LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Virginia –
After two-and-a-half months of waiting, an aircraft with the Hat-in-the-Ring emblem has once again landed at Langley Air Force Base.
But this time, it’s painted on the sides of two F-22A Raptors.
Lt. Col. Dirk Smith, 94th Fighter Squadron commander, and Maj. Kevin Dolata, 94th FS, flew two of the advanced aircraft from the Lockheed Martin production facility in Marietta, Ga, March 3.
“It was one of the coolest things I’ve ever done in my life,” Colonel Smith said. “Today is a great day in the history of the SPADs.”
The 94th FS is the second fighter squadron to receive the F-22A. 4062 and 4063 are the first Raptors to be permanently assigned to the 94th since the squadron officially converted from the F-15C in December. Since then, 94th FS pilots and maintainers have been working with aircraft and personnel from the 27th Fighter Squadron.
“The 27th has allowed us to pile on their operations,” said Colonel Smith. “But it’s good to finally have some of our own iron on the ramp.”
The Airmen of the 94th have spent the last two months preparing for the new arrivals.
“It’s a lot like retooling a factory,” he said. “A lot of our equipment is common, but some of it isn’t. We’ve been preparing for months.”
Staff Sgt. Aaron Cowan, 94th Aircraft Maintenance Unit F-22A dedicated crew chief, is the first 94th crew chief to be assigned one of the new aircraft.
“I’m proud of my airplane,” he said. “It gives me pride to know my name’s on the jet and I’m responsible for maintaining it.”
Sergeant Cowan, who has been a crew chief in the 94th FS for eight years, said working with the 27th FS Raptors has given him a new appreciation for the F-22A.
“It’s easier to work on than the F-15,” he explained. “Its computer isolates a lot of its own problems. It’s very crew chief friendly.”
The 94th currently has five trained F-22A pilots and two aircraft, with more Raptors arriving at a rate of two per month.
Colonel Smith said his goal is to get the Air Force’s newest Raptor squadron ready for combat as soon as possible.
“Our goal is to be ready for an AEF rotation by May 2007,” he said.