Forum: F-22A Raptor

Not being in the military, I'm curious about the ranks of raptor pilots. My general impression of a fighter squadron is that there are very few Colonels that actually fly. By the time you get to be a lt. col. you are an old man so to speak. On the other hand, I've heard(and I have no idea how true it is) that they will not let anyone below a lt. col. or maybe it was col. fly a B-2. So generally who flies the F-22 at this point?

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ICBW but at a very minimum they're Captains with maybe 700 to 1000 hours of fighter time already. As the learning curve flattens out you'll see more 2nd LT's and eventually 1st LT's....but that's wayyyyy down the road methinks.

Nowadays there are B-2 pilots as "low" as Captains with prior heavy time but again, when the Spirit was the NKOTR, nobody less than a Major was allowed in. Both for the "national asset" issue and SIOP regulations. But take that with a grain o'salt as it might be outta date info.

I've only ever seen Capt or above...both male and female...in the B-2. 99% of all Raptor pilots are most likely to be Capt or higher due to the prior fighter requirements. Now its limited to prior F-15 pilots only.

The F-22 is NOT limited for former F-15 drivers!! The Va Air Guard has about 20 or so former F-16 drivers driving Raptors now. However, every damn one of them is at least a Major. Of course, at the time I retired, out of 40 pilots in our unit, we had exactly ONE captain and no lieutenants. And seven or eight full Colonels flying.

I don't have a clue about who's flying or not flying B-2s or Bones.

Last edited by checksixx on Dec 22, 2007 - 12:41 AM; edited 1 time in total

Relax...I said "now" its limited to prior F-15 pilots only...and I was correct.

Forum Veteran Joined: Jul 01, 2007 - 07:22 PM Posts: 605

Checksix is correct. The VA guard is an exception to the rule. Gen. Mosley also graced us with TAMI21. By the way, since the Eagles aren't flying now, the Vipers are picking up the slack...AGAIN. By the way, the guy who just finished pilot training is going to IFF to get ready for the Raptor as a first assignment. He has to stop through here first to get checked out in a REAL fighter jet first.

Let the games begin, Devil

I guess limiting the Raptor to former F-15 drivers is a two-tail thing, eh? That reminds me of an old joke: Why don't they let pilots over 40 fly the Lockheed Constallation? Because they can't handle three tails at one time.

What is IFF in this context? Lemme guess--Initial Fighter Familiarization? The latest incarnation of fighter lead-in training?

Forum Veteran Joined: Jul 01, 2007 - 07:22 PM Posts: 605

Quite a few F-16 pilots flying up at Elmendorf as well. It's not limited to just F-15 drivers like it's not limited to just F-15 maintenance personal. F-16 personal are and do work on the F-22, however it's much harder to cross over than an F-15 maintenance person. It happens, but it's few and far between.

der03301 wrote:

Quite a few F-16 pilots flying up at Elmendorf as well. It's not limited to just F-15 drivers

Yes, now it is limited to prior F-15 pilots per Gen. Moseley.

I realize the F-22 IS the replacement for the F-15, but why limit it to just F-15 guys?

I guess I'm not on par with Gen. Moseley's thinking. Have any idea why he limited it?

der03301 wrote:

I realize the F-22 IS the replacement for the F-15, but why limit it to just F-15 guys?

I guess I'm not on par with Gen. Moseley's thinking. Have any idea why he limited it?

This is the WWW … internet … lots of rubbish spoken here (I’m guilty as well)

If a limit was applied to fly the Raptor … my vote goes to the HOG Driver.

der03301 wrote:

I realize the F-22 IS the replacement for the F-15, but why limit it to just F-15 guys?

I guess I'm not on par with Gen. Moseley's thinking. Have any idea why he limited it?

Because the C-model dudes are having problems getting up (so to speak) in thier own jets.

http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2007/ ... d3_071204/

Forum: F-22A Raptor

Who flys the raptor?