So we’ve seen that the F-22 can go fast at all altitudes and is equally adept at low speed handling. Thrust vectoring supplements the incredible wing and tail design giving the F-22 a significant edge over most platforms you’ll face on the modern battlefield. The F-22 is not only a brute force performer however, it is also an extremely efficient and thrifty airframe provided it is flown appropriately with regards to the conditions. There is no sense blasting around the theater with full afterburners when your mission is to loiter or escort slower moving aircraft. Like any aircraft, the F-22 has a wide range of performance numbers based on how you fly the aircraft. Take a look at this graphic that shows the throttle setting and subsequent range performance at various power settings. We start out at the top at 100% thrust (military power) and can see on the right side our range if we keep this power setting is approximately 1553 nm. Once we advance the power beyond military and start using minimal afterburner (102%) you can see the effect that has on our available range, nearly halving it to 888 nm. Further advancement of the throttle to 110% then full afterburner of 140% decreases the range to 247 and 68 miles respectively. The obvious conclusion is that if you don’t need your afterburner, don’t use it because it dramatically reduces your fuel mileage. It is also an important reminder that when you are engaged in a dogfight, where judicious use of the afterburner may be required, you will have to keep a close eye on your fuel consumption lest you run out of fuel on your way home!
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Total Air War: Training Mission #2 – Basic Navigation & Aircraft Performance
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