Raptors Return to Flight
Staff Sgt. Alex Raaymakers, a crew chief, performs end of runway checks prior to an F-22 Raptor take off from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Sept. 21, after a four month stand-down. Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz recently approved an implementation plan developed by Air Combat Command officials that will allow the F-22 to resume flight operations. The commander of ACC directed a stand-down of the fleet May 3 as a safety precaution, following 12 separate reported incidents where pilots experienced hypoxia-like symptoms. (US Air Force photo/Senior Airman Cynthia Spalding)