The F-22 Raptor stealth fighter will reprise its stunning demonstration from the prior year's fly-in, a performance that shows in dramatic detail its unmatched maneuverability and speed. Photo by Dave Higdon.

When you see F-22 Raptors fly above the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh grounds and do mind-boggling maneuvers today, they’re not just maneuvers meant to impress.

Each particular movement highlights a tactical application of the U.S. Air Force’s newest jet, says Maj. Paul "Max" Moga, F-22 demonstration team commander.

Two F-22s arrived at Wittman Regional Airport with an aerial performance Thursday, and at least one aircraft will fly an aerial demonstration each afternoon through Sunday. At other times, the F-22s will be displayed on AeroShell Square.

In addition, Moga will talk about the F-22’s capabilities today from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. at the Honda Pavilion.

Moga says he basically had to "start from scratch" to come up with an aerobatic routine since the jet is new and unique. "We had to come up with a series of maneuvers that not only look different because the jet is truly different, but had tactical applications, too. We didn’t want to just do crazy loops."

The maneuvers Air Force pilots fly in the Raptor day-to-day were fairly easy to translate into an air show routine, he says. "I really just practiced them at a lower altitude and sequenced them."

Moga promises the audiences at AirVenture won’t be disappointed. Some of the maneuvers he is likely to perform include the following:

• Power loop—The F-22 looks as if it is turning on a dime in this maximum performance loop.

• Pedal turn—With its wings level to the horizon, the F-22 pivots around and looks like it is doing a flat spin.

• High alpha loop—With its nose straight up, the Raptor pulls all the way around and looks like it is doing a back flip.

Most crowds like the power loop best, Moga says, and those watching will say, "Fighters aren’t supposed to do that." But Moga’s favorite maneuver is the dedication pass because it allows him to get a good look at the crowd and it has special meaning.

"We start off from one side of the crowd, slightly behind the show line, and we fly by really low and fast, banked up and turning," he says. "The maneuver is dedicated to all the folks overseas and to those who have given their lives."

While Moga says they won’t be able to do a full routine at AirVenture because of the size of the aerobatic box, it will still be a "really good" routine. "It’s all cool stuff; no one will be disappointed."