Rep. Bill Young (R-Fla.), chairman of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, thinks the F-22 has fairly major structural flaw. The Air Force, on the other hand, thinks not. The contretemps—reported in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer—features Young’s claim that a problem in the aft fuselage and titanium engine casing will require a fighter redesign or major modification. The lawmaker says he’s been telling the Air Force it has to fix the problem before he’ll give his support to further procurement. The Air Force and Lockheed Martin say there is a “potential” flaw, but that it does not affect safety of flight nor require significant rework. They say they discovered the “anomaly” in December 2005. Stay tuned.
Airman 1st Class Marcus White-Allen concocted a story to cover up that he fired his M18 9mm pistol into Airman Braden Lovan’s chest, killing him on July 20, two Airmen from F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., testified during separate courts martial proceedings on Oct. 30-31.
