F-22 Raptor Grounded By Swarm

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In June, one of the most capable air-to-air fighters in the world, an F-22 Raptor based at Langley AFB, was grounded by a swarm of honey bees. The bees were drawn to the Raptor’s thrust-vectoring exhaust nozzles, covering a good portion of the upper left-hand petal. 

The 192nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron called in retired Navy veteran and local bee keeper Andy Westrich to relocate the honey bees to a more acceptable home. He donned his gear and vacuumed the bees right up, solving the problem for all involved, including the bees.

Now just watch out for those Super Hornets!

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Honey bees commandeer one of an F-22's exhaust petals., USAF
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Navy veteran and pro bee keeper Andy Westrich removes bees from a F-22., USAF
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Navy veteran and pro bee keeper Andy Westrich removes bees from a F-22., USAF
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Lt. Col. Catherine Jumper, 192nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander, presents Andy Westrich with a coin for his work freeing the Raptor of its bee infestation.

H/T to Alert5.

Contact the author Tyler@thedrive.com

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Tyler Rogoway

Editor-in-Chief

Tyler’s passion is the study of military technology, strategy, and foreign policy and he has fostered a dominant voice on those topics in the defense media space. He was the creator of the hugely popular defense site Foxtrot Alpha before developing The War Zone.