OT: Will the Thunderbirds transition to the YF-22?

There was at least one F-15 with a paint sceme based on the T-Birds job. It was a B variant and was painted that way for 1976 U.S. bicentenial celebrations.

For some reason I can't quite get a picture in my mind of a JSF in T-Birds colors.

The cost factor would certainly keep the F-22 out of T-Bird contention, similarly operational costs and maintenance issues were why when they tried out F-105s they only kept them for about half a dozen airshow performances and reverted to what they had before.

I thought the Tbirds had a few F-15s . I could swear Ive seen a few with that paint job on them.

I don't see why they wouldn't keep the VTOL equipped on them for the T-birds. It would be interesting for demonstration purposes, anyway.

demono69

Too bad to AF JSF won't have the VTOL function - what an airshow they could do with supersonic VTOLs, eh?

Hey there;
A T bird F-22 that'll be really cool but, the F-22's are a limited number about 360 will be built for the AF, as for the F-35 that will most likely be the successor to the Falcons in Red, White, & Blue, and the cost will be greatly cheaper to abtain then the Raptors in Red, White, & Blue
Ugly Butt Well Hung; Hawgs
cuda

QUOTE: Originally posted by dkmacin Your kidding right? Don

wishful thinking

Most likely they'll be JSF's.

Your kidding right?

Don

With the cost of one F-22, you can buy a whole flight of F-16's. I don't think the T-Birds will be going to the F-22. That was one reason for not going to the F-15. More expensive, more cost effective per hour of flight and TAC (ACC) needed all they could get at the time.