NMUSAF F-22A Raptor

[Misterg97]

The F-22A Raptor has been moved from the restoration area into the Museum's Modern Flight Gallery.

While I was volunteering yesterday, it was sitting in the middle of the open area and anyone could get up real close as the restoration staff had to do some work on the tail.

I would imagine that today it will be placed behind the railings.

[mustangdriver]

I actually did talk to them about that. There is a chance it might happen, but that is about all I was told. The plans are to get it to a museum that will put it indoors, so it would be temporary on the display ramp. The C-39 is in storage I believe. I have not heard plans on moving much of the WWII stuff around yet. I will let you know more as I know it.

[PhantomAce08]

With the addition of the Cold War Hangar and the re-organization of the collection into a more correct chronological order, wouldn't the F-22A be more appropriately displayed in the 3rd (Cold War) hangar vs. the 2nd (Modern Flight) gallary?

Just a thought, but they probably want it to serve as a backdrop for their banquets and cermonies and what not. That is why I think they have the YF-22 and the Wright aircraft in there now. Could be wrong, but that kind of makes sense.

Aside from that, I think it would have been cool to display it with an F-35 and the B-2.

[Ryan Keough]

By the way... as long as we are talking NMUSAF... where was the XB-70 Valkyrie in September? I visited... though briefly and "ran" through the museum, but it wasn't there.

[Misterg97]

Phantom Ace .... from what I could find out, you are 100% correct. With all the banquets and other dinners held in the Modern Flight Gallery it is a new airplane for a backdrop ... Also there is the Wright, the Global Hawk and the Predator.

They also added two helicopters yesterday ... the Bell XV3 and the American XH26 Jet Jeep ... really neat.

Ryan .... the XB-70 is now in Research & Development next to the Presidential aircraft ... visitors taken the bus can visit both during the hour

[Pat Carry]

Ryan, the XB-70 is not in the main museum complex. It is across the field in the R & D Gallery in a building that once was called the annex. The public does have access to this gallery but reservations have to be made in advance. A bus then takes the visitors out there. Prior to 9/11 they allowed guests to drive their owns cars out there but as you can imagine that is no longer allowed.

[Misterg97]

Pat,

Your partially right in where the XB-70 is located.

However, they do not take reservations in advance for the Presidential and RD. they run the buses on the hour starting at 10am with the last one at 4pm. There is a registration desk near the Bob Hope display just for the trips to the Presidential and R&D.

Reservation are required for the behind the scenes tour over to the restoration area. Those can be made by phone in adavance. The tour is approx 2 1/2 hours and only on Fridays.

They are now taking reservations for January thru I believe may of '08.

[Pat Carry]

Jerry, thanks for the clarification! I guess I was getting the two of them mixed up. With that in mind, does the museum have a timetable for the planned construction or are they still in the process of raising funds?