F/A-22  #042

The First F/A-22 Delivered to Langley AFB

These are photos of the F/A-22 (Raptor) as the first aircraft delivery was  being made to Langley AFB in VA.  Langley is to be first operational AFB for  the F/A-22.

 The Aircraft flying along with the F/A-22 in several of these photos is the  F-15, which will be replaced by the F/A-22 since testing by the USAF has  verified predictions that the F/A-22 would be several times better than the  F-15.

 In actual in-flight (simulated combat) operations against the F-15, one F/A-22 was able to operate without detection while it went head to head against 4 F-15's and (2) F/A-22's against (8) F-15's.  The F/A-22's scored  missile hits (Kills) against each F-15 Aircraft and the F/A-22's were never  detected by the F-15's or ground based radar.

 Maj. Gen.  Rick Lewis said: "The Raptor operated against all adversaries  with virtual impunity; ground based systems couldn't engage and no adversary  aircraft survived."

Webpage created July 25 2005

Also...there was a show on the history Channel dealing with the F/A-22 that an ARC'er found quite interesting.  He sent me a link if you want to order the DVD of this show.  I have not seen the show myself, but it does sound interesting.    http://store.aetv.com/html/product/index.jhtml?id=73360  

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042 About To Touch Down	042 and F-15 Over Newport News Shipbuilding	042 and F-15 over Fort Monroe	042 Blinding Shot

042 Inverted	042 Lower Missile Doors Open	042 Opening Missile Doors	042 Over Virginia

042 over Fort Monroe	Coming From Marietta	Coming In To Langley

These photos were sent around by e-mail and I believe they are from official USAF web site.