5 Fighter Jets Still In Active USAF Service In 2026 That Are Older Than Many Of The Pilots Flying Them

Simple Flying

The Lockheed MartinF-22 Raptor entered service in December 2005, following its first flight in 1997, and by 2026, it is already as old as some of the pilots flying it. That single data point captures a broader reality across the United States Air Force(USAF): frontline aircraft, with some dating back to the early 1970s, continue to define American airpower despite being decades older than the aviators in their cockpits. As reported by USAF personnel trends, most operational pilots are in their late 20s to mid-30s, meaning even relatively modern jets like the F-22 are no longer “new” in generational terms.

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