Air Force Michael Wynne and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force General T. Michael Moseley.
In November 2008, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates stated that the F-22 was not relevant in post-Cold War conflicts such as irregular warfare operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and in April 2009, under the new Obama Administration, he called for ending production in FY2011, leaving the USAF with 187 production aircraft. In July, General James Cartwright, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated to the Senate Committee on Armed Services his reasons for supporting termination of F-22 production. They included shifting resources to the multirole F-35 to allow proliferation of fifth-generation fighters for three service branches and preserving the F/A-18 production line to maintain the military's electronic warfare (EW) capabilities in the Boeing EA-18G "Growler". Issues with the F-22's reliability and availability also raised concerns. After President Obama threatened to veto further production, the Senate voted in July 2009 in favor of ending production and the House subsequently agreed to abide by the 187 production aircraft cap. Gates stated that the decision was taken in light of the F-35's capabilities, and in 2010, he set the F-22 requirement to 187 aircraft by lowering the number of major regional conflict preparations from two to one.
In 2010, USAF initiated a study to determine the costs of retaining F-22 tooling for a future Service Life Extension Program (SLEP). A RAND Corporation paper from this study estimated that restarting production and building an additional 75 F-22s would cost $17 billion, resulting in $227 million per aircraft, or $54 million higher than the flyaway cost. Lockheed Martin stated that restarting the production line itself would cost about $200 million. Production tooling and associated documentation were subsequently stored at the Sierra Army Depot, allowing the retained tooling to support the fleet life cycle. There were reports that attempts to retrieve this tooling found empty containers, but a subsequent audit found that the tooling was stored as expected.
Russian and Chinese fighter developments have fueled concern, and in 2009, General John Corley, head of Air Combat Command, stated that a fleet of 187 F-22s would be inadequate, but Secretary Gates dismissed General Corley's concern. In 2011, Gates explained that Chinese fifth-generation fighter developments had been accounted for when the number of F-22s was set, and that the U.S. would have a considerable advantage in stealth aircraft in 2025, even with F-35 delays. In December 2011, the 195th and final F-22 was completed out of 8 test EMD and 187 operational aircraft produced; the aircraft was delivered to the USAF on 2 May 2012.
In April 2016, the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee proposed legislation that would direct the Air Force to conduct a cost study and assessment associated with resuming production of the F-22. Since the production halt directed in 2009 by then Defense Secretary Gates, lawmakers and the Pentagon noted that air warfare systems of Russia and China were catching up to those of the U.S. Lockheed Martin has proposed upgrading the Block 20 training aircraft into combat-coded Block 30/35 versions as a way to increase numbers available for deployment. On 9 June 2017, the Air Force submitted their report to Congress stating they had no plans to restart the F-22 production line due to economic and operational issues; it estimated it would cost approximately $50 billion to procure 194 additional F-22s at a cost of $206–$216 million per aircraft, including approximately $9.9 billion for non-recurring start-up costs and $40.4 billion for aircraft procurement costs.
Upgrades
The first aircraft with combat-capable Block 3.0 software flew in 2001. Increment 2, the first upgrade program, was implemented in 2005 for Block 20 aircraft onward and enabled the employment of Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM). Certification of the improved AN/APG-77(V)1 radar was completed in March 2007, and airframes from production Lot 5 onward are fitted with this radar, which incorporates air-to-ground modes. Increment 3.1 for Block 30 aircraft onward provided improved ground-attack capability through synthetic aperture radar mapping and radio emitter direction finding, electronic attack and Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) integration; testing began in 2009 and the first upgraded aircraft was delivered in 2011. To address oxygen deprivation issues, F-22s were fitted with an automatic backup oxygen system (ABOS) and modified life support system starting in 2012.
Increment 3.2 for Block 35 aircraft is a two-part upgrade process; 3.2A focuses on electronic warfare, communications and identification, while 3.2B includes geolocation improvements and a new stores management system to show the correct symbols for the AIM-9X and AIM-120D. To enable two-way communication with other platforms, the F-22 can use the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) as a gateway. The planned Multifunction Advanced Data Link (MADL) integration was cut due to development delays and lack of proliferation among USAF platforms. The F-22 fleet is planned to start receiving Increment 3.2B as well as a software upgrade for cryptography capabilities and avionics stability in May 2019. A Multifunctional Information Distribution System-Joint (MIDS-J) radio that replaces the current Link-16 receive-only box is expected to be operational by 2020. Subsequent upgrades are also focusing on having an open architecture to enable faster future enhancements.
In 2024, funding is projected to begin for the F-22 mid-life upgrade (MLU), which is expected to include new sensors and antennas, hardware refresh, cockpit improvements, and a helmet mounted display and cuing system. Other enhancements being developed include IRST functionality for the AN/AAR-56 Missile Launch Detector (MLD) and more durable stealth coating based on the F-35's.
The F-22 was designed for a service life of 8,000 flight hours, with a $350 million "structures retrofit program". Investigations are being made for upgrades to extend their useful lives further. In the long term, the F-22 is expected to be superseded by a sixth-generation jet fighter to be fielded in the 2030s.
Design
Overview
The F-22 "Raptor" is a fifth-generation fighter that is considered fourth generation in stealth aircraft technology by the USAF. It is the first operational aircraft to combine supercruise, supermaneuverability, stealth, and sensor fusion in a single weapons platform. The F-22 has four empennage surfaces, retractable tricycle landing gear, and clipped delta wings with reverse trailing edge sweep and leading edge extensions running to the upper outboard corner of the inlets. Flight control surfaces include leading-edge flaps, flaperons, ailerons, rudders on the canted vertical stabilizers, and all-moving horizontal tails (stabilators); for speed brake function, the ailerons deflect up, flaperons down, and rudders outwards to increase drag.
The aircraft's dual Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 augmented turbofan engines are closely spaced and incorporate pitch-axis thrust vectoring nozzles with a range of ±20 degrees; each engine has maximum thrust in the 35,000 lbf (156 kN) class. The F-22's thrust-to-weight ratio at typical combat weight is nearly at unity in maximum military power and 1.25 in full afterburner. Maximum speed without external stores is approximately Mach 1.8 at military power and greater than Mach 2 with afterburners.
The F-22's high cruise speed and operating altitude over prior fighters improve the effectiveness of its sensors and weapon systems, and increase survivability against ground defenses such as surface-to-air missiles. The aircraft is among only a few that can supercruise, or sustain supersonic flight without using fuel-inefficient afterburners; it can intercept targets which subsonic aircraft would lack the speed to pursue and an afterburner-dependent aircraft would lack the fuel to reach. The F-22's thrust and aerodynamics enable regular combat speeds of Mach 1.5 at 50,000 feet (15,000 m). The use of internal weapons bays permits the aircraft to maintain comparatively higher performance over most other combat-configured fighters due to a lack of aerodynamic drag from external stores. The aircraft's structure contains a significant amount of high-strength materials to withstand stress and heat of sustained supersonic flight. Respectively, titanium alloys and composites comprise 39% and 24% of the structural weight.
The F-22's aerodynamics, relaxed stability, and powerful thrust-vectoring engines give it excellent maneuverability and energy potential across its flight envelope. The airplane has excellent high alpha (angle of attack) characteristics, capable of flying at trimmed alpha of over 60° while maintaining roll control and performing maneuvers such as the Herbst maneuver (J-turn) and Pugachev's Cobra. The flight control system and full-authority digital engine control (FADEC) make the aircraft highly departure resistant and controllable, thus giving the pilot carefree handling.
Stealth
The F-22 was designed to be highly difficult to detect and track by radar. Measures to reduce radar cross-section (RCS) include airframe shaping such as alignment of edges, fixed-geometry serpentine inlets and curved vanes that prevent line-of-sight of the engine faces and turbines from any exterior view, use of radar-absorbent material (RAM), and attention to detail such as hinges and pilot helmets that could provide a radar return. The F-22 was also designed to have decreased radio emissions, infrared signature and acoustic signature as well as reduced visibility to the naked eye. The aircraft's flat thrust-vectoring nozzles reduce infrared emissions of the exhaust plume to mitigate the threat of infrared homing ("heat seeking") surface-to-air or air-to-air missiles. Additional measures to reduce the infrared signature include special topcoat and active cooling of leading edges to manage the heat buildup from supersonic flight.
Compared to previous stealth designs like the F-117, the F-22 is less reliant on RAM, which are maintenance-intensive and susceptible to adverse weather conditions. Unlike the B-2, which requires climate-controlled hangars, the F-22 can undergo repairs on the flight line or in a normal hangar. The F-22 has a Signature Assessment System which delivers warnings when the radar signature is degraded and necessitates repair. While the F-22's exact RCS is classified, in 2009 Lockheed Martin released information indicating that from certain angles the aircraft has an RCS of 0.0001 m² or −40 dBsm – equivalent to the radar reflection of a "steel marble". Effectively maintaining the stealth features can decrease the F-22's mission capable rate to 62–70%.
The effectiveness of the stealth characteristics is difficult to gauge. The RCS value is a restrictive measurement of the aircraft's frontal or side area from the perspective of a static radar. When an aircraft maneuvers it exposes a completely different set of angles and surface area, potentially increasing radar observability. Furthermore, the F-22's stealth contouring and radar absorbent materials are chiefly effective against high-frequency radars, usually found on other aircraft. The effects of Rayleigh scattering and resonance mean that low-frequency radars such as weather radars and early-warning radars are more likely to detect the F-22 due to its physical size. However, such radars are also conspicuous, susceptible to clutter, and have low precision. Additionally, while faint or fleeting radar contacts make defenders aware that a stealth aircraft is present, reliably vectoring interception to attack the aircraft is much more challenging. According to the USAF an F-22 surprised an Iranian F-4 "Phantom II" that was attempting to intercept an American UAV, despite Iran's assertion of having military VHF radar coverage over the Persian Gulf.
CC Most Versatile - Eat Your Veggies
Some of the vegetables in this dish came in a package of precut, mixed veggies. I don't plan on doing that again as the cutting makes them go bad quicker. And the asparagus was quite woody. They must have used the parts of the plant that I would normally cut off when prepping. Also, the precut round carrots are just plain boring and make me think of cafeteria food. The food was still delicious, with added flavors of wine, ginger, lemon grass paste, and low sodium soy sauce.