F-22 Demo Team heads to Singapore to kick off 2020 season

Photo By 1st Lt. Sam Eckholm | A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor assigned to the F-22 Demo Team prepares to be launched out by a crew chief at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., Jan. 30, 2020. Representing Air Combat Command, the F-22 Demo Team travels to air shows all across the world showcase the performance and capabilities of the world's premier 5th-generation fighter. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Sam Eckholm)  

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, VA, UNITED STATES

02.03.2020

Story by 2nd Lt. Sam Eckholm 

Joint Base Langley-Eustis

The Air Combat Command F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team will begin their 2020 show season at the Singapore Airshow, Feb. 11-16, 2020. This weeklong biennial show is Asia’s largest aviation event and hosts high-level government and military delegations, as well as senior corporate executives from around the world.

This will mark only the second time the F-22 Raptor has been displayed at the Singapore Airshow and the first since the Bulldogs of the 525th Fighter Squadron, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, brought two Raptors to make an appearance back in 2016.

The F-22 Demo Team will join a contingent of other service members from the Pacific Air Forces Command who will be in Singapore to enhance our international partnerships with the dozens of countries who will be represented at the show.

To maximize efficiency transporting the jets in-and-out of the country, the team will be using F-22s assigned to the Hawaii Air National Guard, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. The demo team typically uses jets from the closest F-22 squadron in relation to the shows they are attending, a concept know as “Raptor Nation.” “It takes a team to make events like these happen, and we are excited to work alongside the men and women from Hawaii to safely execute the mission,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Emanuel Knowlton, F-22 Demo Team superintendent.”

For U.S. Air Force Maj. Josh Gunderson, the Singapore Airshow will be the first time he flies the demonstration profile as the pilot and commander of the F-22 Demo Team. “It’s an absolute honor to kick off our 2020 season in such a spectacular location, and we are humbled to be apart of an event that showcases the strong partnership between the United States and Singapore,” Gunderson said.

For those interested is seeing the F-22 demo in person, the team’s U.S. tour will begin in late March with over 20 air show performances scheduled all across the country. To view their schedule and follow along with them throughout the year, you can follow the team on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @f22demoteam.

• Date Taken: 02.03.2020
• Date Posted: 02.03.2020 09:47
• Story ID: 361507
• Location: JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, VA, US