Fighter Sweep
  • Home
  • Military Aviation
  • Air Force
  • Navy
  • Spec Ops
  • Expert Analysis
  • Careers
  • Photos
Home Previous Post Next Post
Follow @fightersweep

F-22 Raptor Grounded By Hive of Honey Bees

August 13, 2016 Can Chinese Radar Track The F-22 Raptor?
Joe Ruzicka 2 Comments Drones

In June, a swarm of bees found its way into the exhaust nozzle of an F-22 Raptor at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia. The bees grounded the plane until they could be removed.

There is one thing for sure that can ground the, the F-22 Raptor, the world’s first 5th Generation fighter. It’s not another fighter. Or a drone. Or even a sophisticated SAM (Surface to Air) missile. It’s mother nature’s own: honey bees.

In June, a swarm of honey bees found their way onto the exhaust nozzle of an F-22 Raptor. It is not known why the bees decided to land on a $143 million dollar fighter. However, one theory is the queen likely landed on the F-22 to take a break. The rest of the hive followed and eventually collected there.

So the USAF decided to call in the US Navy to save the day.

Andy Westrich, a retired US Navy veteran and local beekeeper, came to the rescue of the 5th Generation Fighter. Westrich used a vacuum to remove the bees for relocation. Westrich said the swarm was one of the largest he had ever seen. The total weight: 8 pounds and over 20,000 bees.

“The honey bees most likely came from a much larger bee hive somewhere else on base,” said Chief Master Sergeant Gregg Allen, 192nd Maintenance Group Quality Assurance chief, who also happens to be a bee keeper.

“Bee hives are constantly growing and they eventually become overcrowded. Around springtime, the bees will make a new queen, scout for a new location and take half of the hive with them to that location.”

192nd Fighter Wing Aircraft Maintainers found a swarm of honey bees hanging from the exhaust nozzle of an F-22 Raptor engine on June 11, 2016 at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. Andy Westrich, U.S. Navy retired and local honey bee keeper, was called to remove and relocate the bees to a safe place for them to build their hive. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo)

192nd Fighter Wing Aircraft Maintainers found a swarm of honey bees hanging from the exhaust nozzle of an F-22 Raptor. A local honey bee keeper, was called to remove and relocate the bees to a safe place for them to build their hive. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo)

The Raptor was cleared for normal operation after the removal of honey bees. It is not known what the new stealth properties of the aircraft would be with a hive attached. But maybe the thrust vectoring would be improved?

You can read Kelsey Atherton’s full article here.

About the Author

Joe Ruzicka "Smokin" Joe Ruzicka is a former Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) in the F-14 Tomcat and Weapons Systems Officer (WSO) in the F-18 D/F. He was selected as the Legislative Fellow for Senator John McCain (R-AZ) in 2011. Smokin has accumulated over 2000 hours in the Tomcat, Hornet, and various training aircraft, holds a FAC(A) "Forward Air Controller Airborne" designation and was the RIO on the final F-14 Tomcat Airshow Demonstration in September 2005. He graciously thanks all of his former pilots for bringing him home safely. You can follow him on Twitter at @smokinjoe96

Related Posts

  • US F-22 Raptors Arrive In UAE After Wave Of Houthi AttacksUS F-22 Raptors Arrive In UAE After Wave Of Houthi Attacks
  • Watchdog report: Navy risking troops’ lives by pushing the F-35C into combatWatchdog report: Navy risking troops’ lives by pushing the F-35C into combat
  • New F-15s, F-22 upgrades, and classified bombers: Here’s where the Air Force wants to put its moneyNew F-15s, F-22 upgrades, and classified bombers: Here’s where the Air Force wants to put its money
  • Why one planning decision could be responsible for so many of the F-35’s woesWhy one planning decision could be responsible for so many of the F-35’s woes
  • Unlike the F-15, America will likely never see new F-22sUnlike the F-15, America will likely never see new F-22s

Find Us on Facebook

FighterSweep.com

Sign Up
for the Newsletter

What’s Hot

  • blue-angels-reporter-blacks-out-passes-out
    December 5, 2017

    Watch: News Reporter Blacks Out on Ride with US Navy Blue Angels

  • September 4, 2019

    Photo Gallery: McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II

  • Rockwell B-1B Lancer: Bad to the Bone!
    April 26, 2015

    Bad to the Bone: Fun Facts about the Boeing (Rockwell) B-1B Lancer

Follow Us

Facebook Twitter Twitter

Recent Comments

  • pak152 " the team came up with what the Brits dubbed as Mustang, powered by a [...]
  • P K Polish AF never has and never will operate Su-27, An-26 aircraft has been out [...]
  • bnarfhyde The best book is also great. have a [...]
  • TerrorTrike ive never survived this long with such a clumsy FL- cG.866B.CO/NC6155hc
  • D4rksupeme yessss truck kunnnnnnnn i needddd you m.866E.CO/vC6155H

© Copyright 2023 SOFREP Media Group. All Rights Reserved.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Advertisers
 

Loading Comments...