LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (AP) — The F-22 is the nation’s most advanced fighter jet and is capable of making hairpin turns, doing a power loop that looks like a back flip and maneuvering backward after stalling its engines, giving it the appearance of sliding through the sky. The fifth-generation fighter makes maneuvers that other planes simply can’t do, resulting in jaw dropping reactions from air show spectators.
That last capability is what the Air Force is thrilled to have in its public relations arsenal once again. The F-22 Demonstration Team’s 2013 air show schedule was cancelled due to automatic federal spending cuts known as sequestration, but Air Force leaders were able to schedule 20 performances for the stealth fighter this year at a total cost of $1.4 million.
