F22s still flying

The best fighter in the world, the F22

From the Alamogordo Daily News - NORFOLK, Va. -- People who live near F-22 bases should not see significant changes in how or where the aircraft are flying following new restrictions put in place while military officials examine what's causing oxygen-deficit problems with the stealth fighters, the Air Force said Thursday. Guidance on how far away from bases the jets can fly will go out to F-22 units over the next several days, officials at Air Combat Command at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia said in a statement to The Associated Press.  Defense Secretary Leon Panetta ordered the restrictions Tuesday as the Air Force attempts to figure out what's causing pilots in the world's most advanced fighter jet to experience dizziness and other symptoms of oxygen shortages while flying. The Air Force grounded the jets -- which have never flown a combat mission -- for four months last year while it tried to pinpoint the problem. The planes started flying again in September but the hypoxia-like symptoms in pilots continued. The 49th Wing Public Affairs Office at Holloman Air Force Base did not respond to an email from the Daily News seeking comment. Some of the nation's 200 F-22 pilots have refused to fly the plane as a result and the issue has drawn scrutiny from members of Congress concerned about pilots' safety as well as the safety of communities near the bases, some of which are heavily populated areas. In Virginia, residents are keenly aware of the dangers of malfunctioning planes following the crash. Read more

F22s still flying