Raptor demo team soars into sky Published Nov. 14, 2014 By Airman 1st Class Thomas Spangler 99th Air Base Wing/Public Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE Nev. -- Just as they do at many airshows across the nation, the F-22 Raptor Demonstration and Heritage Team from Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, showcased the capabilities of the F-22 in the skies over Nellis Air Force Base this past weekend at the 2014 Nellis Open House. During the two-day event, the demo team flew the F-22s assigned to the 53rd Test and Evaluation Group, from Nellis AFB. "I'm going to treat [the aircraft] like my own for the weekend, check the plane [from] nose to tail to make sure that [Capt. John Cummings, F-22 Demo Team commander] has a safe airplane to fly the demonstration," said Tech. Sgt. Harrison Southworth, an Air National Guard F-22 dedicated crew chief from the 192nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Joint Base Langley-Eustis. During the demonstration, Cummings wowed the crowd with the aircraft's ability to make tight turns at higher speeds than any other fighter is capable of doing. Cummings also displayed the internal weapons bay, a feature that stores all weapons inside the aircraft and is unique to fifth-generation fighters. Team members expressed their excitement of being a part of the open house and how the demonstration would showcase the capabilities of the F-22 to the public. The F-22 is a fifth-generation air superiority fighter that is capable of dominating the air battle space. According to Lockheed Martin, some of the aircraft's unique assets include being able to simultaneously conduct air-to-air and air-to-ground combat missions, reach speeds greater than Mach 1.5 without afterburners, and conduct a variety of missions including intelligence gathering, surveillance, reconnaissance and electronic attack. "[The F-22] is an amazing aircraft and we're going to put some of its capabilities on display here," said 1st Lt. Joe Heinz, an F-22 pilot assigned to the 94th Fighter Squadron from Joint Base Langley-Eustis "The airshow is a good recruiting tool, especially here at Nellis, it showcases all of our aircraft in our inventory." Viewers were left in awe as Cummings demonstrated the aircraft's abilities with tight turns, rapid climbs and high-speed passes. "It's great seeing all of the kids come out, seeing the next generation of pilots and crew chiefs that will eventually take my job, that's why I do this," Southworth said. "I'm fueled by smiles." As one of the latest achievements made by the Air Force in air and technological superiority, the F-22 left spectators of the 2014 Open House at Nellis in awe and wonder.
