Lt. Col. James Hecker flies over Fort Monroe before delivering the first operational F/A-22 Raptor to its permanent home at Langley Air Force Base, Va., on May 12. This is the first of 26 Raptors to be delivered to the 27th Fighter Squadron. The Raptor program is managed by the F/A-22 System Program Office at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. Colonel Hecker is the squadron’s commander. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Ben Bloker)The world’s only operational fifth-generation fighter aircraft – the F-22 “Raptor” – will return to the Sun ’n Fun International Fly-In & Expo, which  will be held March 29 to April 3 on its campus at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in Lakeland, Florida. Considered the U.S. Air Force’s newest fighter aircraft, the F-22 Raptor utilizes a unique combination of supersonic speed, stealth technology, a “see-it-to-believe-it” maneuverability, integrated avionics and improved supportability that represents an exponential leap in warfighting capabilities.

“We were honored to be the first civilian aviation event to host this amazing fighter jet and we are honored to welcome it back to Sun ’n Fun this year,” said Sun ’n Fun President and Convention Chairman John Burton. “Whether or not you’ve seen the Raptor fly before, it will be well worth the effort to see it fly at Sun ’n Fun. Fighter jets are capable of some pretty amazing things but this aircraft exceeds even the highest expectations.  We can’t wait to see it fly again!”