Forum: F-22A Raptor

Very nice!!! Was this taken at Holloman? Also, any chance of seeing a few pics like this on fencecheck? Thanks for posting! Also, I have a feeling that there is going to be an 8th FS boss bird soon...keep an eye out for it as well as the one marked 44 FG!!!!!!

F-16.net Sponsor

It was taken at Nellis. I don't think the plane has even been to Holloman. It showed up here in July as an AK with 2 others and has been flying with locals. First I saw of it marked HO was from someone at Tyndall, where it deployed for the week ending September 25, with a herd of Nellis raptors, the other 2 AKs, and the 2 FFs that have been living here. Last time I shot it as an AK was August 28, so it must have been changed between then and Sept 19. (as a side bar, I saw WA 116 marked 433rd WPS today for the first time, so the Nellis paint shop is keeping busy)

Very cool and thanks for the info. Neat that 116 has wps markings. Anyone know what these guys are doing together? Maybe something to do with different blocks? Thats the only thing I can think of..............

BDF wrote:

The 531st is an associate active duty squadron to the 199th who "owns" the jets. The 301st, 302nd, and 192nd are associate reserve/guard squadrons to active duty squadrons. The 199th is the only guard unit to have the F-22.

BDF

I think that's a typo in the last sentence. The only ANG unit with the F-22 is the 192nd. To my knowledge there is no ANG 199th, but I could be wrong.

The 199th is the Hawaii Guard. I don't know if they have 'em yet, but they're going to be the only ANG unit to own the jets.

Does that mean they can still be a flying club?

OL

Some more AK birds spotted at Holloman.

091
093
097
098
100
107

Some are still marked AK but should be sporting HO soon. Also, Im assuming one of these (or maybe 108) Will be marked 8th FS. Saw 105 marked 44th FG!!!!

Im thinking the following will be seen within a few months:

086
087
099
104
108
110

If anyone knows about these birds post it up!!

7th FS will have all their A/C by the end of 2009 and the 8th FS will start receiving right after that. There are a total of 17 F-22's at Holloman as of 11/14/09. Does anyone know if the 8th FS aircraft will be coming from Elmendorf or Langley....heard a rumor that Langley will start getting the block 35 A/C and that holloman 8th FS birds will come from there.....

Hi "bandit66"

you say "17 F-22's at HO AFB" ... do you know ALL the serials ?
thanks

Here are the serials I know....
084
088
089
091
092
093
095
096
097
098
100
105
106
107

possible:

086
087
099
104

this is what I have for now. As soo as i find more Ill add them..

Black Sheep's Boss bird has arrived. Former 94 FS block 20 arrived from Palmdale after maintenance. See 8th FS flagship arrives

Lt. Col. Craig Baker, 8th FS commander, taxis F-22A block 20 no. 04-4077 assigned to the 8th FS on the afternoon of December 21st, 2009.

Lt. Col. Craig Baker, 8th FS commander, exits the first F-22 Raptor assigned to the 8th FS after flying it to Holloman AFB on the afternoon of December 21st, 2009. F-22A block 20 no. 04-4077 is a former Langley AFB Raptor, which came from maintenance in Palmdale.

Thanks for this report, Asif.

One could only say perhaps, that it's critically flawed and very unfortunate the US/DoD could not deliver more to these 'Bosses' and top pilots, the block 35 capable aircraft to pilot instead (the block initially intended to be the actual long-term, modern superiority deterrence). Block 20 'lesson builds' were built to lead the way, yes, but retire properly... and will hardly be 'game-changing' in another 3-5 yrs.

Hi guys !
Happy new year from France !
And why not a dogfight in 2010 RAPTOR vs RAFALE in exercice ...
Any info about "new" HO serial ?
(7th received about 20 F-22)
thanks !

juve57 wrote:

Hi guys !
Happy new year from France !
And why not a dogfight in 2010 RAPTOR vs RAFALE in exercice ...
Any info about "new" HO serial ?
(7th received about 20 F-22)
thanks !

Because it would be pointless. If the gloves were removed it would be F22 10 Rafael 0 or pick your number. Then of course the French would come back with well but it took X amount of time to do it so therefore we claim a victory for that, or well our mighty Rafale didn't have ( fill in the blank yet ) as it is still under development ( as is always the case with the Rafale ) but it will be here next year ( as is also always the case with the Rafale ) and on and on it would go. Not to mention the only reason the French would really wish to have an all out fight with the F22 would be to spy on the F22s electronics itself. So again, why bother?

Beazz

geogen wrote:

Thanks for this report, Asif.

One could only say perhaps, that it's critically flawed and very unfortunate the US/DoD could not deliver more to these 'Bosses' and top pilots, the block 35 capable aircraft to pilot instead (the block initially intended to be the actual long-term, modern superiority deterrence). Block 20 'lesson builds' were built to lead the way, yes, but retire properly... and will hardly be 'game-changing' in another 3-5 yrs.

Um, this isn't an anime series... commanders don't get special aircraft. It makes more sense from the maintenance standpoint to have a standardized set of jets in a unit.

Forum: F-22A Raptor

Holloman F-22's