According to the Air Force's Wednesday reports, an Air Force F-22A fighter jet, on a test mission, crashed 35 miles northeast of California's Edwards Air Force Base - where it was stationed - at about 10.30 a. m. The mishap involving the single-seater resulted in the death of the 49-year-old test pilot, and a 21-year veteran of the US Air Force - David Cooley, of Palmdale, California.

It is the second mishap concerning an F-22 - the first crash, also at Edwards, took place during a test and evaluation period in December 2004. However, that time round, the pilot had ejected safely.

Ironically, the tragedy has struck at a time when the Obama administration is deliberating on the decision of whether to broaden Lockheed Martin Corp's F-22 production line. The decision, which is expected in a month or so, is likely to come as part of the White House's detailed fiscal 2010 budget request to Congress.

Lt. Gen. Mark Schackelford, the top uniformed acquisition officer of the Air Force informed the Congress on Wednesday that, till date, the Air Force has accepted 135 F-22s from Lockheed Martin.

Though the F-22, with suave, crafty design and high-tech equipment, is a cut above the rest of the planes; its ever-increasing costs and frequent design and software problems have been questionable in terms of its feasibility for the government!