F-22A at Holloman for first time

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Heather Stanton
  • 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  The F-22A Raptor made its Holloman debut Oct. 26 during the Holloman Air and Space Expo. 

The F-22 is a fifth generation stealth fighter that will become apart of the Holloman mission once the F-117A Nighthawk is retired after more than 25 years of service. 

"It is exciting to have the F-22 here," said Staff Sgt. Santos Montalvo, F-117 demo team crew chief. 

The Raptor is a fully stealth aircraft, said Senior Airman Adam Delgado, F-22 avionics specialist out of Nellis AFB, Nev. "It's a Mach 2 class and has super cruise capabilities." 

Super cruise is the capabilities to use the afterburn, then go back to full power, using afterburn speed, he said. 

"The overall Holloman mission will improve," said Sergeant Montalvo. "The F-22 is a multi-roll fighter/bomber aircraft. We will be more well rounded." 

The F-22 has air-to-air and air-to-ground combat capabilities, whereas the F-117 only has air-to-ground capabilities. 

"Lockheed Martin (builders of both aircraft) learned a lot for the F-22 from building the F-117," said Airman Delgado. 

Even though the F-117 will eventually leave Holloman, it has an impressive history that will live long into the F-22 mission. 

"Working on this aircraft (F-117) is one of the most memorable parts of my career," said Sergeant Montalvo. "I hate to see it go. But Holloman will continue the mission until the last F-117 leaves."