[MilCom] Raptor--Low speed stability

[baycomm at earthlink.net]

> Subject: The New F/A-22
> 
>  Fast (super-cruise*) and stealthy, and integrated avionics are cool, 
> but what’s really impressive is the F/A-22s low speed stability and 
> maneuverability.  In the late 40s and to early 60s aeronautical 
> engineers were going nuts on how to shape intakes to handle both 
> subsonic and super-sonic air flows, without stagnation or compressor 
> stalls.  Supersonic in itself was a big challenge because you had to use 
> shock waves to slow the intake air mass to sub-sonic before it hit the 
> compressor blades, or they would stall.  The engineers figured it out, 
> but the solution was keeping a lot of air going in the front end to make 
> sure the all hot air kept going out the back end.  As you watch this 
> Mach 2 airplane suspend motionless in air and do tail slides, be aware 
> of the truly amazing performance of the engines and intakes. 
> 
> Some used to think the Su-27 / Su-31 “Cobra” maneuver was the epitome of 
> 3rd to 4th generation fighter maneuverability.  That snap maneuver 
> doesn’t hold a candle to what this two-dimensional vectored-thrust 
> fighter with fat independent horizontal stabs can do at low speed.  
> There must be far more tricks up its sleeve in the high subsonic 
> dogfight speed range. 
> 
> The video is about 5 minutes long but the last 30-40 seconds are priceless.
> 
> http://www.f22-raptor.com/media/video_gallery/videos/F22_AirShow_Langley.wmv 
> 
> 
> ACC recently approved the Raptors new DEMO profile.  This was the first 
> show.  Five minute video.
> 
> Watch the elevators of the airplane in this demo.  They work 
> independently.  It also has vectored thrust.
> 
> ACC = Air Combat Command (for the non-Air Force folks)
> 
> *Supercruise:  The F/A-22 can sustain supersonic flight without the use 
> of fuel-gulping afterburners.