Aerospace Testing InternationalAerospace Testing International
  • News
    • A-E
      • Acoustic & Vibration
      • Avionics
      • Data Acquisition
      • Defense
      • Drones & Air Taxis
      • Electric & Hybrid
      • EMC
      • Engine Testing
      • Environmental Testing
    • F-L
      • Fatigue Testing
      • Flight Testing
      • Helicopters & Rotorcraft
      • High Speed Imaging
      • Industry News
    • M-S
      • Materials Testing
      • NDT
      • Simulation & Training
      • Software
      • Space
      • Structural Testing
      • Supplier News
    • T-Z
      • Technology
      • Telemetry & Communications
      • Weapons Testing
      • Wind Tunnels
  • Features
  • Magazines
    • June 2025
    • March 2025
    • Dec 2024/Jan 2025
    • Showcase 2025
    • September 2024
    • Archive Issues
    • Subscribe Free!
  • Opinion
  • Webinars
  • Events
    • All Events
    • Aerospace Test & Development Show
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Suppliers
    • Supplier Spotlights
    • Press Releases
    • Technical Papers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job – It’s FREE!
    • Manage Jobs (Employers)
LinkedIn YouTube X (Twitter)
LinkedIn YouTube X (Twitter)
Subscribe to magazine Subscribe to email newsletter Media Pack
Aerospace Testing InternationalAerospace Testing International
  • News
      • Acoustic & Vibration
      • Avionics
      • Data Acquisition
      • Defense
      • Drones & Air Taxis
      • Electric & Hybrid
      • EMC
      • Engine Testing
      • Environmental Testing
      • Fatigue Testing
      • Flight Testing
      • Helicopters & Rotorcraft
      • High Speed Imaging
      • Industry News
      • Materials Testing
      • NDT
      • Simulation & Training
      • Software
      • Space
      • Structural Testing
      • Supplier News
      • Technology
      • Telemetry & Communications
      • Weapons Testing
      • Wind Tunnels
  • Features
  • Magazines
    1. June 2025
    2. March 2025
    3. Dec 2024/Jan 2025
    4. Showcase 2025
    5. September 2024
    6. June 2024
    7. Archive Issues
    8. Subscribe Free!
    Featured
    11th June 2025

    In this issue: June 2025

    Online Magazines By Ben Sampson
    Recent

    In this issue: June 2025

    11th June 2025

    In this issue: March 2025

    19th March 2025
    contents and front cover of magazine

    In this issue: December / January 2025

    19th December 2024
  • Opinion
  • Webinars
  • Events
    • All Events
    • Aerospace Test & Development Show
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Suppliers
    • Supplier Spotlights
    • Press Releases
    • Technical Papers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job – It’s FREE!
    • Manage Jobs (Employers)
LinkedIn YouTube X (Twitter)
Aerospace Testing InternationalAerospace Testing International
Defense

F-22 Flying Test Bed visits Edwards

Anthony JamesBy Anthony James30th May 20173 Mins Read
Share LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

A highly modified and instrumented Boeing 757 called the F-22 Flying Test Bed (FTB), which serves as an F-22 avionics laboratory, has visited Edwards Air Force Base (AFB) in California.

The experimental FTB is the very first Boeing 757 ever produced and has been retrofitted to perform flight testing of F-22 avionics and sensors in an open-air, operationally representative environment.

The FTB routinely flies with real F-22 Raptors both at Edwards and at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, to gain an early look at F-22 mission software before the software is released to developmental flight testers, mainly at Edwards. The FTB had visited earlier in May 2017 to examine the F-22 Raptor program’s upgraded mission software.

“This particular FTB deployment provided an excellent training opportunity for the FTB test team, as well as members of the F-22 CTF, while reducing risk to the F-22 3.2B (software) program by allowing us to have an early look at some prototype mission software planned for the final 3.2B software delivery,” said Rachel Kitzmann, Boeing Agile Integration Laboratory F-22 lead test director.

“Our F-22 mission equipment is completely segregated from the 757 flight controls, so we can fly with prototype software that has not gone through a formal Equipment Operational Flight Clearance process. This allows us to have an early look at developmental software and problem fixes prior to release to the 411 Flight Test Squadron here at Edwards.”

Kitzmann added that the FTB can change software loads in real time during flight, which allows the test team to test multiple configurations during early developmental testing. The fact that all the mission equipment is housed in a 757 means that Boeing test engineers, F-22 test pilots and other F-22 customer representatives can be present on board and witness the flight test in real time. Additionally, the 757 can fly seven-hour sorties (approximately), which is far longer than a typical F-22 flight test mission, Kitzmann added.

“The FTB saves money and reduces the F-22 modernization timeline,” said Kevin Sullivan, 411th FLTS F-22 avionics lead. “It provides risk reduction because it’s easier to fly, fix, [and] fly more quickly instead of having software certified and loaded into an actual F-22. It allows us to look at the avionics software in an F-22 representative hardware and software environment, and is capable of acting like an F-22, which can integrate with our F-22s here during test sorties.”

When not in flight, the FTB is connected to Boeing’s Agile Integration Ground Laboratory, which allows the company to add additional hardware, instrumentation and test equipment to perform system-level integration and development testing of the F-22 mission systems. The F-22 FTB has a unique wing above the flight deck that houses the same sensors as on a Raptor.

Kitzmann said this last mission to Edwards was the final flight the FTB took out of Boeing Field in Washington state, where it had been based since 1999. After leaving Edwards on May 5, the FTB headed to its new home in St Louis, Missouri.

May 30, 2017

Share. Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Email
Previous ArticleGE9X approaches final certification tests
Next Article KC-46 Pegasus undergoes testing in Benefield Anechoic Facility
Anthony James

Related Posts

Gray Saab Gripen E fighter aircraft in flight against cloudy sky background with visible afterburner
Defense

Saab achieves AI milestone with Gripen E fighter jet

11th June 20253 Mins Read
Defense

US Air Force opens Research Environmental Chamber for extreme testing

6th June 20253 Mins Read
Defense

US military to explore uses for huge WindRunner airlifter

27th May 20252 Mins Read
Latest Posts
Lunar rover with extended solar panels positioned on cratered Moon surface

Paris Air Show 2025: Venturi Space unveils European lunar rover

16th June 2025

Paris Air Show 2025: AviLease orders 77 Airbus aircraft

16th June 2025
Two executives in business suits holding unmanned aircraft model in front of Airbus display screens

Paris Airshow 2025: Airbus to work with Germany’s Quantum Systems on aerial reconnaissance drones

16th June 2025
Supplier Spotlights
Our Social Channels
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
Getting in Touch
  • Subscribe To Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Meet the Team
  • Media Pack
Related Topics
  • Aircraft Interiors
  • Business Jet Interiors
FREE WEEKLY NEWS EMAIL!

Get the 'best of the week' from this website direct to your inbox every Wednesday

© 2023 Mark Allen Group Ltd | All Rights Reserved
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.