EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2015: Boeing Plaza - F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II

Fred Harl and Carmelo Turdo

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2015 has been recognized as not only the largest U.S. aviation event of the year, but also the place to see a great variety of aircraft not available elsewhere.  Two of the three main military attractions (besides the B-52) were the next generation of tactical fighters - the Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor and the F-35A Lightning II.  

The F-22 Raptor Demo Team has been performing at airshows for several years, and Major John Cummings and his team did not disappoint the airshow audience this year (the Raptor's airshow performance will be featured in a future post).  One of the two Raptors was on display in Boeing plaza during the week along with the first public display of the U.S. Air Force's new F-35A Lightning II, the Joint Strike Fighter, now entering service with U.S. and allied forces.  Two F-35As arrived on Wednesday prior to the afternoon airshow, and one was on display in Boeing Plaza for the rest of the week.  Both aircraft were roped off and under military armed guard.  Here are some views of both jets in Boeing Plaza: