What Is The F-22 Raptor?

No, civilians cannot fly the F-22 Raptor. To fly it you must be a commissioned officer in the United States Air Force who has completed Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) and qualified through specialised fifth-generation fighter conversion courses. Civilians and non-pilot personnel cannot pilot the aircraft.

No, you cannot take the controls of the F-22 Raptor, because it is a single-seat aircraft and no two-seat operational or trainer variant exists. With no dual-control cockpit, it is physically impossible for passengers or civilian trainees to take the controls in flight.

You cannot buy a flight in the F-22 Raptor at any price, because public and commercial civilian flights are unavailable for national security reasons. The US Department of Defense funds its operation, at an estimated $40,000 to $70,000+ per flight hour. Jetify flights in jets such as the L-39 Albatros start from around £2,500, $3,300 or €2,900.

Yes, F-22 Raptor pilots must meet strict US Air Force physical standards to fit safely in the ACES II ejection seat and cockpit. Pilots typically need a standing height between 5’4” and 6’5” (162 cm to 195 cm) and a sitting height of 34 to 40 inches (86 cm to 101 cm), alongside strict weight caps for safe ejection.

F-22 Raptor pilots routinely experience positive G-forces of up to +9G in combat and high-manoeuvrability training engagements. The aircraft’s advanced flight controls and thrust-vectoring engines allow radical high-angle-of-attack manoeuvres that put extreme physical stress on the pilot. Civilians cannot fly the F-22, so these forces apply only to its military pilots.

You cannot book an F-22 Raptor flight at any notice, because the aircraft is not available for commercial charter, tourist flights or public experiences. If you want to fly in a real fighter jet instead, Jetify offers flights in demilitarised ex-military aircraft such as the L-39 Albatros, Hawker Hunter and MiG-15 Fagot.