F-22 Raptor Demo w/Flares! - National Cherry Festival Air Show 2025 | Traverse City MI

The F-22 Raptor remains the most dominant air superiority fighter in the world — and at the 2025 National Cherry Festival Airshow in Traverse City, MI, it absolutely brought the heat. This wasn’t just another flyby — it was a full-force demo featuring high-speed passes, signature vertical climbs, power loops, and an unforgettable flare drop that lit up the sky over Lake Michigan. ✨Catch More Jaw-Dropping F-22 Raptor Action✨    • F-22 Raptor Demo || W/ F-5 Heritage flight...      • F-22 Raptor Demo || Aerial Cockpit Footage...      • F-22 Raptor Demo + Flares! - MCAS Cherry P...   Flying under the command of Captain Nick "Laz" Le Tourneau, the 2025 U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team delivered a performance that showcased the unmatched capabilities of America’s 5th-generation stealth fighter. Laz brings precision, control, and serious presence to the Raptor — and his demo is already becoming one of the most talked-about highlights of this year’s airshow circuit. What Makes the F-22 Demo So Wild? The F-22 Flare Demo is more than just a visual spectacle — it’s a tactical showcase. During certain high-angle maneuvers like vertical climbs, power loops, and abrupt yaw turns, the Raptor deploys infrared countermeasure flares to simulate evasive action against incoming missiles. These flares burn bright against the sky and create a dramatic effect when released mid-maneuver. Combine that with the jet’s powerful afterburners and tight, low-altitude transitions — and you’ve got the ultimate mix of power, agility, and showmanship. The crowd at Traverse City got the full effect: Raptor howl, full afterburner, and flares bursting like fireworks in a perfectly timed pull-up. It’s the kind of moment that lives forever in your camera roll (and your memory). F-22 Raptor Specs: Role: Stealth Tactical Fighter Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin / Boeing Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 turbofan engines with afterburners Thrust (each): ~35,000 lbf with afterburner Max Speed: Mach 2.25 (1,500+ mph) Supercruise: Mach 1.82 (without afterburner) Service Ceiling: 65,000 ft Range: ~1,850 miles (with drop tanks) Armament: 1 × M61A2 20mm cannon 6 × AIM-120 AMRAAM 2 × AIM-9 Sidewinders Optional JDAMs and other ground-attack munitions Features: Stealth shaping & coating Supermaneuverability (thrust vectoring) Sensor fusion & advanced radar (AN/APG-77 AESA) 360-degree situational awareness In-flight flare & chaff deployment system Seeing the Raptor up close is one thing — but watching it rip across the sky while dropping flares and climbing straight into the sun is a bucket-list aviation moment. I’ve been filming airshows for years, and this one hit differently. If you love fighter jets, military aviation, and unfiltered airshow coverage, this is the place for you. I’ve got even more footage coming soon — including when this same team hits the skies in St. Louis this June. 👉 Be sure to subscribe, hit the bell, and share this with someone who needs to see the Raptor in action. Every like and share helps me keep chasing jets across the country and bringing you closer to the action. Until next time — stay sharp, stay inspired, and I’ll see you at the next airshow! #F22Raptor #F22DemoTeam #CaptainLaz #NickLeTourneau #CherryFestivalAirshow #TraverseCityAirshow #Airshow2025 #MilitaryJets #FlareDemo #RaptorHowl #JetNoiseTherapy #AvGeek #USAF #stealthjets Thumbnail By: Heather Fields w/ On The Water Photography Navarre Instagram: @onthewaterphotographynavarre Website: www.onthewaternavarre.com