Throughout its history, the Boeing 757 airliner has undergone different variations. These variants include Boeing 757-200, which measures 155 feet long and can carry around 200 passengers, and Boeing C-32, specifically adapted for the Air Force. However, none of these models is as unique as the one I’ll discuss in this post.
I’m referring to the F-22 Flying Test Bed. Its appearance and name already indicate its purpose, but the details are quite intriguing. The aircraft is a modified Boeing 757 designed to serve as a test bed for the F-22 Raptor air superiority fighter, which was developed in the 1980s during the height of Cold War tensions.
A Rather Unique Boeing 757
Specifically, I’m talking about the first Boeing 757 ever built, which departed from the Renton factory (where Boeing is currently manufacturing the 737 MAX model) in January 1982. This prototype embarked on a series of periodic tests before production units of the model were eventually delivered to airlines.
After serving its initial purpose, the aircraft registered as N757A played a crucial role in the development of the F-22 Raptor. The innovations integrated into the fighter were groundbreaking for the aviation industry, particularly in terms of avionics and embedded software, which included more than one million lines of code.
Boeing opted for a testing strategy that involved assessing systems on the ground at the Avionics Integration Laboratory in Houston, Texas, and in the air using the Flying Test Bed to facilitate an early understanding of these innovations and address potential issues. The first Boeing 757 was ideally suited for this airborne testing role.
The images clearly show that the N757A model has undergone a significant transformation. The aircraft now features a nose similar to that of an F-22 Raptor, which conceals an AN/APG-77 active electronically scanned array radar. On top of the flight deck is a large, flat structure that houses the fighter’s AN/ALR-94 electronic support system antennas.
Inside the modified 757, an F-22 simulation cockpit is equipped with various displays and controls. Additionally, several workstations can accommodate up to 30 engineers and technicians during test flights. The goal is to evaluate the preliminary systems in the most realistic manner possible.
One advantage of the F-22 Flying Test Bed is that the team can evaluate multiple software configurations during a single test flight. These evaluations are conducted in real time and aren’t constrained by the limited flight range typical of fighter aircraft. In fact, they can last for about seven hours.
Although the F-22 Raptor ceased production in 2011, the Air Force is committed to updating this fifth-generation fighter. To support this goal, the Boeing 757 “Catfish” continues to play a crucial role. It regularly flies to Edwards Air Force Base in California, where it conducts combined tests with F-22 Raptors that are in active service.
Image | Clemens Vasters (CC BY 2.0) | Geoff271989(CC BY 2.0) | U.S. Air Force photo by Ethan Wagner | Chad Bellay/Lockheed Martin
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