The F-22 Raptor is a 5th-generation air-superiority fighter — twin engines, thrust vectoring, and approach handling that has more in common with an F-15 than with anything civilian. In MSFS, the F-22 is the flagship military add-on for many users; landing it well rewards energy management above all else.
Landing technique
- Approach at 165 KIAS, slowing to AOA-on-speed over the threshold (varies with weight).
- Flare is minimal — the Raptor lands at high AOA and the touchdown is more of a controlled settle.
- Land mains first, then ease the nose down. The nose strut is firm.
- Drag chute deployment (if equipped in your sim variant) immediately after touchdown.
- Aerobraking: hold the nose high after touchdown for 5–8 seconds to use wing drag before lowering the nose for wheel braking.
Common mistakes
- Approaching too slow — high AOA on the Raptor means significant induced drag; you'll need more power than expected.
- Hard touchdowns from over-flaring at high AOA.
- Letting the nose drop too aggressively — abuses the nose strut.
Aircraft data
- Manufacturer
- Lockheed Martin
- Model
- F-22
- Variant
- Raptor
- FAA approach category
- D
- MTOW
- 38000 kg (83776 lbs)
- Vref reference
- 150 kt
- MSFS source
- Payware (DC Designs/Bredok3D)
- FLARE matches
- Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor · F-22 Raptor · F-22Raptor
Related reading
- → How FLARE grades a landing — the composite formula behind every score
- → What "stabilized approach" actually means — the 1000-ft gate, four criteria, technique
- → Military Fighter / Combat Jet scoring thresholds — per-category curves applied to this airframe
- → Full scoring methodology reference — complete breakdown in the help docs