The HAPO Columbia Cup and Over the River Air Show will feature some mighty military muscle as the F-22 Raptor will scream through the Water Follies weekend sky.

Air Force Holds Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment 2006
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Because the air show "box" could never accommodate the Navy's Blue Angels Flying Team, easily one of the next best things is the Air Force's F-22 Raptor. After a year away from the Columbia Basin skies, military hardware will be showcased again for the 2017 edition of the water follies.

Outside of the F-35, the F-22 Raptor is as good as it gets and the shores of the Columbia River are in for a wild time. With a top speed of 1500 mph (don't worry, it won't go near that, just half that speed would break the sound barrier and maybe your ear drums) the Raptor is part of the Air Combat Command F-22 Demonstration Team based at Langley Air Force Base.

The F-16 Demonstration Team was featured in the 50th Anniversary of the Water Follies, but nothing last year.

The final hurdle to get clearance for the F-22 to come was to install arresting cables at Grant County International Airport in Moses Lake just in case an in-flight emergency is experienced.

A vintage P-51 Mustang will perform along side the F-22 in the wildly popular Air Force Legacy program.

I feel the need, the need for speed. I know, Navy, not Air Force in "Top Gun". So?

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