bendel boy wrote:
Henry J Cobb wrote in message ...

http://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-43...dlines-topnews
The long-awaited F/A-22 Raptor fighter jets will not arrive at Langley Air
Force Base until next May -about five months later than previously planned.

Has any other aircraft program ever been delayed this much and still gotten
full scale production?

Define full scale.

The F-111.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...11-history.htm
In 1957 the US Navy requested industry responses for the design of a
low-altitude strike fighter.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...1-variants.htm
During a 1972 - 1973 tour of duty in Vietnam, F-111As flew more than 4,000
combat missions.

That's 15 years from inital request to combat operations.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...22-history.htm
In 1981, the Air Force developed a requirement for an Advanced Tactical
Fighter as a new air superiority fighter.

15 years later would be 1996.

What combat missions did the F-22 fly in 1996? ;-)

-HJC