A big F for the F-22 - the CBS 60 Minutes Interview

Below is the 'overtime' online additional footage of the 60 minutes report on the F-22. In the context of the concern expressed by these pilots was the crash back in early April of a different model of plane, an F-18, which struck an apartment building. Clearly that is the kind of incident that concerns these pilots, and reportedly, their colleagues and associates. It is a significant story in view of two recent posts on this blog, in part in a response to some highly dubious sources which have claimed our special forces are openly critical of President Obama's characterization of his role relating to the death of Osama bin Laden. I think entirely separate from the issues of the F-22's safety, the concerns of these top pilots relating to what constitutes professional conduct in speaking out should be noted, and those two posts revisited if you don't really get why this is so challenging for these two pilots.
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It's not news that there's something wrong with the F-22.
Even the Air Force acknowledges that there's a problem with the pilots' oxygen system in their top fighter jet, having grounded the entire F-22 fleet back in May of 2011 over the issue.



What is news, however, is the appearance of two decorated F-22 pilots-- in uniform-- talking to Lesley Stahl on camera about their personal experiences, frustrations, and concerns with the aircraft.
Not surprisingly, getting Major Jeremy Gordon and Captain Josh Wilson to appear this week on 60 Minutes broadcast was no easy task. In this video, Lesley Stahl and veteran producer Karen Sughrue tell Overtime editor Ann Silvio about the pilots' decision to go public.
What do you think of Major Gordon and Captain Wilson? Did they do the right thing by breaking chain of command when they granted an interview to 60 Minutes? Or should they have kept their concerns about the F-22 jet inside the military loop?
And what about the Air Force? Should it ground the F-22 until this problem is solved or keep asking pilots to fly it while the search for a solution continues?

And here was the main segment that aired on the broadcast 60 Minutes of May 6 2012.



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I've written here about the dubious and arguably corrupt problems related to the F-35 which also does not work properly, and which has serious issues about cost over runs, and the so-called 'F-35 caucus' of reported Lockheed Martin stock owning members of Congress. So it should not surprise me that this aircraft is also made by Lockheed Martin.