WASHINGTON, D.C. (AFPN) -- The Air Force's preferred alternatives for the third and fourth operational F-22A beddowns are Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., and Hickam AFB, Hawaii, said Gen. T. Michael Moseley, Air Force chief of staff, today .

"Although we must still complete the environmental analyses required under the National Environmental Policy Act before finalizing our decisions, the preferred third and fourth beddown locations for the F-22A are Holloman Air Force Base and Hickam Air Force Base," General Moseley said.

The proposed plan is for these units to have active and National Guard personnel at both locations. As the Air Force moves forward with this next generation fighter, combining forces to leverage assets gives the service its best possible team to deliver sovereign options for the nation's defense in the global war on terrorism.

The F-22A program of record calls for 183 aircraft with production slated through 2012. Currently the F-22A is based at Langley AFB, Va. Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, was previously announced as the preferred location for the second operational beddown.

HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah (AFPN) -- The F-22A Raptor's unequaled capabilities bring some unique challenges to Air Force maintainers here.

Not the least of which is gearing up a support machine to handle the maintenance workload when the first Raptors arrive for modifications in April. About 18 of the 21st century fighter aircraft will see depot maintenance at Hill throughout the first year.

"The first aircraft will have the lighting system for night, air-to-air refueling system upgraded ... along with a few other minor factory modifications," said Mike Dooner, 309th Aircraft Maintenance Group F-22A production chief.

The challenge for maintainers is keeping up with the "latest weapon system technology," he said. "But our technicians and support personnel have spent most of their careers working with new technology, so it won't be a new challenge."

But preparing for the workload is an adventure in itself.

Depot activation for a new weapon system always presents challenges, but even more so for the F-22A given its high-end technology and sensitive profile.

"We're partnering with the aircraft's original equipment manufacturers (Lockheed-Martin and Boeing) to ensure we have the supply support we need," said Don Hallford, an F-22A program manager.

Maintainers have to work supply line issues -- making sure needed parts are available among other things, building a work area specifically for the F-22A, and developing training requirements for mechanics.

"Most maintainers will tell you that being on the ground floor of a new weapon system is unique," Mr. Dooner said. "A lot of hard work goes into getting it off the ground but in the end, you have the opportunity to implement new ideas and ways of doing business. We have the chance to start anew, eliminating waste from our processes and procedures up front.

"And while the F-22A presents challenges when it comes to stealth technology, we've been working B-2 (Spirit) bomber maintenance for a while -- about seven years -- so we have experience in that field as well," he said.

However, the maintainers continue to take a proactive approach by sending personnel to field training detachments for hands-on schooling.

By virtue of the F-22A design, it's hoped maintainers will find their work a little more "user-friendly." Officials said the Raptor will have better reliability and maintainability than any fighter aircraft in Air Force history.

An F-22A squadron also requires less than half the airlift of an F-15 Eagle squadron to deploy. Plus, the aircraft's increased reliability and maintainability pays off in less manpower to fix it and the ability to operate more efficiently.

"People are excited to start working on it," Mr. Dooner said. "We have heard about this aircraft for years now, and the maintenance and support teams are eager to dive in and get their hands dirty."

Mr. Dooner said experienced technicians and support personnel will help implement the workload associated with the F-22A coming in April. Initially, maintainers are looking at between 30 to 35 flow days to turn around each aircraft.

(Courtesy of Air Force Materiel Command News Service)


LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (AFPN) -- After two-and-a-half months of waiting, an aircraft with a 94th Fighter Squadron emblem has once again landed at Langley Air Force Base.

But this time, the emblems were painted on the sides of two F-22A Raptors.

Lt. Col. Dirk Smith, 94th Fighter Squadron commander, and Maj. Kevin Dolata, 94th FS, flew two of the advanced aircraft from the Lockheed Martin production facility in Marietta, Ga.

The 94th is the second fighter squadron to receive the Raptor. Since the squadron officially converted from the F-15C Eagle in December, 4062 and 4063 are the first Raptors to be permanently assigned to the squadron. 94th FS pilots and maintainers had been working with aircraft and personnel from the 27th Fighter Squadron.

"The 27th has allowed us to pile on their operations," Colonel Smith said. "But it's good to finally have some of our own iron on the ramp."

The Airmen of the 94th have spent the last two months preparing for the new arrivals.

"It's a lot like retooling a factory," he said. "Much of our equipment is common, but some of it isn't. We've been preparing for months."

Staff Sgt. Aaron Cowan, 94th Aircraft Maintenance Unit F-22A crew chief, is the first squadron crew chief to be assigned one of the new aircraft.

"I'm proud of my airplane," he said. "It gives me pride to know my name's on the jet and I'm responsible for maintaining it."

Sergeant Cowan, who has been a crew chief in the 94th for eight years, said working with the 27th's Raptors has given him a new appreciation for the F-22A.

"It's easier to work on than the F-15," he said. "Its computer isolates a lot of its own problems. It's very crew chief friendly."

The 94th has five trained F-22A pilots and two aircraft, with more Raptors arriving at a rate of two per month.

Colonel Smith said his goal is to get the Air Force's newest Raptor squadron ready for combat as soon as possible.

"Our goal is to be ready for an AEF rotation by May 2007," he said.

nije fora da uradis samo copy paste vec i da prevedes neke delove.
svi koje nesto interesuje mogu naci nesto o avionu na google 

Tacno tako pedjo ali... pod copy/paste se podrazumeva kradja odnosno neovlasteno rezimanje tudjih tekstova. Ovde se radi o dokumentu koji sam dobio iz ministarstva odbrane SAD, tj u pitanju je doterani i9zvestaj, i kao takav zbog verodostojnosti ispravno je da se predstavi u izvornom obliku i kaze odakle je.

A drugo- nemam vremena za prevode, bar ne sada. I zbog toga nemam nameru da sacekam da mi dodje slobono vreme pa onda da objavljujem vesti od pre nekoliko meseci.

A kad tog vec ima na gulglu proveri odakle im- to svi drugi rade, prevedu i potpisu svojim imenom. Ja necu da vas lazem a ako vam treba lazov nadjite drugog...