The history of the F-22 Raptor, perhaps the most advanced fighter jet in the U.S. fleet, has been a troubled one, with only a fraction of the aircraft being built and the program dogged by concerns over the aircraft’s oxygen system. Though a USAF report has put some changes in place, it seems that a few pilots are refusing to fly the Raptor.
At issue are reports of Raptor pilots coming back with hypoxia-like symptoms, which usually occur when the brain is deprived of oxygen. Hypoxia is dangerous to anyone, but especially dangerous to pilots as it can cause wooziness, poor or delayed decision making, and in very extreme cases unconsciousness and death. The Raptor oxygen issues came to a head last year when the entire fleet was temporarily grounded, but oxygen issues may have played a role in a deadly 2010 Raptor crash in Alaska.
via Geekosystem
