The last of 187 Lockheed Martin F-22s ordered by the US Air Force took to the skies over Georgia on 14 March. © Lockheed Martin
End Of F-22 Production Closes Chapter In Eventful History -- Flight Global
On 14 March, a lone Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor took to the skies over Georgia on a test flight. It was the last of 187 aircraft ordered by the US Air Force.
The USAF had originally wanted 750 of the stealthy fifth-generation fighters, but a political debate over the very nature of aerial warfare in the 21st century ultimately sealed its fate. The debate started in the halls of the Pentagon in the wake of the US invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan around 2004 and came to a head in 2008 when then-Defense Secretary Robert Gates fired the USAF's top leaders - secretary Michael Wynne and chief of staff Gen Michael Moseley.
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Update: The last F-22 aircraft joins the Usaf: the project has been reduced by 70% -- Aviones
My Comment: Another sad day for U.S. aviation.
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