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5 new F/A-22 Raptors land at base
miami.com ^

Posted on 01/08/2005 5:48:14 PM PST by 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.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Georgia; US: Virginia
KEYWORDS: clubbingbabyseals; fa22raptors; langleyafb; tyndallafb; usaf
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To: connectthedots
"Why is a general being trained to fly this plane, besides ego gratification?"

Because he's a general?

21 posted on 01/08/2005 6:06:06 PM PST by StormEye
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To: Gunslingr3
"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?
22 posted on 01/08/2005 6:06:42 PM PST by blogbat (Blogbat: ein Fahrgeschäft durch die Weltnachrichten)
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To: nuconvert

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


23 posted on 01/08/2005 6:07:06 PM PST by Raffus (Thanks to all Veterans for their service to our Country.)
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To: nuconvert

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!


24 posted on 01/08/2005 6:08:17 PM PST by ttown
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To: connectthedots
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.
25 posted on 01/08/2005 6:08:19 PM PST by HerrKobes
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To: connectthedots
Why is a general being trained to fly this plane, besides ego gratification?

Flight pay.

26 posted on 01/08/2005 6:08:32 PM PST by jackbill
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To: okie01
" 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.
27 posted on 01/08/2005 6:09:03 PM PST by blogbat (Blogbat: ein Fahrgeschäft durch die Weltnachrichten)
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To: connectthedots
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

28 posted on 01/08/2005 6:10:16 PM PST by SauronOfMordor (We are going to fight until hell freezes over and then we are going to fight on the ice)
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To: blogbat
I suppose the first F22 Raptors will go to:
29 posted on 01/08/2005 6:10:28 PM PST by demlosers
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To: Tench_Coxe
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?
30 posted on 01/08/2005 6:10:44 PM PST by GBA
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To: blogbat
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?

31 posted on 01/08/2005 6:13:04 PM PST by Gunslingr3
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To: okie01

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.


32 posted on 01/08/2005 6:13:29 PM PST by GBA
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To: GBA
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. ;)
33 posted on 01/08/2005 6:16:43 PM PST by blogbat (Blogbat: ein Fahrgeschäft durch die Weltnachrichten)
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To: GBA

"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.


34 posted on 01/08/2005 6:17:34 PM PST by blogbat (Blogbat: ein Fahrgeschäft durch die Weltnachrichten)
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To: Gunslingr3
I think you missed my point, slinger. I think we need to better protect the assets that protect us.
35 posted on 01/08/2005 6:18:50 PM PST by blogbat (Blogbat: ein Fahrgeschäft durch die Weltnachrichten)
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To: blogbat
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.

36 posted on 01/08/2005 6:22:23 PM PST by GBA
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To: connectthedots

Beat me to it.


37 posted on 01/08/2005 6:24:05 PM PST by IGOTMINE (Say a prayer for the common foot soldier...)
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To: okie01

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.)


38 posted on 01/08/2005 6:25:24 PM PST by IGOTMINE (Say a prayer for the common foot soldier...)
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To: martin_fierro
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).

39 posted on 01/08/2005 6:26:39 PM PST by Ciexyz (I use the term Blue Cities, not Blue States. PA is red except for Philly, Pgh & Erie)
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To: zarf
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.
40 posted on 01/08/2005 6:26:56 PM PST by joem15 (Truth is a formidable Force)
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