Otis Willie
May 1st 04, 10:18 PM
Air Force Raptor fighter starts operational trials, By John J. Lumpkin
(EXCERPT) ASSOCIATED PRESS
3:02 p.m. April 30, 2004
WASHINGTON – The Air Force's newest fighter plane has begun a final
stage of flight testing aimed at preparing it for use with combat
units.
This week, the F/A-22 Raptor underwent its first operational trials at
Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Combat pilots will gauge the
performance of the aircraft in 105 simulated missions in testing
through mid-September, Air Force officials said Friday while briefing
reporters at the Pentagon.
They said the plane is ready, and that a series of problems during
development has been solved.
Senior Air Force officials renewed their intense pitch for the plane,
which critics say is too expensive and was designed for a high-tech
enemy – the Soviet Union – that no longer exists. Some have called for
its cancellation.
If that were to happen, new generations of enemy surface-to-air
missiles and fighter jets could render...
U.S. and friendly nation laws prohibit fully reproducing
copyrighted material. In abidance with our laws this report
cannot be provided in its entirety. However, you can read it
in full today, 01 May 2004, at the following URL. (COMBINE
the following lines into your web browser.) The
subject/content of this report is not necessarily the
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http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/military/20040430-1502-newfighterjet.html
---------------------------
Otis Willie
Associate Librarian
The American War Library
http://www.americanwarlibrary.com
(EXCERPT) ASSOCIATED PRESS
3:02 p.m. April 30, 2004
WASHINGTON – The Air Force's newest fighter plane has begun a final
stage of flight testing aimed at preparing it for use with combat
units.
This week, the F/A-22 Raptor underwent its first operational trials at
Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Combat pilots will gauge the
performance of the aircraft in 105 simulated missions in testing
through mid-September, Air Force officials said Friday while briefing
reporters at the Pentagon.
They said the plane is ready, and that a series of problems during
development has been solved.
Senior Air Force officials renewed their intense pitch for the plane,
which critics say is too expensive and was designed for a high-tech
enemy – the Soviet Union – that no longer exists. Some have called for
its cancellation.
If that were to happen, new generations of enemy surface-to-air
missiles and fighter jets could render...
U.S. and friendly nation laws prohibit fully reproducing
copyrighted material. In abidance with our laws this report
cannot be provided in its entirety. However, you can read it
in full today, 01 May 2004, at the following URL. (COMBINE
the following lines into your web browser.) The
subject/content of this report is not necessarily the
viewpoint of the distributing Library. This report is provided
for your information and discussion.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/military/20040430-1502-newfighterjet.html
---------------------------
Otis Willie
Associate Librarian
The American War Library
http://www.americanwarlibrary.com