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Aerospace World Aerospace World By Peter Grier F-22 Returns to Skies The Air Force’s F-22 Raptor on May 17 began the formal flight test stage of its development with an 80-minute sortie at Edwards AFB, Calif. Lt. Col. Steve Rainey flew the aircraft, becoming the first Air Force pilot to fly the F-22 since it rolled off the Lockheed Martin assembly line in Marietta, Ga., last summer. “The aircraft handled like a dream,” Rainey said. “It’s the best flying aircraft I have flown.” Officials said the flight was under- taken to expand the flight envelope, assess speed brake handling qualities, and review formation flying qualities. Rainey said that each of the objectives was tested precisely as planned and that the overall flight was a success. Raptor 01 is the first of three engineer- Lt. Col. Steve Rainey secured a spot in history when he became the first Air Force ing and manufacturing development F-22s pilot to fly the F-22, the service’s new air superiority fighter. “The aircraft handled like a dream,” he said after the May 17 flight at Edwards AFB, Calif. Aircraft 4001 slated for Air Force use. The first Raptor, completed each of three test points—envelope expansion, speed brake handling, and officially named Aircraft 4001, will engage formation flying—precisely as briefed, stated Rainey. in some 50 flights before it is joined by Aircraft 4002, probably in the fall. to remain, since they help patrol and has long denied taking any part in the Clinton Cuts Gulf Force monitor the skies over southern Iraq. operation. The United States announced May 26 Bacon said dozens of Air Force air- Nayef’s statement could give cre- that it will keep about 20,000 US troops craft in Bahrain are expected to leave dence to opposition claims that Sunni in the Persian Gulf region, returning to a in early June. He declined to specify, Muslim dissidents were behind the force level that it maintained before the but the F-117 stealth fighters and B-52 attack. early 1998 “crisis” buildup aimed at Iraq. bombers in the area were expected to Secrecy has cloaked much of The move will significantly cut the return home in the coming weeks. the investigation. American officials force of 37,000 kept in the region for charged several times that the Saudis several months. The Pentagon plans Saudis Find No Foreign Role in were delaying the conclusion of the to shift out of the area an aircraft car- Blast investigation and that they have refused rier battle group, dozens of warplanes, Saudi Arabian authorities concluded to share information. and thousands of soldiers. no foreigners were involved in the 1996 The bombing touched off several According to Pentagon spokesman Khobar Towers bombing that killed 19 congressional and military probes in Kenneth Bacon, DoD plans called for USAF servicemen, according to a top Washington to fix blame for the blast. the reductions to take place in early Saudi official. Prince Nayef, the powerful summer. “Iraq has been complying with Saudi interior minister, told a Kuwaiti Tricare Coverage Nears the UN mandates to allow inspectors newspaper that the terrorist bombing Completion to do their jobs,” he said. was carried out “by Saudi hands.” On June 1, the Department of Defense “We’ve made it very clear in the Nayef’s statements were the first of- completed the establishment of Tricare past that we’re willing to respond to ficially indicating Saudi complicity in the managed health care system coverage provocative action by Iraq,” Bacon deaths. Earlier, Saudi Arabian officials to all regions of the United States. said. “That policy has not changed.” had suggested privately that Iran was The latest Tricare contract went into One aircraft carrier—USS behind the bombing. effect for the National Capital Area Stennis—and about 1,200 Army However, in the recent interview, Region, which includes a large portion troops will remain in Kuwait. Some Air the prince was quoted as stating, “No of the mid-Atlantic states. The program Force warplanes also are expected foreign party had any role in it.” Iran is already in place in other US regions. 12 AIR FORCE Magazine / July 1998 Barry Goldwater Dies at 89 Sen. Barry Goldwater, the outspoken conservative Republican who ran unsuccessfully for President in 1964 but became a force in the Senate and in national defense, died May 29. He was 89. He was known to many as “Mr. Conservative,” but he was also “Mr. Airpower.” From his World War II days as an Air Transport Command pilot flying supplies over the “Hump” to his long association with the Air Force Asso- ciation and Aerospace Education Foundation, Goldwater was a tireless advocate for the Air Force. Commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army Reserve in 1930, Goldwater went on active duty as a gunnery in- structor in the Army Air Forces just before the attack on Pearl Harbor. Equipped with a commercial pilot’s license, he soon became an AAF pilot, transporting supplies and aircraft across the Atlantic and in the China–Burma–India Theater. After the war, he helped establish the Arizona Air National Guard and finished his military career in the Air Force Reserve, retiring as a major general in 1967. He was elected to the Senate in 1952. Throughout his long career, he maintained the need for a strong military and was also an early proponent of space power. In 1962, he said, “Space superiority in all of its scientific, technological, and military aspects is fundamental to the future well-being, security, and prosperity of the United States. ... Our armed forces must pursue and prepare to The Arizona senator flew 160 different aircraft over his life- time. ANG Brig. Gen. Clarence A. Shoop is at right. Goldwater with Gen. Jimmy Doolittle, AFA’s first president. conduct military space missions as rapidly as these can be recognized and defined.” He was active in the Air Force Association for many years and was chairman of the AEF Board of Trustees from 1975–86. He also played a key role in the creation of the National Air and Space Museum. He relinquished his Senate seat in 1964 to make what proved to be an unsuccessful presidential bid but was again elected to the Senate in 1974. He retired after choosing Barry Goldwater served as chairman of the AEF Board of Trustees for 11 years. not to run for re-election in 1986. AFA and AEF are accepting donations for a memorial education program being developed in his honor. AIR FORCE Magazine / July 1998 13 The Battle of Arlington Ridge Arlington, VA., June 7—Factions Arlington Cemetery, which is adjacent for memorials by the Commemorative opposed to an Air Force memorial on to the ridge. Works Act of 1986. Arlington Ridge, overlooking the Po- prohibited the construction of any “The process is designed to keep tomac River, continue to throw up new more monuments or memorials on Congress from getting involved in what obstacles in their efforts to impede its the ridge. could be a politically charged process,” construction. reimbursed the Air Force Memo- he said. “Now is not the time to change Joined in the attempt to block the rial Foundation (which would then the rules and penalize those who have project are Marine veterans, their sup- be obliged to go elsewhere) for site- followed the rules that the Congress porters in Congress, and a neighbor- specific expenses prior to September established. hood group called the “Friends of Iwo 1997, when the site was formally “I strongly urge you to reject the Jima.” Their claim is that the Air Force dedicated. Solomon amendment. It is unfair to Memorial would encroach on the “sacred The same day the Solomon amend- change the rules in the middle of the ground” of the Marine Corps Memorial, ment was introduced, Edward Tim- process, and it is unfair to the men which occupies eight of the 25 acres perlake, an aide for the House Rules and women who have served, are on Arlington Ridge. Committee (whose chairman is Sol- serving, and will serve in the United Objections to the Air Force Memorial omon), filed a legal brief in US District States Air Force.” did not arise until April 1997 when the Court in Alexandria, Va., supporting Several members of the House met Friends of Iwo Jima became active with a request for an injunction to per- with Solomon to tell him they disagreed concern that the new memorial might manently bar construction of the Air with his proposal. increase the number of cars and visitors Force Memorial. This tagged on to “The men and women in the United coming to the area. a series of legal efforts and actions States Air Force deserve a memorial On May 15, Rep. Gerald B.H. Solomon initiated by the Friends of Iwo Jima in for their sacrifices which have kept this (R–N.Y.)—a former Marine—introduced the past year. nation free,” said Rep. Sam Johnson his third piece of legislation in this In a “Dear Colleague” letter on May (R–Texas), who was an Air Force pilot regard, an amendment to the defense 19, Rep. James A. Gibbons (R–Nev.) and a POW in Vietnam. “I look forward authorization bill that would have: urged members of Congress to vote to the day when we will unveil this fitting transferred Arlington Ridge from no on the Solomon amendment. He tribute to all those who have served in the Interior Department to the Army, said that from 1993 on the Air Force the Air Force.
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