The Raptor Cometh

Last week was our first Special Operations Group meeting to start the ball rolling for planning of the 2011 show. The Special Operations Group is comprised of a dozen-plus people, each taking a responsibility for a different part of the show; for example: volunteers, performers, static displays, and the list goes on and on. We discussed our performer line-up and other pertinent details.

By far, the most exciting thing that happened last week was that I was contacted by Air Combat Command and received confirmation: Prairie Air Show 2011 will be hosting the East Coast Raptor Demo Team! That’s right. The pinnacle in air superiority fighter craft is coming to Peoria.

The Air Combat Command F-22 Demonstration Team is based at Langley Air Force Base and performs precision aerial maneuvers to demonstrate the unique capabilities of the world's only operational fifth-generation fighter aircraft. 

 

“The F-22 Raptor is, and will remain, unprecedented in its total integration of stealth and advanced avionics. It quite simply is a revolutionary leap in lethality and survivability over any aircraft in production or design anywhere in the world.” (www.f22-raptor.com)

Within a half an hour of getting that call I also received an email from Staff Sergeant John Lugo who will be our point of contact with the East Coast Raptor Demo Team. He said that he and the rest of the team are really stoked about coming to Peoria because they’ve not only heard of how great the air show is but also how great the performers’ stays are made through the efforts of the folks from the Peoria area.

So, things are really taking off and we are getting excited here in Central Illinois.

Blue Skies,

Brett

To learn more about the F-22 Raptor Team, visit Air Combat Command F-22 Demonstration Team or to learn more about the other great acts attending Prairie Air Show 2011, visit Prairie Air Show.