Air Force: F-22 Raptors returning to skies

Posted to: Hampton Military
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By Meredith Kruse
The Virginian-Pilot
© September 21, 2011

HAMPTON

F-22 Raptor fighter jets are set to resume flying today at Joint Base Langley following a four-month safety stand-down, the Air Force announced Tuesday.

The service grounded all 170 of the aircraft on May 3 after 12 reports over three years of pilots experiencing symptoms of oxygen deprivation.

The Air Force is continuing to study the jets' oxygen-generation system to determine the cause of the problem. The life-support system of each jet will be inspected before it returns to flight, the service said, and follow-up inspections will be performed daily. Pilots will use additional protective equipment as well.

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