Taken at Nellis Air Force Base Airshow, November 2005. For more photos, visit http://www.warbird-photos.com ----------------------------------------------- The ultimate figher in Air Superiority, the Lockheed F/A-22 Raptor based out of Nellis AFB takes to the skies during the Nellis AFB Airshow 2005. The idea for a fighter like the Raptor was drawn up as early as 1981 when the Air Force wanted to have a fighter that could make the priemiere fighters of the time (F-16 Viper, F-15 Eagle) basically obsolete by the start of the 21st century. Both Lockheed and Northrop put their bids in for a fighter, Northrop with their YF-23 Black Widow II and Lockheed with their YF-22 Raptor. The Raptor won, and after much testing the YF-22 Raptor took flight for tests in late 1990 at Edwards Air Force base and spent three months in flight testing. Just recently, the first few Raptors have been put into full operational service. Edwards Air Force Base, Nellis Air Force Base, and Langley Field all have F-22 Raptors. 2005 was called the year of the Raptor unvieling since the Raptor participated in more airshows than ever before. I think it's safe to say that the 2006 Airshow season we'll be seeing a lot more of the F/A-22 Raptor. Note - The image is not as sharp as it could have been due to the exhaust from a QF-4 Phantom II taking off just before the Raptor's roll. Shot with a Canon Rebel XT EOS 350D DSLR Camera (8mp). Lens was a Canon 100-400mm USM IS F4.5L Series.