From Flight Global News:
Navigational software glitch forces Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptors back to Hawaii, abandoning first foreign deployment to JapanDateline was probably not the issue as most systems sync to GMT for all time-keeping functions. I'm putting my money on a problem moving from longitude W179.99 degrees to E180.00 degrees. This isn't the first time that airplanes have had issues either. The F-16 fighter had a tencency to flip upside down when crossing the Equator. Gorgeous airplane:
Lockheed Martin is rushing a software fix to Hawaii after 12 US Air Force F-22A Raptors en route to Japan for the stealth fighter�s first overseas deployment had to turn back because an unspecified problem with their navigation systems.
The F-22s, of the 27th Fighter Squadron from Langley AFB in Virginia, were en route from Hickham AFB in Hawaii to Kadena AB on Okinawa for a three- to four-month deployment. They are expected to try again by the end of the week, after the software fix is incorporated and tested.
Asked to comment on rumours the problem related to crossing the international dateline, the USAF said: "The aircraft experienced a software problem involving the navigation system en route from Hickam to Kadena. For operational security reasons we will not discuss specific aircraft systems or locations."
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