I initially assumed it was a solo mission because of the unknown whereabouts and special equipment the -22 utilizes. I understand the -22 has an intra-flight data link allowing other 22s to share information regarding fuel, weapon status, gps position etc. Someone with more knowledge of this system might be able to enlighten us more. However, this being a night sortie, and these aircraft likely utilizing IFDL under the conditions you noted, I'm curious as to how exactly this aircraft seemingly vanishes. Like you said, anything could of happened. I hate drawing to conclusions with literally no facts, but is it safe to say there is a slight reason to believe this aircraft may of experienced a catastrophic systems failure?

It will be awhile before the facts are out, but it probably seems like an eternity for the pilot waiting to be rescued. I hope he's found a way to stay warm.

 

Hopes and prayers go out to the pilot and family. Stay warm buddy

 

The article says it was two-ship, and of course they noticed when he failed to rejoin.

 

The Elmendorf team has had a hard year, thoughts and prayers to the family.

 

Air Force Times has some more info. AKANG (176th Rescue Wing) located the wreckage, but no boots on the ground at the scene. still looking for the pilot.

Search for F-22 pilot continues - Air Force News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Air Force Times

 

No, it is not safe to say.
Night, single seat, single ship, over unlit terrain creates numerous possibilitie.

 

Hopefully the pilot is curled up in his sleeping bag waiting for rescue.

In the early 1960s a Westover AFB B-52 encountered extreme turbulence while flying a night low level (500') mission in Maine. The vertical tail separated from the aircraft. The Aircraft Commander (AC) ordered bail out.

Downward seats (Nav and Radar) had no chance. The gunner in the tail had no chance. The Copilot sucessfully ejected with a good chute but got hung in a tree unconcious and froze to death. The AC and Electronics Warfare Officer (EWO) ejected as the aircraft was entering the trees.

The AC's chute was blown open by the aircraft impact explosion and he drifted over a hill to a landing. His leg was broken because of ejecting with full rudder deflection. He crawled in his survival kit sleeping bag and awaited rescue.

THE EWO found himself sitting in a snowbank NEAR HIS EJECTION SEAT. His chute never opened. THe seat became a combination sled/snow plow and carved a path down an incline through the trees before he separated from it. He suffer injuries including frostbite.

I was at 99th Bomb Wing party when word came that we had lost an aircraft. A more detailed (and probably correct) version of the accident can be found at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1963_El...ain_B-52_crash

Sometimes the worse crashes are survivable.

 

Base Home Page, just to stay current.

Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson - Home

Pilot named. It's on the site.

 

I really pray that he's out making another brew of pine needle tea, building snow men, and trying to stay warm.

 

A sad ending:
Air Force says pilot died in F-22 crash: Military | adn.com