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.
Ack, one crashed on December 20th??? I was out of the country and this is the first I've heard of it. Is the pilot ok?
What happened?
How exactly is the F-22 endangered by knowing what base it is at? Since they're not invisible to the naked eye, how could such information remain secret anyway? Your paranoia is unwarranted. You don't need to feel less safe because someone knows where the F-22 is based. It doesn't matter.
Let 'em know, they can't touch 'em.
Pilot is okay. Report on what happened not available since Friday.
They are a beautiful piece of machinery aren't they...
I agree. But I also hold a warm part of me for the A10. Comparing the F-16 to the A10 is similar to a contrast between an Aston Martin to a Mini Cooper. Both work extrmely well given their tasks and capabilities.
yeah, Good thing that they didn't disclose the existence of the new super secret floating Aircraft Carrier powered by those new GE anti-gravity units.
That they are
I don't like the new Battlestar Gallactica. I guess I was used to Starbuck being a guy I could drool over way back when.
That's good to hear, thanks.
I have my personal favorite....The A-10.....I know I know it's air to ground cover. But it's my favorite anyhow. Let me find my little darlin'
In the early '60s, the Soviets bought a Testor model of the USS Nautilus to find out what the inside looked like...
Season premiere this coming Friday at 9 PM on Sci Fi channel. They filmed 14 episodes and ordered six more eps for a second season.
I agree. But I also hold a warm part of me for the A10. Comparing the F-16 to the A10 is similar to a contrast between an Aston Martin to a Mini Cooper. Both work extrmely well given their tasks and capabilities. ~ Cobra64
I'm rather partial to the F-8 Crusader...
Stealth plane?
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