MARIETTA, Ga. -- Lockheed Martin Corp. has delayed the first flight of its F-22 fighter plane after finding a potential problem related to the fuel system.
The flight had been scheduled for this weekend.
The concern involves "the electrical connections to the fuel tank probes," the company said in a statement. "It is necessary to inspect all fuel probe connections as a safety precaution."
Those inspections mean final ground tests that must be completed before the F-22 can fly won't be done until next week at the earliest. The Bethesda-based aerospace giant said it doesn't know when the plane will fly.
The Lockheed statement came a day after company officials had said on Wednesday that the F-22 was performing well in tests, and was expected to fly by tomorrow.
The Air Force plans to spend about $43 billion for production of 339 F-22s during the next 20 years. The plane is to be capable of flying at twice the speed of sound while evading enemy radar and carrying eight air-combat missiles.
Pub Date: 8/30/97
