Posted on 03/05/2006 11:27:19 AM PST by SandRat
This weekend be sure to look up into the sky and catch a glimpse of modern and historic military aircraft. The event allows pilots to practice formation flying for the 2006 Air Show Circuit.
From historic warplanes, to advanced and sophisticated jets. The F-22A Raptor is the Air Force's newest fighter aircraft. It's only been in circulation a few months and there are only 62 in the world like it.
Lieutenant Colonel Jim Hecker says luck was on his side when he was picked to fly a Raptor.
Hecker said, It's a stealth aircraft and has the ability to super cruise which is to go supersonic and its extremely maneuverable."
The cost for the Raptor is about 130 million dollars. Worth the money when it comes to fighting a war said Hecker, "When we go out to fight a war it means we guarantee all army, marines and navy men and women we won't be attacked from other airplanes, and we've been able to guarantee that for the last 52 years. The F-22 will be the one that will go up against those new developing planes."
Even though technology all over the world continues to improve the military believes the Raptor will do more than it's job.
"We knew other countries were developing certain missile systems that other conventional fighters could not go up against. This gives us the advantage again."
An F-86 Sabre participating in the Air Combat Command Heritage Flight Conference at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base landed on its belly after experiencing problems upon landing just before 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
DM officials say the jet's landing gear malfunctioned causing one fuel tank to ignite.
The pilot, a civilian under contract with the Air Force, was not injured in the incident.
DM says nine other aircraft were in the air at the time, but all recovered safely at Tucson International Airport.
Tucsonan Tom Colvin witnessed the crash and says it was an unbelievable sight,
"My son and I were watching the jet's landing and we noticed it didn't have it's landing gear down and we thought it was going to fly by but it kept going down and down and down and then there was a puff of smoke and a big ball of flames."
Flying had been suspended for the remainder of the day at DM and official says the incident is under investigation.
Thank God all are safe!!
Meant F-117 fleet.
BTTT
Arent' the F-177's more stealthy than the F-22's? Why are they discarding the F-117's?
Yep, they are so stealthy that you can't even see them when they are sitting on the tarmac. :-)
( He meant "117," not "177." )
117, as far as I know, is not stealthy. Swing-wing and too slow, I think.
The last time they were used in combat was to bomb Lybia during RR's tenure, I think.
EG! You're thinking FB-111 Aardvarks, dude!
Couldn't get to the Heritage Flight Conference at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson? No Problem! Just click http://community.azstarnet.com/slideshows/flash/index.php?id=490'
Drinking or ingesting narcotics while posting isn't recommended.
Buzz off, sarcastic one.
Yes, you're right. F-111. Thanks for reminding me. F-111 looks like F-117. ROFL
That's pretty much what I figured.
I've never fully forgiven the French for their part (lack thereof?) in that raid.
The french have been carrying on their vendetta against us for many years prior to that but I know what you mean. It goes even further back than WWI.
The only reason they "helped" in the Revolution was because it would hurt the English not because it would help the Colonialists.
They are full of hatred these days because Ike wouldn't let DeGaulle have his own force toward the end of WWII. Ike felt they couldn't be trusted because of the Vichy.
The F-117s mission can be carried out by the Raptor...and later the JSF.
BTTT
Pull your head out of dirt chute, gomer.
Buzz off, sarcastic one.
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