After receiving final tests and touches at Hill AFB, Utah, three of the last few F-22s built at Lockheed Martin’s plant in Marietta, Ga., arrived at JB Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. One of the Raptors—aircraft No. 4190—promptly assumed its place as the 90th Fighter Squadron’s new flagship, replacing aircraft 4090 in that role, during a dedication ceremony on March 7. From now on, “whenever we go somewhere—that jet goes with us,” said 90th FS Commander Lt. Col. Joseph Kunkel. “Instead of there being a simple tail number, it’s going to have ’90th Fighter Squadron,’ so when we roll into town, everyone knows who we are,” he added. The 90th FS is one of two F-22 squadrons at the joint base, along with the 525th FS. Lockheed Martin is slated to deliver the Air Force’s 187th and final F-22 to the 525th FS in May. (Elmendorf-Richardson report by David Bedard) (See also The Last Raptor from Air Force Magazine’s February issue.)
AFA Inaugurates New Headquarters with Doolittle Raider Toast
April 17, 2025
The Air and Space Forces Association celebrated the grand opening of its new Operations Center on April 17 with a tribute to its founder, Gen. Jimmy Doolittle—the Doolittle Raiders Memorial Toast.