USAF Takes Steps To Cool F-22’s Avionics in Hot Climates

Posted on: Jun. 18th, 2006 || Source: defensenews.com | E-mail Article | Print Article

The U.S. Air Force is working to extend the amount of time that its new F-22 fighter can spend on the ground readying for a mission in hot climates such as Iraq and Afghanistan, service officials said.

When ground temperatures are above 120 degrees, the stealthy jet’s avionics begin to shut down after 44 minutes, Air Force officials said. That meets the service’s requirements, but can be too short a time to prep the aircraft for its mission, especially if any last-minute repairs are needed.

The avionics are “generating enormous heat,” said Maj. Gen. Dave Edgington, director of the service’s strike programs. “In the air, you have air flow and cooler ambient temperatures, so [dissipating the heat is] not a problem.”

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