Shipkiller
Lifer
"Nearly 30 years ago Lockheed Martin's elite Skunk Works team developed what would become the F-117A Nighthawk Stealth Fighter. A few of their earlier projects include the SR-71 Blackbird and U2 Dragon Lady spy planes.
Today is the last for the Stealth Fighter which is being replaced by the F-22 Raptor (another Skunk Works project)."
http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_8979043?source=most_emailed
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-117_Nighthawk
And it's replacement....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-22_Raptor
I thought this was quite telling in the Wiki write up:
During Exercise Northern Edge in Alaska in June 2006, 12 F-22's of the 94th FS downed 108 adversaries with no losses in simulated combat exercises. In two weeks of exercises, the Raptor-led Blue Force amassed 241 kills against two losses in air-to-air combat, and neither Blue Force loss was an F-22.
This was followed with the Raptor's first participation in a Red Flag exercise. 14 F-22's of the 94th FS supported attacking Blue Force strike packages as well as engaging in close air support sorties themselves in Red Flag 07-1 between 3 February and 16 February 2007. Against designed superior numbers of Red Force Aggressor F-15s and F-16s, it established air dominance using eight aircraft during day missions and six at night, reportedly defeating the Aggressors quickly and efficiently, even though the exercise rules of engagement allowed for four to five Red Force regenerations of losses but none to Blue Force. Further, no sorties were missed because of maintenance or other failures, and only one Raptor was adjudged lost against the virtual annihilation of the defending force. When their ordnance was expended, the F-22s remained in the exercise area providing electronic surveillance to the Blue Forces.
Today is the last for the Stealth Fighter which is being replaced by the F-22 Raptor (another Skunk Works project)."
http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_8979043?source=most_emailed
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-117_Nighthawk
And it's replacement....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-22_Raptor
I thought this was quite telling in the Wiki write up:
During Exercise Northern Edge in Alaska in June 2006, 12 F-22's of the 94th FS downed 108 adversaries with no losses in simulated combat exercises. In two weeks of exercises, the Raptor-led Blue Force amassed 241 kills against two losses in air-to-air combat, and neither Blue Force loss was an F-22.
This was followed with the Raptor's first participation in a Red Flag exercise. 14 F-22's of the 94th FS supported attacking Blue Force strike packages as well as engaging in close air support sorties themselves in Red Flag 07-1 between 3 February and 16 February 2007. Against designed superior numbers of Red Force Aggressor F-15s and F-16s, it established air dominance using eight aircraft during day missions and six at night, reportedly defeating the Aggressors quickly and efficiently, even though the exercise rules of engagement allowed for four to five Red Force regenerations of losses but none to Blue Force. Further, no sorties were missed because of maintenance or other failures, and only one Raptor was adjudged lost against the virtual annihilation of the defending force. When their ordnance was expended, the F-22s remained in the exercise area providing electronic surveillance to the Blue Forces.
Thanks for the info Shipkiller. Hell, last time I did a Red Flag we were flying F-4's. Talk about feeling old. :rofl:
oke: 
