Sentry Aloha 25-1

The Hawai‘i Air National Guard's 199th Fighter Squadron / 154th Wing is hosting its annual Sentry Aloha exercise that begins today, and runs through 12 February 2025. Six F-35Cs from the US Navy's VX-9, and KC-135Rs from the Washington ANG (116th ARS / 141st ARW) and Mississippi ANG (153rd ARS / 186th ARW) will be joining them in the exercise.

Further information in this Hawai‘i DoD press release. The official start date says 29 January, but the fighter aircraft have already been flying.

In a related note, the F-35C detachment to VX-9 based at Edwards AFB, CA, will be relocated to NAS Point Mugu, CA, and re-designated as VX-4.

Luftwaffe Typhoons Extend Stay

After participating in the last week of RIMPAC 2024, the three Luftwaffe Eurofighter Typhoons from the Tactical Air Force Wing 73 (Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 73) "Steinhoff, and the two A400M Atlas from the Air Transport Wing 62 (Lufttransportgeschwader 62) will be extending their stay at HIK to fly with the F-22A Raptors of the Hawai‘i Air National Guard's 199th Fighter Squadron and US Air Force's 19th Fighter Squadron.

Hawaiian Raptors Pregame Flyover

Four F-22A Raptors from the 199th FS /19th FS flew a four-ship flyover at the end of the "Star-Spangled Banner" before this evening's game  between the Air Force Academy Falcons and the Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors.

Photos from the Hawaiian Raptors Instagram post, and the Hawai‘i Air National Guard's Instagram post.

154th Wing Invited To William Tell 2023

The F-22 Raptors of the Hawai‘i Air National Guard's 154th Wing has been invited to "William Tell Air-to-Air Meet 2023", that will take place in Savannah, GA in September. The 154th, along with the 3rd Wing from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, AK, will represent the Pacific Air Forces. This will be the first William Tell competition since 2004.

Further information in this Air & Space Forces article.

HANG F-22s Return From Deployment

The contingent of Hawaiʻi Air National Guard F-22s, pilots, and support crews returned today from their six-month deployment in the Middle East in the combat against Daesh (or ISIS).

Further information in this 15th Air Base Wing article.

We thank you for your service and protecting our freedoms!

154th Wing Participates In Air Show

The Hawai‘i Air National Guard's 154th Wing is participating in the 2015 Australian International Air Show at Avalon Airport, Victoria, Australia.  Two Hawai‘i Air National Guard F-22A Raptors from the 199th Fighter Squadron, and a KC-135R from the 203rd Aerial Refueling Squadron flew Down Under to partner with other aircraft from the Pacific Command.

Further details in this Pacific Air Forces article.

Heavies Taking Off From Runway 26R

With the crazy westerly winds we have been having for the past week and a half, most flights, including widebodies, were taking off from Runway 26R.  Normally, widebodies would still taxi out to Runway 26L ("The Reef Runway") or to Runway 22L during Kona winds.  The video above includes 26R takeoffs from all 3 aircraft types UPS flies to HNL, a KE 747-4B5, HIANG F-22, and an USAF KC-10 just taxiing down 26R to HIK.  The various clips were taken over several days during different times of the day.

Alaska ANG Raptor Incident

An Alaska Air National Guard F-22A Raptor here in Hawai‘i for the Sentry Aloha training exercise, had an incident when landing on Runway 8L. The left main brake had overheated and caught on fire. Emergency vehicles arrived shortly after and doused the Raptor in fire suppressive foam. The runway remained closed for the majority of the day as maintenance crews used airbags to fit a new tire onto the aircraft.

Hawai‘i ANG F-22As On Alert Duty

The 199th FS re-assumed the air defense mission of the Hawaiian Islands, as the squadron's (and co-squadron 19thFS) F-22A Raptors received full operational certification.

More information in this news article from the 15th Wing's website.

Hawai‘i ANG Raptors Achieve IOC

HNL RareBirds wishes our servicemen and women a Happy Veteran's Day. Thank you to all of you who have served, and are serving in the US Armed Forces.

This past Friday, F-22A Raptors of the 199th FS (Hawai‘i Air National Guard) and 19th FS (Active Duty) have achieved IOC (Initial Operational Capability). The completion of this step takes the integrated unit one step closer to FOC (Full Operational Capability). Once the 199th FS/ 19th FS achieves the FOC (expected next month), they will assume the primary air defense role, as well as a rapid deployment detachment.

More information in this Hawai‘i Air National Guard press release.

Sentry Aloha

The beginning of the month kicked off exercise Sentry Aloha. This exercise provides dissimilar air combat training (DACT) among the F-16C/Ds of the 18th Aggressor Squadron from Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska, Hawaii Air National Guard's F-22As, F-15Cs from Montana's 120th Fighter Wing and Oregon's 173rd Fighter Wing.

Also transiting through today, were the F/A-18C Hornets of VMFA-232 "Red Devils". A historical note about the VMFA-232, they had two stints at Marine Corps Air Field Kāne‘ohe Bay. The first "K-Bay" assignment was from 1956 to 1966, they flew the North American FJ-1A Fury and the LTV F-8E Crusader. The second "K-Bay" assignment was from 1977 to 1993, when they flew the McDonnell-Douglas F-4J Phantom II and the F/A-18 Hornets. They are currently stationed at MCAS Miramar, but on deployment to Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Veteran's Day

Today, we remember the veterans who served, and who are currently serving our country.

Four Hawai‘i Air National Guard F-22As will make their first "Missing Man" formation pass over the National Cemetary of the Pacific at Pū‘owaina (Punchbowl Crater) today.

US Air Force Reactivates F-22A Raptors

After a four-month stand down, the US Air Force has reactivated their F-22A Raptor fleet after resolving an issue with the oxygen generating system. This includes the Raptors of the Hawai‘i Air National Guard's 199th FS, and its active-duty counterpart, the 19th FS.

US Air Force press release.

F-22A Problem?

Today, around 4:30 pm, an F-22A was being towed on Taxiway B back to Hickam. In the photo, there is a lead truck, followed by the tow tractor pulling the F-22A, then another truck, and finally a fire truck. Any news on what happened?

Aloha ‘Oe Eagles

The Hawai‘i Air National Guard's 199th Fighter Squadron bid a fond aloha ‘oe the last three McDonnell-Douglas F-15C Eagles today.  Flying as "Zesty97", the three fighters (seen above taxiing on Taxiway M) departed for the US mainland accompanied by a HI ANG KC-135R from the 203rd ARS, "Adobe47".

78-0509 (top), 78-0522, and 78-0528 departed the "Reef Runway" for the last time under partly cloudy Hawaiian skies.  Ground crew, other HI ANG pilots, the media, and social media lined up along Taxiway RG as the fighters took off one by one with afterburners lit.  57-1508 (above) followed a few minutes after to replenish the three Eagles 5.5 hour flight across the Pacific.

While the HI ANG pilots are undergoing F-22A training, the 120th FW of the Montana ANG is assuming the air defense role for Hawai‘i, until there are enough F-22As in the 199th's hands.

A couple of dozen 199th FS's pilots and ground crew came out to witness the departure, and bid farewell to the three Eagles.  They're watching 78-0528 begin it's "Hang Ten" climb over the channel to Ke‘ehi Lagoon.

HNL RareBirds extends a warm mahalo to Pacific Air Forces, the Hawai‘i Air National Guard, the 154th Wing, and the 199th Fighter Sqaudron for your service to our country and state, plus allowing us to attend today's momentous and bittersweet event.

Aloha Raptors!

The Hawai‘i Air National Guard's 199th FS received their first two (of 20) Lockheed/Martin F-22As, with a Hawaiian blessing today at HIK.

03-4045 (c/n 4045, left) and 03-4046 (c/n 4046) face each other behind the stage. 4045 wears the HANG 199th tail band, while 4046 wears the "Gamecocks" tailband for the associate unit, the 19th FS.

HNL RareBirds extends a warm mahalo to the Hawai‘i Air National Guard and the 15th Wing for the opportunity to attend the blesing, and for serving our country,

F-22's Return

Around 5pm 5/9, a flight of 6 Raptors based at Langley AFB arrived in HNL. 03-052 seen here taxing back to Hickam AFB. My guess would be that these Raptors are returning home after their time Japan.