More F-22s planned for Langley AFB

[maddog65]

http://www.wtkr.com/news/military/dp-nw ... 0874.story

Langley Air Force Base in Hampton is in line to receive six F-22 Raptors as part of a plan to consolidate the stealth fighter fleet, the Air Force announced Thursday.

The plan "maximizes combat aircraft and squadrons available for contingencies," said Kathleen Ferguson, Air Force deputy assistant secretary for installations.

The overall plan requires redistributing aircraft from one F-22 squadron to units at four other bases. A second squadron will be moved to an existing F-22 base.

Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Westmoreland, hailed the move and said it would bring additional jobs to the region.

"Langley has ready, capable facilities to house the additional aircraft in their squadrons without putting a substantial burden on the taxpayer," he said. "I'm pleased to see the base gain over 100 new personnel, boosting jobs in our region. This announcement will result in an increase of three jets per squadron, bringing the total number of jets per squadron up from 18 to 21 combat-ready Raptors."

Here are all the moves:

Holliman AFB, N.M.: Deactivate one F-22 squadron and redistribute those aircraft to other F-22 units. Move the remaining squadron to Tyndall AFB, Fla.

Langley and Elmendorf AFB, Alaska: Each base will receive six additional F-22s.

Nellis AFB, Nev.: two additional F-22s.

Tyndall AFB, Fla.: One additional F-22 squadron.

The actions will be finalized subject to environmental analyses.

Wittman along with other Virginia lawmakers had been lobbying for an entire F-22 Raptor squadron for Langley. The stealthy, high-tech fighter has been a common sight in the Peninsula skies since 2005, when the 27th Fighter Squadron of the 1st Fighter Wing became the Air Force's first unit to fly the aircraft.

Langley is also home to one of the more experienced Air National Guard units in the nation. The 192nd Fighter Wing was the first Guard unit to fly the Raptor.

[MIKE JG]

So Holloman will be losing their Raptors? Or do they have more than one squadron there?

[maddog65]

From what I read they have 2 squadrons. One is being deactivated and the aircraft are being sent to other locations and the other squadron is being sent to Tyndall.

[MIKE JG]

So basically the Air Force gave them two squadrons of Raptors to placate the former F-117 program officers at Holloman, only to take the aircraft away a couple years later after many of those officers have moved on or retired. I hope they used a good lube.

[maddog65]

So basically the Air Force gave them two squadrons of Raptors to placate the former F-117 program officers at Holloman, only to take the aircraft away a couple years later after many of those officers have moved on or retired. I hope they used a good lube.

And here is where they placate the people at holloman now

[djnocturnal]

Glad to be gone is all i can say. They just recently reactivated the 8th for the second squadron. I did hear they are getting an F-16 squadron.

[MIKE JG]

Wonder where the F-16's are coming from? Luke maybe?

So I guess there's not much point in us doing a Holloman F-22 package....

[djnocturnal]

I beleive they are still keeping one squadron of F-22's, i'm assuming the 7th would stay since the 8th only just started receiving them. My guess would be Luke too.
EDIT: just saw the remaining squadron will eventually go to Tyndall. lol, I remember the hell people went through transitioning to the 22's...crazy.

[GZR_Sactargets]

Last F-15s leave Langley-From AF Daily report 7 Sep 10.

Langley Says Goodbye to Final F-15s: The last two operational F-15s assigned to the 71st Fighter Squadron at Langley AFB, Va., departed the base for good this past week, ending decades of F-15 operations there. Langley shed the 20 F-15s of the 71st FS under the broader Air Force drawdown of 250 fighters in this fiscal year. The first F-15s departed Langley in June. With all of them now gone, plans are to inactivate the 71st FS on Sept. 30. "With the departure of the F-15s, the air superiority torch will be passed to the next generation of Air Force aircraft—the mighty F-22," said Col. Matthew Molloy, commander of the 1st Fighter Wing, parent unit of the 71st FS. The wing already has two combat-ready F-22 squadrons and is receiving six additional F-22s as part of USAF's F-22 basing realignment. (Langley report by SrA. Jarrod R. Chavana

[MIKE JG]

Time to free up some HD space.