USAF Stealth Jet Caught On Camera Performing "Restricted" Combat Maneuvers

less than 10 years ago wife and I go to a air show in Vegas. Not sure if it was a F22 or F35 that we watched perform stuff that was well beyond what that video shows. I will never forget how incredible that performance was....so to say that these were restricted maneuvers. BS.

 

It was an F22 that you saw.

The beginning of the F35's maneuver with the vertical climb and then leveling out looks pretty much the same as the Raptor demo intro, but changes up a bit after. Both are pretty awesome.

 

thanks for clarifying. When trying to describe what we saw that jet do I literally run out of words. It was unreal. The plane went straight up at some insane speed....stopped midair and then the pilot had the plan with the nose complete vertical go horizontal. As in the plane pointing UP appears to be flying sideways. I don't know how to describe it. Made me proud to be an American.

 

With 43,000 lbst and a light gross weight, you can do a bunch of wild stuff with no danger. All the demo shows are heavily vetted to be as safe and outrageous looking as possible. Hopefully the STOVL version the Marines have will be able to do even wilder stuff in shows.

 

I hope everyone reading this goes to an air show where an f22 is doing it thing. Your perspective on what is cool will never be the same...not to mention your appreciation for what man is capable of. Just extraordinary,

 

The 2D nozzle on the F-22A really helps in show maneuvers.

 

Having worked on the F-22 program at L.M., I try to see the demo as often as I can, but so far that has only been twice. I wish they trailed smoke during the routine, because at times it is hard to make out exactly what the airplane is doing without it, especially against a cloudless sky.

 

Jim- Have not gotten to see that F-22A demo yet, even though I was very early on the AFOTEC test team. Writing F-111 tech manuals at GD (now L-M), did get to see the factory test pilot demo on a very early F-16A. Could not believe you could do that with an airplane. That one did not weigh very much.

 

I took friends who had no interest in aviation with me to an air show specifically because I knew the F-22 was performing. After they watched the performance they were slack jawed for an hour! One friend said "I completely understand why people think they see UFOs having seen that show." Some of the moves that plane performs defy logic. The plane, and demo, are truly something else.

 

I guarantee you will like the F-22 demo, when you can catch up with it. The current pilot's call sign is "Loco", which ought to say something! Here's the 2019 schedule:

https://www.acc.af.mil/Units/Aerial-Events/F-22A-Demonstration-Team/F-22-Demo-schedule/

And to give the F-35 equal time:

https://www.luke.af.mil/Portals/58/Documents/2019%20Schedule.jpg

 

I saw the demo several times with "Zeke" and it was awesome - and you could tell the man loved his job! One day he was looking right at me as he turned to taxi in from the landing so I threw him a thumbs up and he started literally dancing in his seat pumping his fists in the air. I guess getting to throw around a $150 million aircraft capable of moves that defy physics and gravity will do that to a guy. Lol. Another time he was so eager to perform for the crowd in Atlantic City that when his aircraft showed the equivalent of a check engine light on his way in he wanted to go back to Langley jump in another aircraft and come right back. Unfortunately the closely-timed show didn't permit it.

 

Whhaaaaaa???!?! You of all people I would have guessed saw the Raptor demo before any of us lol!

I will be at the Tucson demo (Davis-Monthan) in March. You should drive over from NM. Thunderbirds I read will be performing, which I prefer over the blue angels. The AZ ANG are always flying over my place out here. I love the sound of freedom.