When fighter jets attack…pilots

The F-22 Raptor is currently the US military’s most advanced stealth fighter jet. At a cost of $134 million per fighter, it’s also the most expensive. Not only can it reach a top speed of Mach 2.42, but it also carries a M61A2 Vulcan 20 mm Gatling gun, 6 AIM-120C AMRAAM missiles, 2 AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, and a total bomb/missile payload of about 2,000 lbs.

Only, when it comes time to get out, you may have to chainsaw your way through the canopy.

A fire crew had to cut open the canopy of a US Air Force Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor fighter with chainsaws on 10 April to free the pilot, who had been trapped inside for 5h.

The canopy became stuck in the down and locked position and could not be opened manually after the pilot cycled the mechanism several times, following a pre-flight warning that the canopy was unlocked.

That’s right, dear readers, that’s your tax dollars at work. The repairs to the F-22 will reportedly clock in at around $180,000, which, though more money than I’m ever likely to see, is—let’s face it— small change after the intial $134 mil.

[via Gizmodo; F-22 details via Wikipedia ]