F-22 Milestones - Part 2

26 June 2003: Raptor 02 is flown four times in one day at Edwards AFB.

29 August 2003: Four test pilots from Edwards AFB perform the first F/A-22 four-ship formation flight and the first four-ship test of the IFDL. A total of seven Raptors in various locations are airborne for the first time.

1 September 2003: The F/A-22 CTF surpasses 4,000 flight test hours.

22 September 2003: Lockheed Martin test pilot James Brown makes the first rolling high-g AIM-9 shot (Raptor 03).

26 September 2003: Raptor 01-4018 becomes the first operational F/A-22 delivered to the 43rd FS at Tyndall AFB, Florida. Lt. Col. Jeffrey Harrigian, commander of the 43rd, flies the Raptor from Marietta, Georgia.

28 October 2003: Raptor 20 flies for the first time.

20 November 2003: Pratt & Whitney delivers the 100th F119 engine for the Raptor.

24 November 2003: The F/A-22 Combined Test Force at Edwards AFB records two successful guided missile launches at both White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, and at China Lake. Raptor  pilot Lt. Col. Evan Thomas flying Raptor 05 downs a QF-4 drone with an AIM-120 missile at White Sands. Raptor pilot Lt. Col. Art McGettrick in Raptor 07 downs a QF-4 drone with an AIM-9M Sidewinder at the Naval Weapons Center range.

1 January 2004: An F/A-22 Raptor, an F-117 Nighthawk, and a B-2 Spirit make a unique formation of Air Force stealth aircraft over the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena, California, during the national anthem at the ninetieth Rose Bowl football game. The Raptor pilot is Col. Joe Lanni.

14 January 2004: Maj. Michael Hoepfner becomes the first pilot to complete F/A-22 transition training at the 43rd FS at Tyndall AFB.

23 January 2004: The first multiple missile launch from two F/A-22s (Raptor 05 and 07) is accomplished at Edwards AFB by pilots Lt. Col. Dawn Dunlop and Al Norman.

6 February 2004: Boeing pilot Fred Knox flies the first Raptor mission with two 600-gallon external fuel tanks on Raptor 02 at Edwards AFB.