New Fighter Jets Arrive At Holloman AFB

POSTED: 4:44 am MDT June 2, 2008
UPDATED: 8:33 am MDT June 2, 2008

ALAMOGORDO, N.M. -- People in southern New Mexico will hear the sound of change in the air starting Monday morning.

F-22 Raptor fighter jets will fly over Alamogordo, Cloudcroft and White Sands as they arrive for the first time at Holloman Air Force Base.

The F-22 is replacing the F-117 stealth fighter as the base's main aircraft.

Holloman is planning a week-long celebration for the jets' arrival, including a welcome ceremony, flight demonstration and even F-22 Raptor trivia on local radio stations.

Source: http://www.koat.com/news/16455499/detail.html

New era dawns for Alamogordo
Guest Column
The Daily News
By Pete V. Domenici, United States senator
Article Launched: 06/01/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT


June brings with it the dawn of a new era for the Alamogordo area as the first F-22A Raptors arrive at Holloman Air Force Base. It is an era that will solidify the Alamogordo region's contribution to the evolution of modern military aviation.

There is no doubt that for almost 70 years the Department of Defense has recognized the benefits of New Mexico's outstanding weather and wide open airspace, as well as a patriotic local population willing to support national security.

Our military leaders found these assets in spades in the Tularosa Basin, which has experienced dramatic changes since the federal government decided in 1942 to establish the Alamogordo Army Airfield here to train World War II bomber crews.

With the designation of Holloman AFB, this military installation has continuously transitioned to support our nation's defense. In the post-World War II era, it was home to an Air Force Missile Research and Development Center that supported our military in the Cold War and space race. The arrival of the 49th Tactical Fighter Wing in 1968 with the F-4 Phantom created a tactical wing base that gave strength to the Air Force during the Vietnam War era.

In the next decades, Holloman remained at the forefront of air-to-air and air superiority operations through its transitions to the F-15 and F-117A Nighthawk. The base's evolution continues today as we welcome the newest stealth fighter, the F-22 Raptor, to Otero County.
I've worked throughout my Senate career to build up Holloman and the other military installations in New Mexico. Though less obvious as a direct benefit to our state, I have also offered diligent support to funding and programs that ensure our Air Force's global air superiority. The research, development and procurement funding the congressional defense committees have approved have led us to a point where we can introduce a new generation of fighter aircraft like the F-22.

As far as I'm concerned, the F-22 Raptor is the "tip of the spear." It will work to guarantee our air dominance in theaters of operation. Holloman will be home to a fighter aircraft that is designed to penetrate enemy airspace and achieve a first-look, first-kill capability against multiple targets. This means complete control of the airspace over an area of conflict, thereby allowing freedom to attack and freedom from attack at all times and places for the full spectrum of military operations. Such air domination gives us the ability to defend our forces while simultaneously attacking the enemy.

Stealth technology is not new. From its rudimentary development at the end of WWII as a way to defeat enemy radar identification, stealth technology has evolved into the modern day combat systems we see today.

The United States has always been at the forefront of stealth technology as evidenced by the F-117A and now the F-22 at Holloman AFB. The next step in stealth fighter technology is the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter which the Air Force intends to start fielding by 2013. Hopefully these aircraft will replace our F-16s at Kirtland Air Force Base, giving New Mexico two stealth fighter wings.

Over the last 36 years, we've seen the Cold War threat to our national security crumble, but the benefits of that achievement have been clouded by new threats. Today, we have new and ever-changing foes with growing access to emerging technology that pose new threats to our security.

I believe southern New Mexicans can take pride in knowing that the F-22's state-of-the-art technology, advanced tactics and skilled air crew will counter the lethal threats posed by the foreign aircraft and the advanced missile technologies that are emerging threats in today's world.

The Air Force is entering a new era with the F-22, as are Holloman AFB and the Alamogordo region. We look forward to this new transition period as gracious and enthusiastic hosts to our brave airmen, crews and their families.


<i>Domenici, a Republican, is a long-time member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. He announced his retirement from the U.S. Senate last October, signaling the end of a public service career that spans more than 40 years.</i>

Source: http://www.alamogordonews.com/opinion/ci_9441841

New fighter jets to arrive at southern NM base
The Associated Press
Article Launched: 06/01/2008 02:36:23 PM MDT


ALAMOGORDO, N.M.—Officials at Holloman Air Force Base are celebrating the arrival of the Air Force's newest aircraft with a week of events.

The first two F-22 Raptors will fly over Alamogordo, Cloudcroft and White Sands National Monument on Monday. Such aircraft has visited southern New Mexico before, but these will be the first featuring the Holloman tail flash—"HO" markings denoting the new home base for the aircraft.

Holloman, established in 1942, had been home to the nation's only stealth fighter wing. However, the Bush administration decided to phase out the aging stealth F-117 and replace with the F-22 Raptors over the next few years. Holloman bid farewell to the F-117 Nighthawk in April.

The Raptor, which has stealth and supersonic capabilities, is equipped with the latest avionics and weapons systems. It is suited for air to air and air to ground combat missions.

Arian Ponder, a spokesman for the 49th Fighter Wing, said the arrival of the F-22 is a historic occasion.

"We want people to get fired up about the F-22 coming," he said.

This week's events include a welcome ceremony, Raptor trivia on the radio and an F-22 flight demonstration.

Source: http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_9447258

New mission arrives
Raptors have landed
Alamogordo Daily News
By Laura London, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 06/03/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT

Holloman Air Force Base welcomed its first two F-22 Raptors home Monday afternoon with beer and rock and roll.

Col. Jeff "Cobra" Harrigian and Lt. Col. Mike "Pigpen" Hernandez, respective commanders of the 49th Fighter Wing and 7th Fighter Squadron, pulled up to Hangar 301 at about 2:49 p.m. in the sleek jets after circling over the base a few times. They were met by a cheering crowd and giant speakers blaring rock and roll favorites.

Hernandez was the first to ascend a freestanding staircase and speak to the crowd. He began by telling the crowd beer was available near the hangar, mentioning someone had told him "get some beer out there, and they will come." As the crowd cheered, he observed the beer idea was "pretty much genius."

The 7th Fighter Squadron commander then spoke briefly on the virtues of the Raptor and related activities at Holloman over the next 17 months.

"As you guys know, the F-22 is the finest fighter in the world," Hernandez said. "It is by far better than anything else that is out there, and better than anything on anybody's drawing board. So we're very lucky."

Hernandez said the entire wing, base and downtown community would probably have a part in getting the Raptor operationally ready, not just the fighter squadrons. He said over the next six months the two Raptors will be flying occasionally, but a lot of training behind the scenes, such as maintenance training and support agencies working on the aircraft, will take place.
He said more Raptors will start rolling in about January 2009 and things will start ramping up.

"Seventeen months from now we're going to have 19 of our 20 aircraft in the 7th Fighter Squadron," Hernandez said. "We'll have a full complement of trained operators and maintainers, as well as all the support personnel that go along, in order to meet our goal of being operationally ready for combat by Nov. 1, 2009."

Harrigian was next to speak from the top of the staircase, and his remarks were even more brief than those of Hernandez.

"There are a lot of folks out here who have worked for years to make this day happen," Harrigian said. "Without you, there is no way these two jets would be sitting here right now. So people like you, Chief (Master Sgt. Richard) Weber, the entire wing, worked hard (and) contributed every day to make this happen."

Harrigian got a round of applause from the crowd for Chief Weber and the others who helped prepare Holloman for the Raptors

"There are very few times in your life that you have an opportunity to be a part of history," Harrigian said. "You all are a part of history today. You can go back and tell your kids about the day that the Raptors showed up at Holloman. You need to be proud of that."

Harrigian concluded by telling everyone to have a good time, and promising that Friday "will be even bigger."

Friday's events, according to the Holloman Web site, include a visit from Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Moseley and other Air Force leaders, along with state officials, to discuss total force integration. Also Friday, starting about 7:15 p.m., an F-22 flight demonstration will be visible from Mesa Verde Ranch Road, just west of Alamogordo.

Source: http://www.alamogordonews.com/ci_9460516