F-22 Milestones - Part 2

25 July 2002: Lt. Col. Chris Short is at the controls of Raptor 03 for the first F-22 supersonic missile launch, an AIM-9 launched at Mach 1.11 at China Lake.

21 August 2002: Lt. Col. Eddie Cabrera is at the controls of Raptor 03 for the first supersonic separation test of an AIM-120 AMRAAM at Mach 1.19.

17 September 2002: The Air Force changes the Raptor’s Mission Design Series designation from F-22 to F/A-22, highlighting the aircraft’s multimission capability.

25 October 2002: The 43rd Fighter Squadron stands up. The unit will later become the F/A-22 schoolhouse and the first F/A-22 unit at Tyndall AFB, Florida.

5 November 2002: Maj. Jim Dutton conducts the first guided supersonic missile launch of an AIM-120 AMRAAM from Raptor 07.

14 January 2003: AF Air Combat Command receives its first F/A-22 (00-4012) when the aircraft is delivered to the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron at Nellis AFB, Nevada.

14 January 2003: AF Air Combat Command receives its first F/A-22 (00-4012) when the aircraft is delivered to the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron at Nellis AFB, Nevada.

17 January 2003: Lt. Col. David Rose becomes the first operational Air Force pilot to fly the F/A-22. The flight occurs at Nellis AFB.

19 February 2003: Raptors 06 and 07 successfully demonstrate the capabilities of the Raptor’s Intraflight Data Link, or IFDL, a key component of the fighter’s avionics suite. Pilots Col. Ric Cazessus and Lt. Col. Art McGettrick are at the controls.

22 February 2003: Lockheed Martin test pilot James Brown fires the F-22’s M61A2 Gatling-type gun in flight for the first time.

28 February 2003: The F/A-22 program records its 3,000th flight test hour.

4 March 2003: The first Raptor for Dedicated Initial Operational Test and Evaluation is delivered to Edwards AFB.