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  • F-22 Raptor Marks 20 Years of Operational Service

    The F-22 Raptor hit a milestone of operational service at Langley Air Force Base on May 12, 2025. It has been two decades since the arrival of the Air Force’s first combat-ready, fifth-generation aircraft to the 1st Fighter Wing on May 12, 2005. The first operational F-22 Raptor delivery to the 1st

  • F-22 Raptor Demo Team names new pilot to soar into 2025 air show season

    Gen. Ken Wilsbach, commander of Air Combat Command, certified the new F-22 Demonstration Team Pilot ahead of the 2025 air show season during a certification flight on January 24, 2025, Langley Air Force Base, VA.Capt. Nick “Laz” Le Tourneau, 27th Fighter Squadron will be replacing Maj. Samuel “RaZZ”

  • 192nd Wing appoints new dedicated crew chiefs

    The 192nd Wing, Virginia Air National Guard, recognized 11 Airmen with the 192nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and the 192nd Operations Group, for their technical knowledge, initiative and leadership during a Dedicated Crew Chief ceremony Nov. 16, 2024, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton,

  • U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors deter aggression over Baltic skies

    U.S. Air Force fifth-generation fighters supporting NATO Allied Air Command’s Air Shielding mission along the Eastern Flank executed an Agile Combat Employment deployment to Ämari Air Base, Estonia, May 8, 2023, to deter aggression in the Baltic Sea region.

  • The first FTU F-22s touch down at JBLE

    The first two F-22 Raptors, part of the incoming Formal Training Unit aircraft fleet, touch down at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, Mar. 29, 2023. JBLE has been working hard over the last four years to prepare for the bed down of 30 additional F-22 Raptors and the establishment of the FTU.

  • Air Force Unveils New Airpower Ad in Theaters

    The U.S. Air Force plans to unveil their latest commercial titled “Own the Sky” in theaters during moviegoers’ long-awaited release of Top Gun: Maverick. The heart-pounding, adrenaline inducing ad gives the audience a sense of what it might feel like to be on the receiving end of the Air Force’s

  • USAF approves beddown of F-22 FTU at JBLE

    The Air Force has signed the Record of Decision approving Joint Base Langley-Eustis as the future home for the F-22 Formal Training Unit.The Air Force is awaiting the completion of the tactical air study before solidifying timelines for planned force structure moves.

  • Fairchild fuels RED FLAG-Alaska 20-3

    Team Fairchild’s KC-135 Stratotankers provided essential air refueling support during field training exercise RED FLAG-Alaska 20-3, August 3-12. RF-A 20-3 is a Pacific Air Forces-directed field training exercise for U.S. and international forces flown under simulated air combat conditions meant to

  • Raptor bird bath: contract gives time back to the mission

    The 1st Fighter Wing is responsible for one-third of the U.S. Air Force’s F-22 Raptors and the Airmen of the 1st Maintenance Group are responsible for maintaining them. However, in order to keep the aircraft mission ready, they must be washed regularly, taking time away from maintainers’ primary

  • F-22 Demo Team announces new pilot

    U.S. Air Force Maj. Josh Gunderson takes over as the new F-22 Demonstration Team pilot and commander, Jan. 21, 2020, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va. Gunderson, who goes by the callsign “Cabo,” will lead the 14-member demo team for both the 2020 and 2021 show seasons.

  • Dedicated to the Raptor

    The 106 degree Fahrenheit heat beats down on the Nellis Air Force Base flightline where crew chiefs work tirelessly to complete the mission of Red Flag 19-3.Out of the more than 20 units from across the U.S. Armed Forces and Australian Air Force that attended the exercise, the crew chiefs from the

  • Giving F-22 Raptor its senses

    The F-22 Raptor is one of the U.S. Air Force’s fifth generation fighter aircraft, performing both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions allowing full realization of operational concepts vital to the 21st century fight.With the combination of sensor capability, integrated avionics, and advanced

  • Heritage Flight honors last D-Day celebration

    The U.S. Air Force Heritage Flight team conducted a flyover in honor of the 75th anniversary of D-Day and the last celebration at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia, June 6, 2019.The four-ship formation included U.S. Air Force Maj. Paul “Loco” Lopez, F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team

  • Red Flag adjusts for today’s challenges

    The 414th Combat Training Squadron (CTS), which oversees Red Flag, is making changes to the exercise for improved efficiency at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Red Flag is a realistic multi-domain training exercise that maximizes the combat readiness and survivability of participants by providing a

  • Global reach powers air superiority

    A KC-135 Stratotanker from the 101st Air Refueling Wing refuels F-22 Raptors from the 94th Fighter Squadron over the Atlantic Ocean, Feb. 22, 2018. The Stratotanker refueled four Raptors during this routine training mission. Refueling missions help the 94th Fighter Squadron accomplish their task of

  • Red Flag 18-1 in full swing at Nellis AFB

    A KC-135 Stratotanker jet assigned to the 100 Air Refueling Wing at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, takes off during Red Flag 18-1 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Feb. 5, 2018. Red Flag is one of a series of advanced training programs administered by the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center to train

  • Vice President Mike Pence visits Nellis AFB

    Vice President Mike Pence made his way to Las Vegas Jan. 11, 2018, to attend the grand opening of the first AFWERX facility and visit the men and women of Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.

  • F-22 Raptor Demo Team receive COMACC qualification

    U.S. Air Force Maj. Paul “Loco” Lopez, U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team pilot, completed a qualification performance for U.S. Air Force Gen. Mike Holmes, Commander of Air Combat Command, to certify his capabilities as a demo team pilot at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., Dec. 18, 2017.

  • From aggressor to unmatched 5th gen aerial breacher

    Air-to-air combat is fast paced and requires the right aircraft and a well-trained pilot. The pilot needs to have a fast reaction speed and the know-how to make the right decisions at the right time, which is why the some 71st Fighter Training Squadron T-38 pilots are selected to fly the very

  • Stealth Guardian demonstrates rescue, 5th gen integration

    Two wings, one mission: to execute a locally squadron-planned exercise between the 23d Wing and the 325th Fighter Wing during Exercise Stealth Guardian August 7-11, 2017. During months of planning between Tyndall and Moody Air Force base, Ga., Exercise Stealth Guardian was conceived and executed by

  • SARM: Keeping warfighters on track

    U.S. Air Force F-22 pilots at Joint Base Langley-Eustis work closely with U.S. Air Force T-38 Talon pilots, who pose as adversary air, to improve their war-fighter capabilities. However, before pilots can perform their duties, they must sharpen their skills and ensure they have proper documentation

  • Red Flag 17-1 pushes domain, fifth-gen integration

    As coalition pilots, intelligence analysts, and cyber and space operators convene at the Nevada Test and Training Range north of Las Vegas, for Red Flag 17-1, they have one goal in mind: work together to defeat the adversary, which at times is 20 living adversaries simultaneously working to attack

  • F-22 participates in 20th annual Heritage Flight

    Members of the F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team assigned to Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, attended the 20th annual Heritage Flight Training and Certification Course at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Feb. 9 through Feb. 12, 2017.

  • JBLE training course advances skills for maintainers

    Throughout the year, more than 370 maintainers from eight different Air Force Specialty Codes attend advanced training courses at the 372nd Training Squadron, Detachment 18 at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia.

  • Load crew competition challenges maintainers

    The 1st Maintenance Squadron hosted a Weapons Load Crew of the Quarter competition with the 94th and 27th Aircraft Maintenance Units competing, Oct. 28, 2016 at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia.The competition is held every quarter and allows the load crews from each AMU to showcase their skills

  • Raptors converge on F-22 CTF as it prepares to move

    Just after the turn of the century, it wasn’t unusual to see seven F-22A Raptors parked around the 411th Flight Test Squadron compound during the fighter’s early developmental test and evaluation days.Today, the 411th and F-22 Combined Test Force has just four of the fifth-generation fighters left –

  • AF commanders aim to ensure smooth take-off for F-35A

    Wing commanders from U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor and F-35A Lightning II units met at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, July 20-21 to discuss integration of the two aircraft. The conference focused on joint training, maintenance techniques, manpower and strategies to develop successful integration the

  • Air Dominance and the Critical Role of Fifth Generation Fighters

    U.S. Air Force General Hawk Carlisle, commander of Air Combat Command, discussed the importance of air superiority and the need to assure it by modernizing the Combat Air Force during a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee in Washington, D.C., July

  • Lafayette Escadrille honored at centennial event

    U.S. and French military and civic leaders attended the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial event in Marnes-la-Couquette, France, today, to commemorate the centennial of the flying squadron's formation.The Lafayette Escadrille was formed on April 20, 1916, by 38 U.S. volunteer pilots who flew under French

  • F-22s deploy to RAF Lakenheath

    The U.S. Air Force has deployed F-22 Raptors, Airmen and associated equipment to Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, April 11, to conduct air training with other Europe-based aircraft.

  • AFSOUTH team members spend time with children in hospitals

    A young girl and her mother build a toy plane together during the 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) FIDAE team visit to San Juan de Dios hospital in Santiago, Chile, March 31, 2016. The Airmen are in Chile to participate in the 2016 FIDAE Air and Space Trade Show and spent some of their

  • AFSOUTH heads to Chile for largest air and space fair in Western Hemisphere

    More than 65 Airmen from around the U.S. are scheduled to participate in a variety of activities during the week-long air show that includes aerial demonstrations, interaction with the local community, and subject matter expert exchanges with the Chilean air force. “AFSOUTH has built relationships