Tomorrow’s fighter pilots got a taste of tomorrow’s combat airpower Jan. 8 and 9 at the Air Force Academy when F/A-22 Raptor manufacturer Lockheed Martin Corporation let cadets take the controls in their updated F/A-22 cockpit flight simulator.

The F/A-22 Raptor is the next generation of multi-role fighter aircraft, and Lockheed staffers and test pilots provided cadets a personal introduction to the Raptor’s capabilities.

“The F/A-22 Raptor is a new breed of super-fighter for the 21st century,” said Lockheed spokesman Greg Caires. “With its stealth, supersonic cruise, agility and advanced integrated avionics, it will dominate the skies over any future battlefield and bring unequaled capability into the hands of Air Force fighter pilots.”

“The simulator was a really good experience, especially for cadets who almost all dream of one day flying,” said Cadet 3rd Class Robert Kurpiel of Cadet Squadron 35. “I had no real concept of how the F/A-22 was supposed to perform before today's simulation. But after hearing the gentlemen from Lockheed Martin explain some of its capabilities and hearing how it compared to other aircraft in the inventory I was really impressed. The simulator provided a great visualization for how the radar and stealth technology gives the Raptor the edge and how much of a difference that makes in a fight.”

At the flick of a switch, the simulator can mimic the performance characteristics of the aging F-15C Eagle as well, better illustrating the difference in capabilities between today’s air superiority fighter and tomorrow’s generation of fighters. The most graphic of these is the F/A-22’s 60-degree angle of attack compared to the F-16 Fighting Falcon’s 25.5-degree angle of attack off its nose cone.

“I was thrilled to take part in the F/A-22 flight simulator's visit to the academy,” said Cadet 3rd Class Tripp Johnson of Cadet Squadron 9. “The capabilities that the plane demonstrated in the short simulated mission that I flew surpassed all of my expectations. The cockpit of a Raptor would be an awesome place to find myself in five years or so -- a desire I imagine many other cadets share.

F/A-22s were flight-tested at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., in 2001 and 2002. It was originally introduced as the world’s first stealth air superiority multi-mission fighter. As a multimission fighter, it will have a precision-strike ground capability, and carry all of its missiles and ground-attack munitions internally, further reducing its radar signature.

Raptors are now flying training missions out of Tyndall AFB, Fla., and the first operational F/A-22 squadron is scheduled to be activated at Langley AFB, Va., in late 2005.

“I've been debating about flying since I got to the academy, but after flying the F/A-22 simulator I am thinking about it a little more,” said Cadet 3rd Class Daniel K. Wilkinson of Cadet Squadron 9. “It was pretty impressive and really easy to fly. If I do become a pilot I definitely want to fly this plane.”

FMI: www.usafa.mil