4K Formation Flight

Posted 5 May 2014

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Photo by TSgt. Dana Rosso

Pilots from the 302nd Fighter Squadron, the Air Force Reserve Command F-22 Associate unit at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, flew the most experienced four-ship flight in Raptor history on 3 May 2014 during a Unit Training Assembly weekend. Col. David Piffarerio, Majs. Jonathan Gration, Ryan Pelkola and Chad Newkirk have a combined total of 4,000 flight hours in the F-22. Typically active duty pilots will serve one or two assignments in a flying squadron before going to a non-flying assignment. In contrast, the Reserve is organized to allow Airmen to remain in place to train and bank experience while also maintaining civilian careers. A total of eight F-22s were airborne during the milestone sortie, which was a counterair training mission.

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