LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
The 1st Fighter Wing hosted an F-22 Raptor aerial demonstration for local media agencies and civic leaders at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, May 21.
The event gave attendees an opportunity to look at the processes and planning required to run an aerial demonstration and to learn more about the capabilities of Langley's F-22's and the Airmen who support them. In addition, the event teased the demonstration team's involvement in the Virginia Beach Oceanfront Air Show from May 30 to June 1.
"These events give us an exhilarating, front-row seat to what we will see at air shows and we can share that with the public," said Dominic Brown, WTKR NewsChannel 3 meteorologist. "Being able to speak to the pilots and team behind these events gives our audience an insider look, which pumps them up for the air show."
The demo team shared information about the F-22's capabilities and how the aerial show demonstrates only a fraction of the power behind the aircraft.
"The F-22 is the only fifth-generation aircraft on the planet. No other aircraft matches its superiority inside of contested or denied air space," said U.S. Air Force Col. Kevin Huyck, 1st FW commander. "Our opponents can deploy multiple aircraft, advanced surface-to-air missile platforms or any form of detection equipment and this airframe will still put any target at risk."
The F-22's thrust vectoring, supersonic cruise capability, stealth capability and advanced maneuverability set it apart from all other airframes, and give it the edge in combat, said Huyck
Thrust vectoring allows the pilot to change the direction of the jet's thrust, granting the ability to perform maneuvers unattainable by older generations. In addition to a streamlined body and advanced computers, this vectoring ability lends to the F-22's advanced maneuverability, which allows a pilot to literally fly circles around other airframes, said Huyck
While it is still visible to the naked eye, the aircraft's ability to accelerate to more than twice the speed of sound makes it nearly impossible to track by sight. The F-22's internal weapons bay, overall design and special paint protect it from other tracking equipment, such as radar, which makes it stealth capable.
After disbanding last year due to fiscal constraints, the F-22 Demo Team was reinstated for a 20-show season this year, and has performed six shows to date. Master Sgt. John Kraemer, F-22 Demo Team noncommissioned officer in charge, explained what it takes to make a demonstration a reality.
"Our team is comprised of 11 people, but only eight Airmen actually go on the road: a pilot, an observer, two crew chiefs, two avionics technicians and the assistant NCOIC," explained Kraemer. "As a team, we can evaluate the F-22's condition, make appropriate changes to instrumentation and adjust our plan for each venue."