Raptor deployment

My first post, so please forgive me if this has been repeated elsewhere.

Has the Raptor been deployed? In a post a few weeks ago regarding the Cobra maneuver, someone posted about 6 links to F-22 videos. In one of the videos, you can clearly see two kills painted next to the cockpit, one probably a bomber. Where did these kills come from?

I dont think they have been deployed yet because their is no need for them right now. Its not like we need Raptors to fight insurgants with RPGs, and IEDs.

Are you sure they were kills painted on the F-22?

I'm looking for the video right now, will post the link when I find it.

Here it is, though I found it on an external link. Look at 57 seconds into the video.

www.f22-raptor.com...

[edit on 3-2-2005 by RedBaron]

Looks like two delta-wing fighters. Possibly Mirages?

One is bigger than the other. Probably a bomber and fighter escort? The Lt. Col. is also the test pilot for the raptor.

Has the Lt. Col had other air war experience where he had enemy shootdowns on his record?
In the case of fighter jocks doesn't the shooting record of the jock go along with his name on the side of the aircraft? Perhaps he downed some planes in Kosovo or Gulf War 1.

Has the Lt. Col had other air war experience where he had enemy shootdowns on his record?
In the case of fighter jocks doesn't the shooting record of the jock go along with his name on the side of the aircraft? Perhaps he downed some planes in Kosovo or Gulf War 1.

Bing! Bing! Bing!

I have it on fairly good authority that we actually had a pair of Raptors involved in the early sorties prior to the invasion for a field test, but no confirmation of that....

my friend and her hubby just reported to norfolk,va to head up a new raptor squadron there..............

her hubby is a lt col...........can't wait to hear the scoop on THAT!!!

wayyy cool!


angie

Originally posted by bios
Has the Lt. Col had other air war experience where he had enemy shootdowns on his record?
In the case of fighter jocks doesn't the shooting record of the jock go along with his name on the side of the aircraft? Perhaps he downed some planes in Kosovo or Gulf War 1.

This may be a more plausible scenario. But again, would the pilots be aloowed to paint anything at all on the raptors since this reduces stealth? I remember watching small patches of RAM coating applied to B2 bombers no bigger than the painted kills.

My personal thought is that you wont see the F-22 deployed to a combat arena anytime in the next 5 - 10 years. Its going to be that long until some General has enough balls to place these brand spanking new and shiney aircraft in the line of fire.

Originally posted by RichardPrice
My personal thought is that you wont see the F-22 deployed to a combat arena anytime in the next 5 - 10 years. Its going to be that long until some General has enough balls to place these brand spanking new and shiney aircraft in the line of fire.

That, and the fact it's pointless deploying them unless you are attacking someone who actually has aircraft to send up against you

Originally posted by Britguy

That, and the fact it's pointless deploying them unless you are attacking someone who actually has aircraft to send up against you

Stealth also protects against SAM fire........ some shoulder mounted versions of which you can pick up for the equivilent of a paper round wage.

You're both forgetting the "A" in F/A-22. It can carry two JDAMs with 2 slammers and 2 sidewinders.

Hmm...the smaller kill mark looks like a MiG-21,the bigger like a F-4 Phantom but that can't be it either...

Keep in mind, when they are doing flight tests, they also conduct live fire exercises. The "kills" probably represent the shootdown of QF-4 drones. This is to see how the aircraft reacts to the launch of the air-to-air missles, and to make sure that the flash and smoke don't cause any unexpected problems (eg. engine stalls from the smoke).

The Air Force has a whole drone squadron at Holloman AFB. When I was stationed there in the early '80s, they were flying old F-106's for target practice. Now that those are gone, they are using the F-4 airframe.