Raptor Milestone

Posted 19 April 2013

TAGS:

Photo by David Henry

The F-22 Combined Test Force, or CTF, at the Air Force Test Center at Edwards AFB, California, celebrated a milestone on 19 April 2013, when the oldest flying Raptor successfully completed its 1,000th sortie. The landmark flight, made by Boeing test pilot Steve Rainey, was one of the first flight tests of the Increment 3.2A software upgrade. The aircraft, US Air Force serial number 91-4007, was delivered to Edwards in October 2001. This Raptor was used to carry out the first guided AIM-9 Sidewinder missile launch. This F-22 has been flown on a number of missile launch and satellite-guided weapons release tests over its career.

Comments

P-3 Articles
P-3 News
P-3 Video
P-3 Photos

View All Articles

Golden Orion
8/22/2012
The P-3 Orion is still going strong fifty years after entering operational service.

Tweak My Ride
3/7/2012
Straightforward improvements to the C-130, P-3, and C-5 such as winglets, microvanes, and other methods to reduce drag should equate to big fuel savings.

Orions On Station
11/5/2011
US Customs and Border Protection P-3 Orion crews are big obstacle in a drug smuggler’s path.

Lockheed Martin Kelly Aviation Center
2/28/2011
The company credited with designing, developing, and manufacturing the U-2 Dragon Lady, C-130 Hercules, C-5 Galaxy, and F-16 Fighting Falcon also maintains, repairs, overhauls, and tests the engines that power these aircraft.

German P-3 Orion Operations
6/24/2010
The German Navy received P-3 aircraft from the Netherlands in 2005 and 2006. By 2007, they were flying operational missions with the Orion for NATO.

P-3 Orion Operations At RAAF Edinburgh
1/1/2009
One of the first things visitors notice at RAAF Edinburgh is the digital clocks. The clocks are an apt symbol for the current dual mission tasking for the RAAF Orion crews.

View All News