In 2013, F-22A #07-4147 became 477th Fighter Group's flagship with the words "Spirit of Tuskegee" painted across the tail, a nod to the units Tuskegee Airmen heritage. "We are part of history. Whether we realize it or not, what we do on a day to day basis is writing the pages of history," said, Col. Tyler Otten, 477th Fighter Group commander, who was the first pilot to fly the group's flagship after the paint job. "Maintaining our connection to our lineage provides a foundation on which we build. The Tuskegee heritage of the 477th is rich with courage, service and commitment, which serves as a guide to our efforts today." The 477th Fighter Group was previously the 477th Bombardment Group, a Tuskegee unit activated in 1944. The group's 302nd Fighter Squadron historically was part of the 332nd Fighter Group, also known as "The Redtails" the famous all-black unit that fought both American prejudice and the axis powers in Europe.

Designed to meet a US Air Force requirement for an Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) to replace the F-15 Eagle, the F-22 was first flown on September 29th, 1990. The USAF's ATF program aimed to produce a fifth-generation air superiority fighter that would be better matched against emerging new aircraft such as the Su-27 Flanker. The F-22 uses stealth technology and can function in air superiority, ground attack, intelligence and electronic warfare roles. Despite its capabilities, the F-22 program was relatively short-lived; by 2010 its high cost coupled with the development of the F-35 (a more versatile and less expensive aircraft) led to a cessation of F-22 production funding.

Hobby Master's 1:72 scale F-22 Raptor is constructed almost entirely in diecast metal with near-seamless construction. The cockpit has an articulating hinged smoke-colored canopy that closes with almost no visible gap and opens to reveal a detailed interior with side-mounted fly-by-wire joystick, throttle controls, ejection seat and pad-printed digital display screens. The stabalators are movable, and the under-wing mounted fuel tanks are removable. The landing gear are constructed as complete subassemblies for quick configuration, and a full complement of configurable ordnance exposes structural details when configured in the deployed position.

Info:     F-22A Raptor, 3rd FW, 525 FS, Elmendorf AFB, 2011