Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Some bugs can't fly

Software anomaly prevented the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor from deploying to Japan. Evidently they didn't know how to fly backward in time. Crossing the International Date Line from east to west results in a lost day.

We thought the Y2K bug was history. Who'd thunk that Phileas Fogg's dilemma was still relevant. F-22 Raptor on flight deck

Should you trust my source for this information?
An independent source today (March 19, 2007) told me a bit more about this incident. The requirements did not address the international date line. When the planes crossed it all the navigation systems shut down and they had to fly by sight. They ended up having to follow the tanker plane back to Hawaii.

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