Raptor demonstration team to showcase F-22 capabilities

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kirsten Wicker
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  This year's Gulf Coast Salute Open House and Air Show is March 26 and 27, and will feature various military and civilian aerial and static displays, to include Tyndall's own airframe, the F-22 Raptor.

The demonstration is provided by the Air Combat Command F-22 Demonstration Team from Langley Air Force Base, Va. They will perform precision aerial maneuvers to demonstrate the unique capabilities of the fighter aircraft.

"The demonstration is about 14 minutes long and showcases the exceptional capabilities of the world's only 5th generation aircraft," said Maj. Henry Schantz, F-22 aerial demonstration team commander and pilot. "It highlights the flight control system through multiple maneuvers."

As the demonstration commander, Major Schantz is responsible for representing Air Combat Command, the United States Air Force, the Defense Department and the United States of America at several air shows annually.

"During the air show season, I fly two to three shows a month with an average of three demos per show," he said. "Additionally, I still maintain my qualification as an instructor pilot flying mission-ready lines with the squadrons while at home station."

He leads the 12-member team comprised of a team superintendent, a team chief, six crew chiefs and four avionics specialist Airmen. He oversees maintenance actions performed on the Lockheed Martin $140 million demo aircraft and showcases the Raptor's exceptional maneuverability for more than 10 million spectators around the world each year. When not performing, the major is an operational F-22 instructor pilot assigned to the 1st Operations Group, Langley AFB.

Prior to selection as the Air Combat Command F-22 demonstration pilot, he was assigned to the 325th Fighter Wing from October 2007 to July 2010, where he served as a flight commander and wing executive officer. He is a seasoned fighter pilot with 1,200 fighter hours in both the F-15C Eagle and F-22.

"I have the privilege of showcasing our military's newest platform and the people associated with it," said Major Schantz. "I'm extremely proud of each of my fellow servicemembers."

The demonstration is designed to show the jet's particular abilities and equipment, including minimum radius turns, high speed and slow speed passes, a power loop to show how the jet can nearly rotate around itself, and a tailslide showing the capability of the engines and flight controls to maintain controlled flight while actually flying backward.

"I enjoy spending time with the young, the old, the past, the future, aviation enthusiasts, and those new to the joys of flight," Major Schantz said. "The best thing about flying the demonstrations is the ability to show how great this country is and how much people love it."

The F-22 is the Air Force's newest fighter aircraft. Its combination of stealth, supercruise, maneuverability, and integrated avionics, coupled with improved supportability, represents an exponential leap in war-fighting capabilities. The Raptor performs both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions allowing full realization of operational concepts vital to the 21st century Air Force.

The sophisticated F-22 aerodesign, advanced flight controls, thrust vectoring, and high thrust-to-weight ratio provide the capability to outmaneuver all current and projected aircraft. The F-22 design has been extensively tested and refined aerodynamically during its development process.