Holloman celebrates arrival of Raptors

[unhappycamper]

Holloman celebrates arrival of Raptors
The Associated Press
Posted : Sunday Jun 1, 2008 17:10:39 EDT

ALAMOGORDO, N.M. — Officials at Holloman Air Force Base are celebrating the arrival of the Air Force’s newest aircraft with a week of events.

The first two F-22 Raptors will fly over Alamogordo, Cloudcroft and White Sands National Monument on Monday. Such aircraft has visited southern New Mexico before, but these will be the first featuring the Holloman tail flash — “HO” markings denoting the new home base for the aircraft.

Holloman, established in 1942, had been home to the nation’s only stealth fighter wing. However, the Bush administration decided to phase out the aging stealth F-117 and replace with the F-22 Raptors over the next few years. Holloman bid farewell to the F-117 Nighthawk in April.

The Raptor, which has stealth and supersonic capabilities, is equipped with the latest avionics and weapons systems. It is suited for air to air and air to ground combat missions.

Arian Ponder, a spokesman for the 49th Fighter Wing, said the arrival of the F-22 is a historic occasion.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/06/ap_holloman_raptors_060108/



uhc comment: The natives will be pleased when those two aircraft ($710,000,000 worth) fly over.