---
title: "F-22 Raptor Grounded By Swarm"
description: "Undoubtedly the victory tasted sweet."
date: "2016-08-11"
modified: "2016-08-11"
authors:
  - name: "Tyler Rogoway"
    job_title: "Editor-in-Chief"
    link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/tyler-rogoway"
url: "https://www.twz.com/4799/f-22-raptor-grounded-by-swarm"
categories:
  - "Air"
  - "Air Forces"
  - "Americas"
  - "Around The Globe"
  - "F-22"
  - "Fighters"
  - "News & Features"
  - "U.S. Air Force"
  - "U.S. Homeland"
tags:
  - "F-22"
  - "Humor"
  - "Langley AFB"
  - "Raptors"
---

# F-22 Raptor Grounded By Swarm

![](<https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-twz/content/archive-images/2781986a_2.jpg>)
*www.twz.com*

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!

![2781978.jpg](<https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/content/archive-images/2781978.jpg>)
*Honey bees commandeer one of an F-22's exhaust petals., *USAF**

![2781971.jpg](<https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/content/archive-images/2781971.jpg>)
*Navy veteran and pro bee keeper Andy Westrich removes bees from a F-22., *USAF**

![2781983.jpg](<https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/content/archive-images/2781983.jpg>)
*Navy veteran and pro bee keeper Andy Westrich removes bees from a F-22., *USAF**

![2781987.jpg](<https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/content/archive-images/2781987.jpg>)
*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](<mailto:Tyler@thedrive.com>)*

## Author
Tyler’s passion is the study of military technology, strategy, as well as foreign policy, and he has fostered a dominant voice on those topics in the defense and national security space. Tyler was the creator of the hugely popular defense site *Foxtrot Alpha* before developing *TWZ*, which he continues to lead as the Editor-In-Chief to this day.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/Aviation_Intel>)