In training at Tyndall AFB, Fla., F-22As routinely take on six F-15s at once in mock dogfights—and the contest is still not even close, say Raptor pilots. Lt. Col. David Krumm, an F-22A instructor, told the Associated Press news service, that F-15 Eagle pilots are “the world’s best pilots.” So, he added, “It’s a startling moment for them to come down here and get waylaid.” The empathy is no doubt real, since current F-22 pilots flew F-15 and F-15E aircraft in their pre-Raptor days.
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.