The 411th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards AFB, Calif., played an instrumental role in the Air Force-wide efforts to get the F-22 fleet cleared to fly after a grounding went into effect over pilot safety concerns. “Basically we turned over every single rock we thought to turn over; we wanted to take a real broad-brush approach to ensure we answered all questions,” said Maj. Chris Keithley, 411th FLTS F-22 test pilot. Air Combat Command stood down the F-22 fleet on May 3, following 12 reported incidents in which pilots experienced hypoxia-like symptoms—as if they were receiving an inadequate oxygen supply. The squadron spent 12 weeks evaluating the issue, designing a series of tests, and modifying F-22 test aircraft in order to support the Air Force’s safety investigation board and the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board. The squadron then flew 15 F-22 sorties in four weeks in order to collect real-time oxygen data. Information that the squadron provided to the SIB and AFSAB helped Air Combat Command authorize the fleet’s return to flight on Sept.19. (Edwards report by Kenji Thuloweit)
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.