336^th Recruiting Squadron 

6243 Woolsey Street

Moody AFB, GA 31699

http://www.airforce.com

Air Force R.A.P.T.O.R. on display at Vidalia Onion Festival

MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- An Air Force Raptor will be on display at the Vidalia Onion Festival air show April 12 and 13, but it’s not what you’d expect from the world’s premiere Air and Space Force.

In fact, this RAPTOR isn’t even an aircraft – it’s a new SUV, and RAPTOR stands for Reaching America’s Public To Optimize Recruiting.  The RAPTOR is a vehicle designed to attract young and old and to offer a glimpse of what the Air Force is all about.  A three-minute recruiting video presentation captivates audiences of all ages, and shows qualified applicants exactly what America’s Air Force has to offer. 

This new mobile marketing tool reconnects the Air Force to the American public, promotes the Air Force Cross into the Blue recruiting campaign, and collects data on people interested in joining the Air Force.

The truck, before modifications, was a 2003 GMC Yukon XL.  Now, the SUV has a blue, white and gray paint scheme featuring the “Cross into the Blue” logo and Air Force symbol.  The official Air Force web site and phone number are also featured on the RAPTOR SUV and trailer.

The customized RAPTOR SUV features a backlit billet grill on the front below the Air Force symbol. The 20” custom wheels have self-balancing custom-center caps featuring the Air Force symbol.  The interior is leather with the Air Force symbol embroidered on the headrests. 

The vehicle entertainment center features a FLATRON 42’’ TV-120V plasma screen, resolution 640 X 480 VGA over 160 degree viewing angle.  The multi-input head unit has CD, DVD, AM/FM and public address capabilities.  An after-market PlayStation 2 video game system was added to further enhance the recruiting mission.  Video games include an Air Force flight simulator and NASCAR Thunder 2003, where race fans can get behind the wheel of the Cross Into the Blue No. 21 car. 

The back end of the SUV boasts a full-range sound system with four 10-inch sub woofers, two 6.5-inch mid-range speakers, four 2-inch high-end tweeters, two amplifiers and a DVD player.  The molded speakers are enclosed in the cargo area of the SUV, and the DVD/CD ROM have direct interface to the plasma screen.

The first production of RAPTOR SUV was delivered to Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, in October 2002.  Thirty-one RAPTOR SUVs nationwide, provide every recruiting unit a marketing platform to reconnect the Air Force with the American public.

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Photos of the Raptor -- http://www.af.mil/news/Oct2002/103102566.shtml

Air Force Recruiting: www.airforce.com

The Air Force symbol:  www.af.mil/airforcestory/symbol.shtml

POC:  Staff Sgt. Sonny Cohrs, 336^th Recruiting Squadron Public Affairs

E-mail:  [email protected], Voice: 229-257-2987, Cell:  229-292-5909