F/A-22 passes initial operational test, evaluation

Posted on: Feb. 5th, 2005 || Source: af.mil | E-mail Article | Print Article

by Chris McGee
National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Public Affairs

2/2/2005 - WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFPN) -- The F/A-22 Raptor, the Air Force’s next-generation air superiority fighter, performed well in recently completed operational testing and is on track to go operational in December, the director of the program’s combined test force said.

Speaking prior to a lecture he delivered at the National Museum of the United States Air Force here, Lt. Col. Evan Thomas, a Raptor pilot who commands the 411th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., said testing finished ahead of schedule.

“I’m very optimistic,” Colonel Thomas said. “The airplane did very well in operational testing.”

He said the process of readying the Raptor for its operational testing -- from refining and validating the aircraft’s key attributes to training pilots -- proved a significant effort and enabled operational testing to be conducted successfully and ahead of schedule.

Even so, Colonel Thomas said obstacles remain to be cleared between now and December.

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