Pretty Raptors all in a row

OVER THE UNITED STATES -- 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 Force Base, Va. The unit went to Hill for operation Combat Hammer, the squadron's first deployment, Oct. 15. The deployment has a twofold goal: complete a deployment and generate a combat-effective sortie rate away from home. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Ben Bloker)

Combat Hammer

HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah -- Staff Sgt. Carlos Sepulveda does a minor repair on the cockpit of an F/A-22 Raptor here. A low observable coding maintainer from Langley Air Force Base, Va., he deployed here Oct. 15 with the 27th Fighter Squadron. The unit deployed here to put the first operational F/A-22 Raptor squadron through the paces in a deployment environment, including live bomb training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Rogers)

Raptor presence

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. -- Lt. Col. James Hecker banks his F/A-22 Raptor during a training sortie here. He is the 27th Fighter Squadron commander. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Ben Bloker)

Raptor presence

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. -- An F/A-22 Raptor receives gas from a McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., KC-10 Extender during a training sortie here. The 27th Fighter Squadron currently has five permanently assigned Raptors. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Ben Bloker)

Sky patrol

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. -- Airman 1st Class Caleb Saunders and Maj. John Braun make adjustments to an F-15 Eagle cockpit seat in preparation to fly a combat air patrol mission from here July 1. Pilots patrolled the sky over the Washington, D.C., area providing presidential support during the Fourth of July weekend. Major Braun is an F-15 pilot with the 94th Fighter Squadron, and Airman Saunders is assigned to the 94th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Eric Sheler)

Sky patrol

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. -- Maj. John Braun patrols the sky during a combat air patrol mission from here July 1. Pilots patrolled the sky over the Washington, D.C., area providing presidential support during the Fourth of July weekend. Major Braun is an F-15 Eagle pilot with the 94th Fighter Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Ben Bloker)