Media Gallery

Lt. Col. James Hecker (front) and Lt. Col. Evan Dertein line up their F/A-22 Raptor aircraft behind a KC-10 Extender to refuel while en route to Hill Air Force Base, Utah. Colonel Hecker commands the first operational Raptor squadron -- the 27th Fighter Squadron at Langley Air...

Staff Sgts. John Barr (left) and James Gainville (cockpit), do a preflight inspection on an F/A-22 Raptor at Hill AFB. The 27th Fighter Squadron dedicated crew chiefs, from Langley Air Force Base, Va., did the check Oct. 16. The unit deployed here to put the first operational...

F/A-22 Raptor #00-4013 from Nellis AFB, Nevada's 422nd TES, heads out for an operational test mission. [U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Kevin J. Gruenwald]

An F/A-22 Raptor takes off from Nellis AFB for a mission. During a two-ship sortie, Airmen from the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron flew the first Follow-on Operational Test and Evaluation mission on the F/A-22 Raptor on Aug. 29, releasing Joint Direct Attack Munitions on...

Two F/A-22 Raptors and a F-15 Eagle fly in formation during a training sortie at Langley AFB, Va. The 27th Fighter Squadron currently has five permanently assigned Raptors. [U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Ben Bloker]

Lt. Col. James Hecker banks his F/A-22 Raptor during a training sortie at Langley AFB, Va. He is the 27th Fighter Squadron commander. [U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Ben Bloker]

An F/A-22 Raptor receives gas from a McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., KC-10 Extender during a training sortie at Langley AFB. The 27th Fighter Squadron currently has five permanently assigned Raptors. [U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Ben Bloker]

(From left) Staff Sgts. Ronald Osburn and Andrew Fowler, and Senior Airman Clinton Postlethwait await the shutdown of an F/A-22 Raptor flown by Capt. John Echols during an exercise at Langley AFB. The exercise evaluated the 1st Fighter Wing's ability to prepare and deploy...

Senior Airman Rick Alexander marshals in Col. James Hecker after returning from a simulated F/A-22 Raptor combat sortie during an exercise at Langley AFB. The exercise evaluated the 1st Fighter Wing's ability to prepare and deploy people, equipment and support assets to a...