F-22 Raptor: Pilots say it's the future, critics call it a relic

Posted on: Feb. 9th, 2006 || Source: home.hamptonroads.com | E-mail Article | Print Article

HAMPTON - On a recent clear Sunday afternoon, Capt. John Echols took his fighter jet into the sky for another homeland security mission.

The Air Force's role in Operation Noble Eagle had grown routine since Sept. 11: Patrol the skies over East Coast cities and watch for planes drifting into restricted airspace. If a private pilot starts heading toward a potential target, the fighter pilots quickly introduce themselves and escort the intruder back on course.

But Echols' patrol this day was not routine.

He and a wing mate flew out of Langley Air Force Base in a pair of F-22 Raptor fighter jets - the Air Force's new top fighter. It was one of the Raptor's first real-life missions.

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