The F22, American stealth aircraft, is it a cursed instrument?

American pilots have claimed their refusal to fly aboard the stealth aircraft because of fears related to oxygen supply system. These devices have been detained last year to try to resolve the problem without success. They have since been allowed to fly again.

Built by Lockheed Martin, the F22 is one of the prides of the U.S. Air Force. In service since 2005, the stealth aircraft, scheduled to air combat (unlike the famous but unwieldy bomber Northrop B-2 Spirit) was controlled to 187 copies. But he also had its share of setbacks and accidents. Three of these aircraft crashed during test flights and training. The F22 was also locked down last year after a series of incidents involving drivers who had lost consciousness or who have had vertigo in flight. An investigation did not reveal a flaw in aircraft design. The planes were allowed to fly again in September 2011, but engineers are still trying to solve what appears to be a problem in the system of oxygen supply on board.

And this unresolved problem concerns the drivers. To the point that two of them, reveals a report by CBS, refused to take command of the unit.

"I'm not comfortable flying on F22"

In the show 60 minutes, that CBS should broadcast Sunday, pilots Jeremy Gordon and Josh Wilson declare particular they stopped flying F22 from January in referring to these security problems due to the supply system oxygen. Excerpts from the show that have already been made public show including this exchange: asked about the safety of the aircraft, Jeremy Gordon expressed his doubts. "I am not comfortable answering this question," he said. "I'm not comfortable flying on F22 when I speak."

This new episode has just feed the controversy surrounding this aircraft considered too expensive by some experts and U.S. lawmakers. The Air Force declined to comment on these excerpts, but a spokesman said that security was a top priority. "Even if the F22 program has faced challenges, the Air Force remains fully committed to not only cope but also to be devoted, unique, safety," said Lt. Col. John Dorrian .