Airshow at Edwards AFB

F/A-22 "Raptor"

This will be the Air Force's latest addition to the fleet. Designed to replace the aging F-15, the F-22 is the Air Force's top of the line and most powerful. "air-dominance" fighter plane. As of 2005, these planes were still in production and not yet in service.

The "F/A" designation stands for "fighter/attack" and indicates that the Raptor is designed to perform many roles. Like the newer F-15E, this aircraft is not only a fighter but an attack bomber, too. It plays these roles in a stealthy manner, similar to the F-117, and, with its two very powerful engines, is the first fighter that can go faster than the speed of sound without using afterburners! This new feature, called "super cruise", allows the F-22 to go at speeds of mach 1.5 (approximately 1,080 mph) without engaging the fuel-hungry afterburners.

Another important design aspect of the F-22 is its ability to evade enemy radar. The original "stealth" technology, on the F-117, was designed with 1970's technology including computer design systems that were slow (by today's standards). This resulted in the oddly-shaped F-117 we see today which is not even airworthy enough to obtain mach speed! In the late 1980's, when the F-22 was developed, faster computers were available which allowed the aircraft designers to smooth out those difficult radar-evading angles. The result was an aircraft that is able to go faster and maneuver better than its predecessor.

In the past, the Russians would always develop fighter planes that were able to outperform our best fighters and would sell them to other nations. The Raptor, however, will be the first plane that the Russians will not be able to match.

	Until 2003, the Raptor appeared at Air Shows like this: a high-tech bird in a hanger; except in 1999. The public first saw the Raptor in flight at the 1999 Air Show when it landed in front of them as it returned from a test flight that coincided with the Air show.
	Notice the distinguishing stealth "zigzag" design on the panels near the landing gear.
	Another example of the stealthy yet graceful design of the Raptor.
	A Raptor takes off for its first official Air Show demonstrations in 2003.
	The Raptor zooms by with its afterburners on. One unique feature of the F-22 is its "vectored thrust" ability. The mechanism that directs the vectored thrust can be seen in this picture just to the right of the flames. "Vectored" thrust allows the pilot to control the direction of the thrust for increased maneuverability.
	The vectored thrust engines are also shaped differently than conventional fighter planes. Notice that they are rectangular as opposed to round.
	A low and slow flyby for the crowd.
	Unlike all the other fighter planes in this Air Show, the F-22 carries its weaponry internally. This maintains its radar evasion abilities and its aerodynamics. If you look closely, you might see the well-hidden doors behind the engine intakes that open to fire the weapons.
	A "heritage" flyby with an older F-16 fighter (right) and an F-22 (left).
	The two aircraft further away.
	The F-22 makes another flyby.
	With the demonstration complete, the Raptor returns to base.