F-22 RAM Coatings/Limits on speed?
"When a fifth-generation fighter meets a fourth-generation fighter—the [latter] dies,”
CSAF Gen. Mark Welsh
CSAF Gen. Mark Welsh
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Makes sense it applies to all types, although you could make a case the F-22 is special given is high supercruise capabilities. There has to be some operational limit, and it's likely ram coatings dictate max speed. I certainly don't get the feeling it's the engines. Either RAM coatings or the canopy, take your pick. Maybe both..
Whatever the limits are, they're far higher vs. any 4th or 4++ whatever jet. Only the PAK FA and J-20 may be in the same ballpark, but not until such time as a suitable engine gets them there. From what it sounds like, that's going to be 5-10 years, at least. And you can bet F-22 upgrades will keep it ahead of the game. One of those might be better/higher speed threshold RAM (aren't we already hearing about that?) or a new canopy - if the latter is a limiting factor...
Whatever the limits are, they're far higher vs. any 4th or 4++ whatever jet. Only the PAK FA and J-20 may be in the same ballpark, but not until such time as a suitable engine gets them there. From what it sounds like, that's going to be 5-10 years, at least. And you can bet F-22 upgrades will keep it ahead of the game. One of those might be better/higher speed threshold RAM (aren't we already hearing about that?) or a new canopy - if the latter is a limiting factor...
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mixelflick wrote:Makes sense it applies to all types, although you could make a case the F-22 is special given is high supercruise capabilities.
I would think F-22 is special in that RAM paint peeling off affects it a lot more than paint peeling off a 4th gen fighter (where it is just a cosmetic issue).
arian wrote:mixelflick wrote:Makes sense it applies to all types, although you could make a case the F-22 is special given is high supercruise capabilities.
I would think F-22 is special in that RAM paint peeling off affects it a lot more than paint peeling off a 4th gen fighter (where it is just a cosmetic issue).
I tend to concur. The F-22 pic i referenced earlier that appears to have been scrubbed from the WWW showed a deep layer of material on the nose being peeled off, not just a layer of paint.
"When a fifth-generation fighter meets a fourth-generation fighter—the [latter] dies,”
CSAF Gen. Mark Welsh
CSAF Gen. Mark Welsh
popcorn wrote:arian wrote:mixelflick wrote:Makes sense it applies to all types, although you could make a case the F-22 is special given is high supercruise capabilities.
I would think F-22 is special in that RAM paint peeling off affects it a lot more than paint peeling off a 4th gen fighter (where it is just a cosmetic issue).
I tend to concur. The F-22 pic i referenced earlier that appears to have been scrubbed from the WWW showed a deep layer of material on the nose being peeled off, not just a layer of paint.
Are you referring to this one or something else?
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rhoads56 wrote:popcorn wrote:Something else.
I think this is it. I dug it up from an old thread on here from years ago.
sferrin, great pic though.
Nope, not even close... the pic I saw showed the full nose and lowered cockpit transparency. The nose surface was badly mangled like someone had taken a angle grinder to it. I assumed the whitish-grey material from the nose caused the smearing all over the transparency drastically reducing the pilot's forward view.
PS.. I've no doubt that was a valuable learning experience for all involved with the jet.
Last edited by popcorn on 03 May 2017, 01:34, edited 1 time in total.
"When a fifth-generation fighter meets a fourth-generation fighter—the [latter] dies,”
CSAF Gen. Mark Welsh
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popcorn wrote:rhoads56 wrote:popcorn wrote:Something else.
I think this is it. I dug it up from an old thread on here from years ago.
sferrin, great pic though.
Nope, not even close... the pic I saw showed the full nose and lowered cockpit transparency. The nose surface was badly mangled like someone had taken a angle grinder to it. I assumed the whitish-grey material from the nose caused the smearing all over the transparency drastically reducing the pilot's forward view.
Wow. Now that I've never seen. Now I'm intrigued, though. I'll have to keep looking
popcorn wrote:Nope, not even close... the pic I saw showed the full nose and lowered cockpit transparency. The nose surface was badly mangled like someone had taken a angle grinder to it.
* Full nose shown: check
* Lowered cockpit transparency: check
* Badly mangled nose surface: check
Then you must mean this picture no?
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Hello all,
I remembered seeing this thread (as a lurker) from a while ago and wanted to share this article, since it was just posted and featured detailed damage shots!
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/2 ... ascinating
I remembered seeing this thread (as a lurker) from a while ago and wanted to share this article, since it was just posted and featured detailed damage shots!
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/2 ... ascinating
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The nature of the damage looks very similar to the May 2017 photo up above. Interesting.
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