Watch the F-22 Raptor rotate through the air while remaining stationary in the sky

  • Check out this F-22 Raptor can rotating through the air while remaining stationary at a single point in the sky
  • The move is aptly called a ‘Power Loop’
  • It utilizes the full capabilities of the thrust vectoring technology

Published on Mar 11, 2024 at 7:56 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones

Last updated on Mar 12, 2024 at 4:04 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by Alessandro Renesis

In a maneuver that seems to defy physics, the F-22 Raptor can rotate the aircraft through the air while remaining stationary within a single point in the sky.

The move is aptly called a ‘Power Loop’.

And the awe-inspiring maneuver utilizes the full capabilities of the thrust vectoring technology of the the F-22 Raptor.

READ MORE! F-16 fighter jet afterburner takeoff is a display of power like nothing you’ve ever seen

Said by its creator, Lockheed Martin, to be “Digital, Dominant, Ready” – it first flew in September 1997 in Georgia, US, following six years of development. 

Its goal was to “provide unprecedented air dominance” and the F-22 Raptor is still providing the United States Air Force (USAF) and other countries with air superiority and next-generation technologies.

The 5th Generation of the F-22 Raptor combines a unique combination of “stealth, speed, agility, and situational awareness”.

This is combined with “lethal long-range air-to-air and air-to-ground weaponry”.

YouTube/Lockheed Martin

Thus makes it arguably the best air dominance fighter ever.

The 18.90 m (62 ft) long aircraft has a wingspan of 13.56 m (44.5 ft) and an engine thrust of 15,876 kg (35,000 lb).

That’s more thrust than any current fighter engine.

While not as fast as the Boeing F-15EX Eagle II, when combined with sleek aerodynamic design allows the F-22 Raptor to cruise at supersonic airspeeds, greater than 1.5 Mach) without using afterburner.

This a characteristic is known as supercruise.

Supercruise greatly expands the speed and range of the F-22 Raptor over current fighters by reducing fuel consumption.

And you can see it in action in the awesome video above.

It boasts vectored thrust, meaning the engines don’t just push towards the front of the aircraft.

Its ample thrust can also be directed upward or downward from the rear of the jet.

This results in the ability to perform unbelievable maneuvers like this power loop.

As of August 2022, USAF had 183 of the one-person aircraft.

Each fighter jet sets the military back $143 million.

It’s actually rumored that America might possess an even fastest ever jet that’s capable of hypersonic speeds at Mach 5+.

Admittedly this has nothing on this unedited, raw footage of a spacecraft ripping through the atmosphere at Mach 25 – but it’s fast for a plane.

If you cant to hear more about military aircraft, these secret hangars conceal America’s $2 billion state-of-the-art stealth planes.


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Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones

London-based Amelia cut her journalistic teeth covering all things lifestyle, wellness and luxury in the UK capital. Fast-forward a decade and the experienced content creator and editor has put pen to paper for glossy magazines, busy newsrooms and coveted brands. When her OOO is on you can find her spending quality time with her young family, in the gym or exploring the city she loves.