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production timeline for the Air Force’s final F-22s on order remains on track despite the Raptor fleet’s four-month grounding, announced Lockheed Martin. The last F-22 is still on schedule to roll off the assembly line in Marietta, Ga., in December, said company officials. Lockheed on Monday resumed pre-delivery F-22 check flights at Marietta for the first time since oxygen system issues grounded the Raptor fleet in May. “It’s exciting to see the F-22 Raptor back in the skies,” said Jeff Babione, the company’s F-22 general manager. “We are dedicated to supporting our customer in return-to-flight activities.” Air Combat Command lifted the fleet-wide standdown on Sept. 19. Due to the grounding, deliveries fell behind in July with aircraft stacking up on the flight line at Marietta. However, Lockheed said it now will re-commence deliveries per the Air Force’s “specifications and testing parameters.”
When acting Air Force Secretary Gary A. Ashworth rescinded service-wide “Family Days” last week citing the need to build readiness, he left it up to commanders, directors, and supervisors to decide if they would still permit extra days off. Here’s how Air Force major commands are taking that guidance.