The Smart Marty Sky Dispatch
F-22 Raptor Pilots: What It Takes To Fly America’s Top Stealth Fighter
A step-by-step guide to the gauntlet of becoming one of the world's most elite fighter pilots.
F-22 Raptor Pilots: What It Takes To Fly America’s Top Stealth Fighter
The article notes that it can take 15 to 16 months for a US Air Force pilot to be considered for flying the F-22 Raptor, the service’s premier air superiority platform. It highlights the lengthy selection timeline as part of the path to becoming a Raptor pilot.
It identifies the F-22 as the world's first fifth-generation fighter, designed by Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works to counter advanced warplanes and maintain air superiority.
The piece references the F-22 fleet as numbering fewer than 200 airframes, underscoring the rarity and competitiveness of earning a Raptor assignment.
Luke Diaz is identified as the freelance military writer whose experience includes time with the US Navy and work in defense and industrial engineering, contributing to the article.
The source material emphasizes the competitive nature of the Raptor pilot selection process within the US armed forces and global aviation.