'Fightin' Eagles' set to train on F/A-22 Raptor jets

'Fightin' Eagles' set to train on F/A-22 Raptor jets

(EXCERPT) , By Lisa Burgess, Stars and Stripes European edition,
Sunday, October 26, 2003

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Air Force’s oldest fighter squadron, “The
Fightin’ Eagles” of the 27th Fighter Squadron out of Langley Air Force
Base, Va., has been tapped to become the first operational unit to
adopt F/A-22 Raptor jets. The Raptors will start arriving at the
squadron late next year, Air Force officials said.

Each squadron in the 1st Fighter Wing is scheduled to receive 24
fighters. The entire transition is supposed to be complete by the end
of 2007, said Col Frank Gorenc, commander of the 1st Fighter Wing, in
a news release.

The squadron will “break in” the F/A-22, Lockheed Martin Corp.’s $258
million, next-generation stealth fighter replacement for the F-15C
air-to-air fighter.

The Air Force wants to purchase 381 Raptors, but escalating...

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---------------------------
Otis Willie
Associate Librarian
The American War Library
http://www.americanwarlibrary.com