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Posted: Wednesday, October 21st, 2009 4:33 AM HST

Air Force prepares to bring F-22 jets to Hawaii

By Associated Press

HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii (AP) — The Air Force has begun training Hawaii pilots to fly the world's most advanced fighter jet as it prepares to set up an F-22 squadron in the islands. The first Hawaii Air National Guard pilot to learn to fly the plane recently left for Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida for flight training. The Air Force plans to start bringing a squadron of F-22s to the islands next year to replace the Hawaii Guard's fleet of aging F-15Cs. Twenty-seven pilots in the Hawaii Guard will fly the jets once they're here. The first two planes will arrive next year. Hickam Air Force Base is expected to have a fully operational squadron of 18 planes by the end of 2011. F-22 squadrons are currently based in Alaska, New Mexico and Virginia. (Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved)