Posted 2/28/2007 05:01:00 PM by Douglas

Meet the F-22. Originally intended to build 750 airplanes, now the production run of only 180 drives the $70 Billion R&D plus production cost to about $390 Million per plane, and at 31,670lbs empty, that puts them right at $767 per ounce. So this plane would have been cheaper if it were made out of solid gold! But wait, there's more. There are some software bugs.

The Air Force on Tuesday said it is fixing technological glitches in roughly 87 F-22 Raptor fighter jets after several aircraft computer systems earlier this month were disabled mid-flight.

The six stealth fighter jets — built by prime contractor Lockheed Martin Corp. and partner Boeing Co. — were participating in an inaugural 12-hour flight from Hawaii to Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan on Feb. 10 when several aircraft computer systems experienced problems, an Air Force colonel said.

The computer glitches, which occurred as aircraft crossed the International Date Line, crippled navigation systems and hindered communications.

The incident was first reported on Feb. 12 by various media outlets. On Tuesday, the Air Force provided more details about the incident.

One pilot was able to contact contractor Lockheed Martin to troubleshoot the error during the flight, the Air Force said. Several pilots attempted to reboot the system with no success and returned to Hawaii with the help of aerial refueling tankers as a safety precaution.

Engineers were able to locate the problem within hours and fixed the glitch in a matter of days on the aircraft, according to the Air Force.

Lockheed Martin declined to provide further comment on additional costs of the upgrades.

You'd have to know that "what if we cross the International Dateline" has been one of my standard jokes ever since one of my perverse parents imparted it on me, but I have to ask the question that maybe the Air Force should have asked Lockheed: "What if we spend $70 Billion on a new aircraft and fly it across the International Dateline? We're cool right?"

Honestly, for that kind of money, you'd think someone would have thought of that before.