March 16,
2008: The new U.S. F-22 jet fighter is unique in many ways. But for such an
expensive aircraft, it's also notable that there are no two seat versions. All
previous U.S. single-seat fighters had a few two-seater versions so
pilots-in-training could go up with an instructor in the back seat, just in
case. But the air force examined its training records and discovered that
simulators, and training methods in general, were getting better and better
over the years. Most instructor pilots agreed that it would not be risky to let
pilots take their first solo ride in a single-seater. Thus there are no two
seat versions of the F-22. Instead, trainee pilots spend more time in the usual
full fidelity simulator (an actual F-22 cockpit, surrounded by a video system
providing 360 degree hi-def graphics.)
Just to be
on the safe side, the first F-22 pilots were those who already had a lot of air
time (over 1,500 hours) in F-16s and F-15s. But now the training program is
taking many pilots with only 600 hours in other fighters. As a test, there are
also four pilots right out of basic flight training. These were the ones at the
top of their class. Still, these pilots have less than a hundred hours in the
air, and will soon take their first F-22 flight in a single seat aircraft.
When these
solo flights take place, there is an instructor pilot nearby, flying another
F-22. A second instructor pilot is on the ground, checking the status of the
trainee pilots aircraft, and radioing advice or warnings as needed. But neither
instructor pilot can take over the controls of the trainee's aircraft, as was
the case in two seater fighters. The four green trainees will solo in about six
months.
