This speaks for itself.... damn.

The Raptor

As an Air Force veteran I can truly appreciate what I just saw. I witnessed testing on the F15 and F16 way back when some of our members were getting milk and cookies and laying down for a nap ,others weren't even born yet . Thanks kid.

P.S. Now I'm the one getting milk and cookies and laying down for a nap.

Wow. My folks live across the river from a ANG base, so we see planes all the time. They do an airshow every year, too.

Matthew

I work at Andrews AFB, just outside of D.C. and each year we have a Joint Forces combined air show. It is quite incredible. I was able to catch the F-22 in flight this year it is an awesome bird to watch.

The photo in the link was take in 2006. They were not allowing the public to see many in flight demonstation then, and had armed guards around it at all times. This year I didn't take my camera so I don't have any cool in-flight shots like I got of other aircraft in 2006,
I got some other shots of other aircraft there too if you browse the gallery

Don's Airshow Photos

Headliners at the Reno AirRaces next month:

F22 Demo Team and the Thunderbirds

That was a wow. I'd hate to guess the G's that pilot just experienced.

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Wow Bill, is the Raptor going to do a few laps of the race course? You have to take some really good videos and/or pics!

Had the pleasure to watch an SR-71 take off from Patrick AFB after a show, all I can say is WOW. From the time it got to the threshhold till it was out of sight was maybe a minute and a half. And it sounded like the shuttle going up.

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That's old tech and the SR71 is already retired but I always loved them.

I used to be in the chase car for the U2.

The nose is so long, they need someone behind them to tell the pilot when he/she is about to contact.
(not my photo)


(not my video either)


F22 at the Oshgosh show
http://www.avweb.com/news/airventure/192824-1.html

The F-22 is simply the best. Kelly Johnson is unknown to most people outside of the aviation community but he is up there with Edison, Einstein, Oppenheimer in the 20h century. People now use the term "Skunk Works" as a general term that means a small no BS shop that makes trick stuff, but he started THE Skunk Works. The great aircraft that he was part of, P-38, P-80, F-104, U-2, SR-71, F-117, and the F-22 is an amazing career. He is a great american hero.

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Ha, I think the Raptor's probably would just push the front end off that tight 4 mile course. But, they do have a jet class in the races now.
But, I'll bet the Raptors go by on full burner which is wild considering how close the grandstands are to the runways.

I've seen just about everything in the flyover demos over the years, SR71,F117 ( the year they were first shown to the public), U2, B2, B52 (got inside one on the ground),etc.

Other crazyness: A bunch of years ago, I'm on route 95 in Nv., towing back from Las Vegas Raceway, close to the end of an 8 1/2 hour tow. Crusing along and see a yellow roadsign " Caution: Low Flying Aircraft". Humm, must be getting close to Fallon.
Got woke up by 2 of the insane TopGun guys blowing over me on full burner, so low that it actually rocked the truck.

I thought it was 1943 again, there's a B36 and 2 B17's flying over the house at 200 feet while I'm washing the C4.
At least they didn't pickle anything off towards the house.
They're giving rides for $400.

Yesterday, The raptor is bad ass, the maneuvering's freeking awsome. They don't hold back much at the air races.

The Thunderbirds were OK but the announcer ran his mouth for 15 minutes before they hit the field.
I do like the way your insides shake when they go by on full burner.