Flying Test Bed
The F-22 Flying Test Bed (FTB) is a modified Boeing 757 that is being used to flight-test the highly advanced integrated avionics developed for the F-22 Raptor. The test bed has reduced risk as well as future flight test hours by enabling extensive in-flight testing, evaluation and troubleshooting before much of the avionics were installed on the F-22.
Boeing began testing the F-22's avionics aboard the 757 in March 1999. To date, Boeing has completed more than 1,000 hours of testing on the FTB including sensor testing against various targets in the Pacific Northwest and military targets at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The FTB also has done risk-reduction testing in Fort Worth, Tex., for communication, navigation and identification (CNI) functions.
The test avionics are operated from a simulated F-22 cockpit installed in the test bed cabin. The cockpit has primary and secondary F-22 displays, as well as a throttle and stick. There is room on the aircraft for up to 30 software engineers and technicians who can evaluate the avionics, identify anomalies and, in some cases, resolve problems in real time.
Additional modifications to the 757 include installation of an F-22 radar housed in the forward fuselage section of the nose of the plane, and installation of a sensor wing on the crown of the plane immediately behind the flight deck.
The sensor wing was installed by Boeing in Moses Lake, Wash., in December 1998. CNI sensors were mounted directly on the sensor wing, which is designed to simulate the sensor positioning found on the F-22's wings.
The F-22 Flying Test Bed is the first 757 ever built by Boeing.
October 2002
Contact:
Chick Ramey
(206) 662-0949