No F-22s at the Paris Air Show!

GZR_Sactargets · Post by **GZR_Sactargets** » 04 Jun 2009, 02:52

From AF Daily Report 3 Jun 09

No F-22s at Paris: The Air Force has decided not to send its F-22 demonstration team to wow the crowds at this month's Paris air show due to more pressing demands on the Raptor fleet, a service spokeswoman confirmed yesterday. First Lt. Georganne Schultz, deputy chief of public affairs for 1st Fighter Wing at Langley AFB, Va., home of the demo team, told the Daily Report that the service had tentatively planned to dispatch two F-22s to Le Bourget for the air show, which runs from June 15-21. "However, because of air expeditionary deployments and operational requirements, the Air Force has decided not to send the F-22 to participate," she said. The Raptor fleet is busy, she said. Just last month, a contingent of 12 Raptors from Langley left for a four-month assignment at Kadena AB, Japan, as part of a normal rotation of US combat forces to the region. And a similar group of F-22s deployed around the same time from Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, to Andersen AFB, Guam. F-22s have already participated in several overseas air shows: Toronto in 2007 and Royal International Air Tattoo and Farnborough last year.

***But Gates says we have enough???

Jumpshot724 · Post by **Jumpshot724** » 04 Jun 2009, 02:55

Quote from the American Revolutionary War movie "The Patriot":
"That Gates is a damn fool...."

Of course in the movie he was talking about General Gates lol

I have a feeling this (no F-22A Demo at airshows) is something we're going to be hearing more often than we'd like in following years

Post by **Firebird** » 04 Jun 2009, 06:50

Of course it could be the subtle way to underline the closure of the line. Why send an aircraft to a sales show if you are closing the line down?
If they sent one there would the question why send it if you are closing it down.

CelticWarrior · Post by **CelticWarrior** » 04 Jun 2009, 08:32

And maybe they have enough, but none spare (to send on a swan).

KevinJarvis · Post by **KevinJarvis** » 04 Jun 2009, 12:38

Firebird wrote:Of course it could be the subtle way to underline the closure of the line. Why send an aircraft to a sales show if you are closing the line down?
If they sent one there would the question why send it if you are closing it down.

True enough Steve.

Also why send an aircraft to a sale show when you're not going to be selling any to other countries.