5 new F/A-22 Raptors land at base

miami.com ^

[iso]

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.

[StormEye]

"Why is a general being trained to fly this plane, besides ego gratification?"

Because he's a general?

[blogbat]

"The government doesn't make a secret of procurements or deployments like that."

-That is the problem.

"WTF do you expect an F-22 to protect you from anyway?"

-I'm not sure, what did you have in mind, illiterate Mongols or bow and arrow-chucking Indonesians?

[Raffus]

Okay - that is the coolest yet. Thanks! Hope it's not copyright!

[ttown]

Very nice planes for a manned unit, but this isn't the future. Human just can't handle the G's and unmanned will rule the skies IMO. You guy's playing all those video games are going to have fun in the future!

[HerrKobes]

Why is a general being trained to fly this plane, besides ego gratification?

Because he can, really - they've got that power, so they use it.

I work in a schoolhouse (FTU - Flying Training Unit) right now, and let me tell you, the local General usually gets whatever training sorties he wants.

And that means lost sorties which could have been used for other initial quals. Which leads to delays on check rides for people who will be flying operational missions, not a desk. That puts pressure on the operational squadrons, because they are counting on those pilots arriving at a certain time.

Not that I'm bitter - General's prerogative and everything.

[jackbill]

Why is a general being trained to fly this plane, besides ego gratification?

Flight pay.

[blogbat]

" My vote would be the P-38. But I don't believe there are any "in the air" anymore..."

Ah yes. My first childhood sweetheart. That will always be one of the sweetest planes around. Although these F/A 22 pix are pretty sexy too. Gotta hand it to the guys that fly them.

[SauronOfMordor]

Why is a general being trained to fly this plane, besides ego gratification?

1) Generals who may have to order missions should have a good idea of what the plane can and cannot really do, first hand

2) If the plane was grounded for problems, and the air force is now certifying they are safe to fly, it helps morale if a general puts his butt personally on the line, not just his mouth

[demlosers]

I suppose the first F22 Raptors will go to:

• Langley AFB leaker(for sure)
• Kadena AB, Japan
• RAF Lakenheath, England
• Seymour Johnson AFB
• Elmendorf AFB
• Edwards AFB

[GBA]

It's no secret where the planes are based and which squadrons are to be the first to fly them. That knowledge has been out there for a long time. Heck, there's been a detailed model of the F-22 (made in China, btw) available for a long time. Crazy world, huh?

[Gunslingr3]

That is the problem.

Why is it a problem?

I'm not sure, what did you have in mind, illiterate Mongols or bow and arrow-chucking Indonesians?

That's why I asked you. You're the one who doesn't feel safe. So I ask again, what do you expect the F-22 to protect you from?

[GBA]

There are a few P-38s still flying. Glacier Girl was restored and took to the air not long ago and I believe that Lefty Gardner's race P-38 is still flying. In case you didn't know, the original name for the F-22 was the Lighning II in honor of the original.

[blogbat]

Just noting that discipline and surprise are a pair of a country's best friends. I've noticed we are generally faster and looser with information control than in times past.

It's just my opinion that having a detailed model of the F-22 that was made in China and imported for our fun isn't anything to brag about.

But I know that's not why we're in here right now. We're in here because we all love this plane and want to talk about how it could have only been created in this country of ours because we kick butt. Period. So I don't mean to come off to anybody as some kind of troll or any such thing. ;)

[blogbat]

"In case you didn't know, the original name for the F-22 was the Lighning II in honor of the original."

That's awesome.

[blogbat]

I think you missed my point, slinger. I think we need to better protect the assets that protect us.

[GBA]

No problem. To be honest, I used to be bothered by the same stuff. Actually, the models of our most current aircraft (F-117, F-22, etc.) being made in China still bothers me.

At least we don't have a Commander-in-chief allowing missile, nuclear, satellite, etc. technologies to be more or less given to the Chicoms as we did a few years ago...at least, I don't think we do.

[IGOTMINE]

Beat me to it.

[IGOTMINE]

There is one I'm aware of...the dug her up from under an ice pack and TOTALLY restored her. (Essentially they built a new airplane and slapped the original dataplate on it.)

[Ciexyz]

Fine-looking plane.

By the way, is anyone watching Battlestar Gallactica on NBC (Sat 8PM-11PM). Nice action with the "Vipers". Captain Apollo falls in love with Starbuck (the character is now a female).

[joem15]

I love the F-16, I made a good part of my living selling components for the F-16 in the early 1980's. At the same time it is still, now, a NATO plane, built in Europe for European pilots. The technology of the F-16 goes back to 1970's. It was a single engine,good for defense, airplane. The F-22 is a totally kick A** airplane that has moves and grooves that we will never know about. It will take any existing, or future, aircraft, Russian, French, European, what have you, DOWNTOWN! The USA rules the sky with this airplane.