State of the Art

Getting the F-22A into Action

The U.S. Air Force has its first F-22squadron, and now it wants those aircraft to see some action. This isimportant if the air force is to get more money out of Congress inorder to build more aircraft. The F-22s will be going to Alaska soonfor some Winter training. The flying weather in Alaska is the worst onthe planet, so flying up there will provide good training, andsomething to brag about.

But come Spring time, the squadron may headfor Korea, where the F-22’s stealth capabilities could be useful inkeeping an eye on whatever the North Koreans are up to. No point insending F-22s to Iraq, as that’s nothing but bombing. And the sandwould damage several key F-22 components. The air force has stoppedreferring to the F-22 as the F/A-22, although the aircraft will stillbe able to bomb.

But from now on, the aircraft is officially the F-22A.It's important, to the air force, that the F-22A be seen as important to the war effort. Since this is the "war on terror," that will bedifficult, but not impossible. Just you wait and see.