Former test pilot Paul Metz speaks about the F-22 Raptor

From 1992-2001, Paul Metz served as Lockheed Martin’s Chief Test Pilot for the F-22 ATF, and made the first flight on the F-22A Raptor on Sept. 7, 1997. He and a staff of test pilots worked closely with the engineers on subsystem design, flying qualities, simulation, avionics, cockpit layout and man-machine interface. He then served on Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program and was named the Vice President for Integrated Test and Evaluation, overseeing a 1600-person, $750 million dollar flight test organization for the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and seven other countries until his retirement in February 2006.

[@Pathfinders_Ascend]

This man is an absolute legend! He flew both the yf-23 and the f-22!

[@USAFmuseum]

We were very honored to speak with him. LEGEND!

[@chrisbrackin9678]

For some reason, it's strange to me that a Vietnam veteran flew the F-22 Raptor. That guy saw so much development in aviation science and technology over the decades. If only I knew a fraction of what he knew.

[@USAFmuseum]

Same!!!

[@TheTeehee11111]

Whenever the F23 and F22 are in the same picture, I can't help but look at the F23. So ahead of its time.

[@michaelhaney9432]

yf-23

[@buddy54ck]

I met Paul at Pratt& Whitney Aircraft one day in East Hartford Connecticut while working on a flight test 1st stage rotor on a 5 axis machine, and found him very knowledgeable and aware of exactly what I was doing for the program. I was very impressed with his commitment to the project. I believe this was right around the mid 90’s.

[@aleccap5946]

Love the way Paul Metz talks, I can actually listen to him and understand everything he is saying. Would love to meet him

[@literoadie3502]

Yeah he’s a great speaker and a great voice too.

[@williamkroth9429]

Thank you for your service!

[@tensevo]

Wow, sincere respect for anyone who can jump in an experimental aircraft and fly for first time.

[@USAFmuseum]

Indeed!!!

[@jeremybrown3906]

My respect goes out to Paul Metz, all military pilots but specially test pilots. Who are a unique breed of people amongst human beeings.

[@Korey47]

Elver- -Galarga what Carrier are you assigned? I worked on the Gerald R Ford before it became operational

[@andken62]

Hard to say but true, if world peace is to prevail America must then certainly take the lead in technology. Paul Metz is one of a few men that can influence the younger generation into making a career in Aeronautics and Aviation. The rest of the world is catching up, China, Russia are getting closer. You do not have to be an American, I am not,but I understand that world peace happens when a America is healthy and strong Militarily. Long live the USA!

[@husseinadem8625]

Andrew Cain:What you saying here is completely opposite of the truth I want you have good look What America doing in Syria today backing up Terrorist groubs include in ISIS Because of this many civillian deaths

[@creamlote]

Hussein Adem and Russia is backing up Syrian regime who killed it's citizens with chemical weapons

[@husseinadem8625]

That is true All of them killing civilian Yesterday ABD back Terorist killied Turkish solders and some civilian with using American weapons (Fuze and Rockets) Near Syrianj Border

[@husseinadem8625]

Open your eyes have a good look what happening in Syria now. American gave Terrorist 5000 trucks weapons to divide the country and American solders with them Killing, dividing, sucking petrol

[@laetrille]

Thank you :)

[@nordyneken]

I sat in the Gray One while it was being built. I sat by Paul Metz's Desk at McDonnell Douglas for a couple of years. All I really remember about his was how chill he was all the time

[@munozcampos]

Test pilot Paul Metz, is dear and important along side his contemporaries in aviation history.

[@Hope-hv1ec]

Been saying it for years. The 23 was a better platform! It boggles my mind that it wasn’t selected over the 22

[@margitalaznovska]

22 is better.

[@rbrtck]

How was it better? I can tell you that its weapon bay design sure wasn't better. The USAF had already advised Northrop to change the design from the YF-23 iteration, but the proposed F-23's design still had the same problems. Meanwhile, the F-22's bays have the same design as the YF-22's, and the latter actually fired missiles during its demonstration flights, while the YF-23 didn't (it didn't demonstrate high-alpha agility, either, even though Northrop claimed it could do the same things that the YF-22 actually demonstrated in flight).

[@trap3400]

2:08 *Vectored up and down like a frizbee*

[@bazej1080]

Herbst maneuver

[@EH-bm4do]

GOOD EXAMPLE OF GOOD PARENTHOOD.

[@DUBEE43]

Been there, awesome museum... Home of the late great XB-70

[@appa609]

You know getting slow might actually be useful in combat. If an F-35B hovered at close enough to 0 groundspeed then enemy fighter pulse-doppler radars should be unable to see it even at close range.

[@acompletelynormalhuman6392]

It's amazing to watch the F-22 just do maneuvers it just seems like it can point its nose wherever the hell it wants whenever the hell it wants

[@abba3629]

The men that make LEGENDS. TEST PILOTS. 👏👏👆

[@chadwhitten8914]

WOW. Paul Metz. What a great guy. Perhaps even a National Treasure!

[@christiandelosreyes6830]

When f22 raptor going zero air speed it can easily turn so good to go far away from it amazing jet

[@roblockhart6104]

I remember back when the ATF program first started. Based on my own impression, it seemd like Paul would get all giggly and smile a lot more when talking about the yf-23, verses the yf-22. He didn't say he preferred one over the other but it sure seemed like he did. Sure wish he could disclose which one he liked more now. In the end, he said he thought the Airforce got it right when choosing the Raptor, but unlike the yf-23, the production version of the yf-22 (the F-22) went through a lot of changes to get to the final design; so much so that it wasn't even the same aircraft anymore. Imagine what the yf-23 would have become if it got the nod, too. Looking at the Russian Su-57, I can sort of see glimpses. Would've been an amazing aircraft.

[@thetruthhurts4054]

This plane has so much game Russia should just throw a penalty.

[@securethebag1613]

i work right across the street from dobbs air force base on cobb parkway in marietta for home depot. i see big ass military planes taking off and landing in circles daily.

[@davidmccann2633]

hallo sir . i injoyed watching your programs , Great Planes , i injoy watching all you shows sir . your a hero sir .

[@0644-ss7oy]

Seriously..., no space before punctiation, only after☝️

[@lafeeshmeister]

Any troll can hate on the F35, but it takes a special kind of unfreedomloving to hate on the beautiful F22.

[@HoLeeChit11]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZLSiq1vZcycis0

[@FLMKane]

You mean like Obama

[@slumdogpreacher6964]

We must be able to control "Air Space" to win the fight; we need a sixth generation fighter!

[@hdhdhdhdjsjdjdjdhdjxh8820]

تذهل العقل من جمالها وقوتها وبراعتها تحيا امريكا

[@AccordGTR]

Jeez he make the F-22 look old.

[@rickboy1976]

Real héroe 🦸‍♂️

[@Avofan]

He's a Buckeye!

[@Skunkowork]

Key word here, "omniscent sensors", which sets apart this aircraft capability from any other.

[@reaality3860]

The F-22 is now over 20 years old.

[@LRRPFco52]

Our F-15Cs were built from 1979-1985. Our oldest F-16s still in service in frontline units were built in the late 1980s-early 1990s. The F-22 production line should still be open, but thanks to guys like Secretary Gates, they said we don't need F-22s to bomb the Taliban, and should spend money on MRAPs, LCS, and other things that cost billions, with nothing to show for them today.

[@LRRPFco52]

@juscurious The USAF did make a huge stink about it. Multiple USAF Generals protested without regard for their careers, and were repeatedly fired until they found a yes man who would go along with it. Gates is no dummy. He's extremely crafty and intelligent, so this was intentional. They have since come out with cover stories that they couldn't afford ATF, JSF, and LRSB (new stealth bombers), and have the USAF a choice of 2. The projections for development and operational costs of the 3 systems supposedly required them to cut one of them. The Air Force was so incensed about it, that one of the F-22 program managers had the contractors package up the tooling for safe storage so the production like could be assembled again with the right political atmosphere. It never happened and won't now. They squandered $36.2 billion in RDT&E and another $30 or so billion in production, just to cut it short at 195. Now we're stuck with broken and worn F-15Cs that should have been replaced 2 times already by F-22A Block 20s, then Block 40s and higher. Had the assembly line remained open, they could have incorporated emergent JSF technologies into the airfoil, RAM, and avionics to produce a 5.5 Gen F-22B. Gates then went on to destroy the Boy Scouts of America in retirement. Enemies within....

[@Ilyak1986]

@@LRRPFco52 From what I understand, the 6th gen fighter might incorporate a lot of the F-22 airframe tech coupled with F-35 avionics. Might be one hell of a bird, and hopefully as good-looking to boot.

[@LRRPFco52]

@@Ilyak1986 One of Lockheed's concept art pieces for PCA looked like a YF-23. Others are tailless deltas. We don't know if they are doing a multi-contractor DEMVAL or competition, but from the political and economic implications, Boeing has been putting a lot of pressure on their pons in Congress, particularly HASC Chair Adam Smith, who is from Boeing's district. Lockheed has recently gained increased awards for classified projects and is building a new addition to Skunkworks. Since there seems to be an emphasis on speed, range, and altitude for PACOM, and propulsion has improved dramatically in terms of thrust, reliability, and VLO characteristics, I suspect several things have happened: * With propulsion under the AETD program, 25% fuel efficiency was the goal, along with modulated compression ratios with variable bypass air. Pratt & Whitney's earnings forecast and insider investment trends are looking bullish. * GE's trade signals are mostly weak or bearish, which might be a sign they didn't do as well with their AETD submissions, but it could be too early. * Boeing's trade signals are an even mix of bullish and bearish metrics. The US Navy cut further orders of Super Hornets with an emphasis on NGAD funding, F-35C procurement, and existing Super Hornet upgrades to Block III standard. If the USN is that committed to NGAD, there's a good chance that a viable 6th Gen airframe candidate exists for them that shares commonality of systems with the USAF NGAD 6th Gen fighter. They're talking about radical changes in operational concepts, not being handicapped by existing force structure assumptions. When I look at the aggregate technical specification requirements for the propulsion, the market data for contractors, budget emphasis from services, and statements from DoD and the NGAD affiliate leaders, I suspect: Alternate basing considerations have been made if the aircraft have substantial combat radius increases, making super carriers a follow-on layer to long range strike platforms. There might be a joint USAF/USN-funded PACOM Theater 6th Gen Fighter, with a separate approach to the EUCOM and CENTCOM theaters leveraging ATF & JSF with a few NGAD. There could be more force integration with LRSB B-21A Raider in terms of common avionics networking and fires, including a LRBVRAAM and Hypersonic components with cooperative targeting. With AETD propulsion developments, we might be on the verge of witnessing Mach 2+ supercruise with Mach 3+ dash performance. Roper said records have been broken. In totality, it's a revolutionary force structure that stands on advancements in multiple areas of already significant technological advancements.

[@davidmccann2633]

sir just need to say the rapter gits down 💀

[@ssn711]

Hard to defeat what’s faster & you can’t detect.

[@Trojan0304]

Get his book on YF-23

[@StrangerE0ns]

It’s literally a flying Dorito of death

[@VF1Skullangel]

Paul Metz is the real life Isamu Dyson

[@michaelhorner4011]

Paul is a true bad azz !

[@courtneygillespie1187]

Without after burner?

[@weofnjieofing]

I'm pretty sure he wished the YF 23 won the competition!

[@rbrtck]

If it were really between the YF-23 and YF-22, then he and his team should have flown the YF-23 harder, then. The YF-22's flight demonstration was far more impressive, and they made like 50% or so more flights, too, demonstrating supermaneuverability (high alpha) and missile launches. The YF-23 team instead just stated with absolute confidence that the YF-23 could do all of the same things (in terms of flight, they meant), but didn't actually demonstrate it. Why build the demonstrators, then, if they were so sure? Why not prove it in the air like the other guys did? Anyway, the choice was really between the proposed F-22 and F-23. Both were a bit better than the other in certain areas, but both met all of the requirements, in any case. The USAF did feel more confident in the F-22's weapon bay design, and the YF-22 flight demonstration had to have given them another confidence boost that the F-22 would be able to do what the proposal said it could do. The main USAF engineers involved in the evaluation said "Pick'em," as in pick either one because it didn't matter; both would be dominant over current and projected threats. So whoever made the decision chose the option that they felt most confident in. Metz had worked on the F-23 and YF-23 program for years, and had a lot of input in it, so naturally he would root for what he himself had contributed to. Maybe even some of its particular flying qualities were things that he personally preferred and suggested. He only jumped ship because the F-22 was getting built and he wanted to continue to be a part of the ATF's development into an operational fighter, but obviously his wish is for "his own" fighter to have gotten that far.

[@andrewlambert7246]

Strange that paul says it is important with trust vectoring and to be able to turn aircraft at zero speeds while most others say its not. What is the truth?

[@rayperez6322]

He flew test piloted the 1991 YF-22 huge props, mad respect? Wow. hmm

[@LRRPFco52]

He never flew the YF-22s, but the YF-23s. He later flew the F-22A.

[@arjunprinja6122]

The "not to engage" fighter

[@teodytrinidad9497]

March four as Holy starts

[@terryfox9229]

He barely mentions the f22

[@MrOlivermarketing]

Who can tell me which one it's better f22 or the f35...

[@davidmccann2633]

sir rhe F22 Rapter did the cad west test fligjt in county wales engiland 😉

[@yosemitysam4962]

Ignoramus here, I have a question. If the f22 is USA tip of the spear air superiority fighter, then what is the f117 for? Does it do the same job? If so does it do it better or worse than the f22? Thanks

[@infinitelyexplosive4131]

F-117 was a bomber. It's old and was retired a while ago now due to several significant issues, notably very poor aerodynamics and computation limitations of the era preventing an optimal shape for stealth.

[@yosemitysam4962]

@@infinitelyexplosive4131 thanks for the reply. I really did think the f117 was classed as a fighter bomber, like the f22. With all those angles it makes sense to me that it had problems with its aerodynamics. Cheers pal

[@rickjames7834]

U are the man .old man

[@davidmccann2633]

sir i ment the airplane the best thinh i ever seen . and i could only amagin how the f22 could ackt as a nimrod

[@georgehunter2813]

Paul said it. Russian corbra move won't work in modern air combat. Cobra is for propaganda at air shows. However thrust vectoring is useful. 2D and 3D.

[@user-vx3fg4mg7y]

Интересно. Мне нравится авиация

[@AA-db9cb]

This guy wanted the yf-23 to win btw

[@rbrtck]

Of course, as that's the one he had worked on himself for years before jumping over to the F-22. My question is: "Why didn't he fly the YF-23 harder when he had the chance to win that competition?" The YF-22 made 50% more demonstration flights, and demonstrated things that the YF-23 team only claimed that the YF-23 could do. They seemed very sure of that, but if they were, then why didn't they demonstrate it?

[@joken7449]

funny that the most powerful fighter jet in the world is kind of an old plane

[@TheFunkhouser]

What.. wait! The f22 was from 60's?? cause he sure looks like he was! O_o

[@SuperGeronimo999]

developed in the 80's, built in the 90's, entered service in 2000's

[@thumbclicker7173]

Looks good, but can it take a bullet??

[@rbrtck]

Can any plane? How big of a bullet? The F-22's wings were tested against hits from a 30mm cannon like the ones Russian fighters have. They can take at least one hit without coming apart. Actually, this wasn't true at first, so they were strengthened until they could pass this test. That's actually pretty good for a fighter not designed for close air support, if you had the A-10 in mind. And plenty of those have gotten shot up and shot down, by the way. It's still an airplane that has to be light enough to fly in the air and carry tons of payload. Back to the F-22, it's not likely to have to take a bullet when used properly. I know crap happens, but it generally doesn't fly low to the ground, and will very likely win the vast majority of engagements.

[@debbies3763]

Wow, WHAT A SEXY RIDE, truly a head turner how ever theirs NO comuacation between aircraft? ability how do you coordinate your approach? One more little cant fly in the rain or it damages the stealth coating? somebody didn't do their homework, ho ya 356million each an for every one hour of flight this plane needs 72 hrs of maint. Id rather have 6F-16s.

[@TimTheMusicMan]

The best !! Intelligent super hero like Paul are becoming a rare breed unless we re-build our military with a President who supports the most technologically advanced country ever..

[@cd78]

the mig 31 is 3000 kmph

[@mostlymessingabout]

2D thrust vectoring only allow you to pitch, not yaw like the Russian jets. Thrust differential might help a little i guess

[@mignik01]

3D thrust vectoring isn't useful in real world combat and it compromises stealth.

[@mostlymessingabout]

@@mignik01 is that why the F22 and F35 have it? 🤔

[@mignik01]

@@mostlymessingabout neither of them have it.

[@mostlymessingabout]

@@mignik01 kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYWmeH13pKatlZo

[@mostlymessingabout]

@@mignik01 kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHKYh4pjpsajsNU

[@SuperiorAmericanGuy]

I had enough of those people treating those who love Raptors as idiots but also refusing to continue the Raptor production and this is all the presidents fault for why the Raptor is not in production anymore. Once I become president I'll restart Raptor production or work on the next gen aircraft

[@HoLeeChit11]

No don’t do that, the raptor and F35 are both a piece of shit, hence discontinued kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZLSiq1vZcycis0

[@michaelidarecis]

The enemy had a hard time to detect the F-22 because it was kept like a trailer princess.

[@davidmccann2633]

and i would love to se the su do the cad west

[@shiekhwaleedmiral-protein2819]

I wish they could make more of these for the USAF. The F-35 has disappointed so far

[@LRRPFco52]

The only people disappointed with F-35 are the ones who know nothing about it.

[@shiekhwaleedmiral-protein2819]

@@LRRPFco52 I know enough to say that if it's production had been delayed a bit for proper flight testing, it wouldn't have ended up with so many A category faults. Don't get me wrong, the jet is an engineering marvel. The avionics and EW capabilities on board are still unmatched. But the whole point is mission readiness which it hasn't achieved yet. It will take some time to overcome all faults. The jet is great but Lockheed sucked at programme management this time

[@sweetchuk7242]

THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY!

[@wareen6563]

2:18 Most other aircraft cannot do that? Man, have you heard on the Sukhois???

[@LRRPFco52]

Have you ever seen a combat-coded and configured Sukhoi perform any of these maneuvers? If you look at the Flankers, there are 2 BVR missiles carried in the tunnel, 2 on the engine nacelles, and the rest hung from hard points and rails on the wings. That reduces your max speed and energy retention numbers considerably, especially at Supersonic speeds. The F-22A carries 8 A2A missiles internally with no drag effects on their airframe, and no real weight penalty because the fuel fraction is so large. Additionally, it has more available thrust and can sustain speeds without afterburner that the Sukhoi can only reach with dash when slick (no weapons), hence the reason why Russia is trying to make the T-50/Su-57 work (and still failing at that.)

[@hrvojemikulcic7074]

Svaki gazda hvali svoga konja,ali taj je avion ogranicen samo na US trziste dok sa 2 ge strane Rusija ,Kina,EU nude avione na sve strane.....!?

[@jamesarruda9502]

Thrust vectoring been used and invented by the Russians 50 years ago. USA just figured it out 20 years ago. Russian planes had the system long ago .

[@justme-ij2qy]

Not true. The concept of thrust vectoring has been around since the early 1900's, and it was first used in the 1930's on airships. The first designs for a jet aircraft using thrust vectoring were by a Brit in the late 1940's and by the 1990's both the U.S. and Russia began testing it on their aircraft.

[@ChrisCardenDrums]

you think the Yugoslavian forces had the latest in radar technology in 1999? if you answered no, congrats! you get it, stealth isn't real!

[@Mike-01234]

He said they are not invisible low frequency radar like the serbs used in 1999 were large arrays which are not mobile. In a real war those radar sites would be wiped out, and there is no airborne radar system which is low frequency . The raptor is the most advanced fighter in the world it's has no match. Russian fighters are nothing more then a hodgepodge of stolen technology.

[@aleksa99se]

blastman8888 So war in Serbia was not real?

[@molnibalage83]

The detection range against F-4 wirth P-8 was about 250-280 km depeding on factors, against F-117 was less than 30 km. I know because spoke face to face withthis about Zoltan Dani, who was the commaner ofthe battery on the Neva who downed both the F-117 and the F-16 during AF. One of the biggest factor with Neva for the kill was pure luck because of the deploy site on the 3rd nigth was an old Volhov SAM site, and NATO forgot (?) to check what could be there. Dani's battery deployed there even before the beginning of the AF, they were detached from the SAM ring of Belgrad, was the only Neva battery which left the SAM ring of Belgrad.

[@dillydilly3680]

Dumbass, the man who led the shooting down of the F117 said they could only lock on it when it's Bombay or landing gear were open

[@aleksa99se]

Plebby Just imagine idiot pilot who flies with landing gear opened over enemy's territory and keeps his Bombay open well out of his target range. If you have listen to the interview with SAM crew you would learn that they initially saw four of F-117 and pick one. So according to you all of F-117 pilots are brain dead idiots?

[@jamesarruda9502]

Thats why Russians planes are and always be better maneuvering planes. They perfected what they invented thrust vectoring

[@forzaisspeed]

The F-22 is old and outdated, its not seen real combat, the thing it was designed to do. The F-22 only has a main radar, no IRST no Helmet lock on system. Plus the F-22 has been beaten many times by other jet's.

[@sergebaron9086]

that was a wish that didn't come true ,what a lying old pilot. !!!!!!

[@1lostinspace]

F23>F22

[@balwynpoolboy2368]

advanced planes for a nation too timid to actually chose a real enemy. good luck uses these on the cave people.

[@SuperiorAmericanGuy]

I had enough of those people treating those who love Raptors as idiots but also refusing to continue the Raptor production and this is all the presidents fault for why the Raptor is not in production anymore. Once I become president I'll restart Raptor production or work on the next gen aircraft