5 new F/A-22 fighter jets land at base

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/state/10595250.htm?1c ^ | Jan. 08, 2005 | AP

[klpt]

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE -- (AP) -- Five more F/A-22 Raptors landed Friday at this Florida Panhandle base where Gen. John P. Jumper, Air Force chief of staff, is among the first pilots being trained to fly the new stealth fighter.

The five Raptors arrived from the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. plant in Marietta, Ga., a day after all F/A-22s were cleared to resume flying for the first time since a Dec. 20 crash at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.

The additional planes increased the number of Raptors at Tyndall to 18, more than half of the 33 now in the Air Force inventory. A 34th plane had been scheduled to arrive but its flight was postponed due to mechanical problems, said Capt. Susan A. Romano, a Tyndall spokeswoman.

Jumper is scheduled to make his final F/A-22 qualification flight here Wednesday.

The planes were grounded as a precaution after the Nellis crash. Safety and accident investigation boards have not disclosed a cause, but Air Force officials said they were confident the jets could be flown safely based on preliminary findings. The pilot suffered scrapes but was otherwise unharmed.

Eight F/A-22s are stationed at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., and seven at Nellis for testing and evaluation. All pilot training is done at Tyndall. Langley Air Force Base, Va., is expected to receive the first operational Raptors this year.

[pipecorp]

Nice job. Good pics.

[Dog]

Cool bomber planes...

[Northern Yankee]

Wonder if I could borrow it for a day?

[klpt]

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123009567

[Next_Time_NJ]

very very hot aircraft.

[microgood]

The rocket jocks must be loving this. Thanks for the post.

[Terpfen]

Why is the Air Force Chief of Staff flying this plane? Familarity/planning reasons?

[Max in Utah]

Probably because the same reason as a dog licks his < ahem > -- because he can.

[GeronL]

Why is a General training to fly it?? Does he expect to fly them full time?

[Southack]

"Why is a General training to fly it?? Does he expect to fly them full time?"

To show confidence. An F-22 just crashed. If the Brass doesn't fly in it, then you'll get naysayers claiming that the Brass is *afraid* to fly in it...that's it's a dangerous aircraft that should be cancelled. Such is politics.

So the Brass flies in it. Problem solved.

[stylin_geek]

Supersonic persistence: The F/A-22's engines produce more thrust than any current fighter engine, especially in military (non-afterburner) power. Called "supercruise," this characteristic allows the F/A-22 to efficiently cruise at supersonic airspeeds without using afterburners. This capability greatly expands the F/A-22's operating envelope in both speed and range over current fighters that must use afterburner to operate at supersonic speeds.

To me, the above is the coolest aspect of this fighter.

For more information, see here.

[stylin_geek]

I would also think since he is the one who makes plans based on the capabilities of the fighter, he is making sure he is familiar with it.

[Southack]

"If the Brass doesn't fly in it, then you'll get naysayers claiming that the Brass is *afraid* to fly in it..."

A historical example might be the V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor; don't see too many Generals flying in that one when it is doing its horizontal to vertical transition maneuvers.

[GeronL]

OK. I wouldn't say that of course.

[Southack]

"Called "supercruise," this characteristic allows the F/A-22 to efficiently cruise at supersonic airspeeds without using afterburners. This capability greatly expands the F/A-22's operating envelope in both speed and range over current fighters that must use afterburner to operate at supersonic speeds. To me, the above is the coolest aspect of this fighter."

Better gas mileage does not a fighter make...

[capt. norm]

Our previous base commander (a general) had his own jet and flew on a regular basis with his men. This is nothing new...it's what they do in the Air Force.

Althoough the raptors have been here a while, it's only very recently that I have noticed them flying over. (Could have been lack of observation on my part)

[Tom Bombadil]

A remarkable piece of technology. Supercruise. An incredible radar that is hard to detect. Stealth.

The most survivable fighter in the inventory. And dangerous to the opposition.

[stainlessbanner]

Jet Noise - the Sound of Freedom.

[microgood]

To me, the above is the coolest aspect of this fighter.

That is cool. I remember the old days when the F-14s needed to use afterburners just to get off the flight deck.