The Raptor, viewed from the front, has a distinctive, stealthy design. Key features include a curved fuselage, hard-edged angles, and a golden canopy. The F-22s clipped delta wings, large leading-edge flaps, and canted vertical stabilizers are also visible. The front view highlights the aircraft's low observable (stealth) design, minimizing its radar cross-section. And check the enormous reach of the horizontal stabilizers and rudders as well as the camouflage scheme which clearly reveals some new parts on the aircraft.

A Lot 31 Growler, ordered in Fiscal Year 2007.

Uncoded but assigned to the 176th FS

The Lift Training Center (LTC) at Volk Field is using this electronic Intruder - which is in a sorry state - as an instructional airframe. The a/c was delivered as an A-6A to the US Navy in 1962, it was converted to EA-6A in 1965 and was used by manufacturer Grumman with the Board of Inspection and Survey as a Trials Aircraft. From 1966 onwards it served as an operational with VMCJ-1, VMCJ-2, VMAQ-4, and possibly VAQ-33 and was then sent to be a target on the Harwood Bombing Range (WI). It was later moved to the LTC.

Great to see a Mile High Militia Fighting Falcon crossing the field during Northern Lightning 2017. The very high speed pass was impressive!

Making an unexpected very high-speed pass, far away and with heathazes, low over the airfield. But it's the only 345 in the database so far. Unmarked but assigned to the 176th FS of the Wisconsin Air National Guard.

Touch down!

Stripped of a tail code and markings, but assigned to the 176th Fighter Squadron, Badgers, of the Wisconsin Air National Guard. The Viper made a high speed pass over the airfield.

About to touch-down at the Camp Douglas runway, impressive to be that close to a moving Raptor, it was only made with some 90mm. This Lot 8 aircraft of Fiscal Year 2008 was completed at the Lockheed Martin facility on 18 October 2009 and was delivered to the US Air Force on 2 February 2010. It showed a deviating part just in front of the canopy.

The squadron bird of the "Ironman" returning to its parking spot after a Northern Lightning 2017 sortie. The 71st Fighter Training Squadron flew the Talon from 2015 to 2021. Its mission was to conduct adversarial air training for the F-22sflown by the other squadrons of the 1st Fighter Wing. This training was previously performed by F-22s of the 27th Fighter Squadron at substantially more expense. In 2021 the squadron became a paper unit and was reactivated as a F-22A squadron in 2023.

This black Talon has quite a history. It started as a advanced jet trainer, moved to AMARG with inventory code AA TF0300 from 9 Mar'95 to 13 May'99, returned to Randolph and was selected for lease to South Korea. After that period, it returned to AMARG on 6 Jan'10 with inventory code AA TF0380. Returned to service on 23 Mar'11 and was first moved to Holloman's 49th FW, then to Tyndall's 325th Fighter Wing and later to the 27th Fighter Squadron at Langley AFB (VA). Moved to the 71st Fighter Training Squadron 'Ironman' at the same base (as pictured). Traded in its black c/s for a heritage c/s

Touch down! Wisconsin Air National Guard F-16C of the 176th Fighter Squadron burns some rubber on the concrete of Volk Field during Exercise Northern Lightning 2017.

Five black beauties on the flight line of Volk Field during Exercise Northern Lightning 2017.

Exercise Northern Lightning 2017. The double nuts, or the Commander Air Group (CAG) aircraft of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 209 "Star Warriors" flies with full "colourful" markings. The AF-500 (00 representing the double nuts) has Vader painted in letters on the fuselage and an image of it on the tails (both from the squadrons mascotte Darth Vader)