A lot 6 F-22A, delivered to the USAF on 18 January 2008. The Raptor is seen here returning to Nellis as one of the last aircraft of the mission. The golden hour shows a golden Raptor!

A lot 6 F-22A, delivered to the USAF on 18 January 2008. The Raptor was taking off from its homebase Nellis into the direction opposite of all landing aircraft that day.

This F-22A Block 1 made its first flight on 12 Oct'02. It became an operational test and tactics development aircraft and was officially redesignated to F/A-22A on 17 Sep'02. The Raptor was assigned on 23 Oct'02 to the Dedicated Initial Operational Test & Evaluation (DIOT&E) program at Palmdale (CA). Was rebuilt to F/A-22 Block 10, started to fly with the Follow-On Test and Evaluation (FOT&E) modifications from Palmdale, was moved to the Night Air-to-Air Refuelling (NAAR)-modifications at Palmdale from Jul'05. The 5th gen jet was redesignated to F-22A on 15 Dec'05. Pictured here in Golden Hour

Photo by David F. Brown

422nd TES "Green Bats". This Viper had a midair collision with 88-0542 on Aug 8th, 2000. It obviously survived and was repaired.

An F-16CM of the 422nd TES takes off from Nellis AFB. At the time of this picture the paint job was brand new.

Nellis based Raptor from the 422TES makes a pass thru the canyon