Red Arrows meet Raptor

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. - Maj. Paul "Max" Moga, F-22A Raptor Demonstration Team pilot, flies in formation with British Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, The Red Arrows, during an afternoon practice flight here June 18. Both demonstration teams will perform at AirPower over Hampton Roads, Langley's air show, which is scheduled for June 20 to 22.

Cold, fast, stealthy

OVER ALASKA (ACCNS) -- An F-22A Raptor from the 27th Fighter Squadron, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia is refueled by a KC-135R Stratotanker from the 168th Air Refueling Wing, Alaska Air National Guard, on 9 June during exercise Northern Edge. Northern Edge 2006 is a joint training exercise hosted by Alaskan Command and is one of a series of U.S. Pacific Command exercises that prepare joint forces to respond to crises in the Asian Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Joshua Strang)

Combat ready Raptor

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (AFPN) -- Gen. Ronald Keys and Brig. Gen. Burton Fields answer questions during a press conference to announce the F-22A Raptor's initial operating capability today. General Keys is the commander of Air Combat Command. General Fields is the commander of the 1st Fighter Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Quinton T. Burris)

Combat ready Raptor

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (AFPN) -- Gen. Ronald Keys answers questions during a press conference to announce the F-22A Raptor's initial operating capability today. General Keys is the commander of Air Combat Command. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Quinton T. Burris)

F-22A Raptor

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (AFPN) -- The Air Force has changed the designation of the F/A-22 to the F-22A Raptor. The service designated it "F/A" three years ago to stress the stealth fighter's ability to provide close-air support and drop bombs. The "A" will now designate the variant of the aircraft. The fighter from the 27th Fighter Squadron (above) went to Hill Air Force Base, Utah, this year for live weapons training. The Raptor is scheduled to become operational this month with the 1st Fighter Wing at Langley AFB, Va. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Rogers)

Combat Hammer

OVER THE MIDWEST -- 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 to generate a combat-effective sortie rate away from home. (U.S. Air Force photo by TSgt Ben Bloker)