The Air Force will begin testing a new valve on pressurized vests worn by F-22 pilots. Master Sgt. Jeremy Lock / U.S. Air Force
F-22 Oxygen Fix Expected By End Of The Year -- Air Force Times
A faulty valve on the pressurized vests worn by F-22 pilots will be replaced by the end of the year, a move aimed at solving pilots’ complaints of nausea and dizziness while flying the stealth fighter.
The valve connects the plane’s onboard oxygen supply to a tube that inflates the vest, protecting pilots from high-G forces. But a flaw in the valve caused the vests to be constantly inflated, even at lower altitudes when they weren’t needed, said Maj. Gen. Charles Lyon, the director of operations for Air Combat Command. The continuous pressure on the pilots’ chests caused symptoms of oxygen deficiency, or hypoxia.
Read more ....
More News On The F-22 Oxygen Problem
Air Force Confident F-22 Oxygen Riddle Solved -- Military.com
Air Force assures F-22 readiness following extensive testing -- US Air Force
After four years Air Force “confident” it has found F-22 problem source -- CNN
Air Force Targets Valve to Fix F-22 Jet’s Oxygen Problems -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Improvements to be added over F-22 oxygen problem -- CBS
Why have F-22 pilots passed out at the controls? Pentagon solves mystery. -- Christian Science Monitor
Air Force: There Never Was a 'Smoking Gun' for F-22 Fighter Problems -- ABC News
IN FOCUS: F-22 pilots and engineers not convinced USAF has found root cause of Raptor's oxygen woes -- Flight Global
USAF to Fix F-22 Raptor Onboard Oxygen Generator Issues by Year's End -- Daily Tech
USAF reiterates that Combat Edge vest is the cause of Raptor’s maladies -- Flight Global
Pressure vests were choking F-22 pilots -- Passport/Foreign Policy
The F-22 Is Cured, We Hope -- Strategy Page