Raptor Milestone

Posted 19 April 2013
Photo by David Henry

The F-22 Combined Test Force, or CTF, at the Air Force Test Center at Edwards AFB, California, celebrated a milestone on 19 April 2013, when the oldest flying Raptor successfully completed its 1,000th sortie. The landmark flight, made by Boeing test pilot Steve Rainey, was one of the first flight tests of the Increment 3.2A software upgrade. The aircraft, US Air Force serial number 91-4007, was delivered to Edwards in October 2001. This Raptor was used to carry out the first guided AIM-9 Sidewinder missile launch. This F-22 has been flown on a number of missile launch and satellite-guided weapons release tests over its career.

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