# Why were there so many names for the F-22 Ligtning/Rapier/Raptor? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 9, 2001, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-there-so-many-names-for-the-f-22-ligtning-rapier-raptor/86422 "2001-10-09T22:13:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2001, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-there-so-many-names-for-the-f-22-ligtning-rapier-raptor/86422/1 "2001-10-09T22:13:18Z")
Pardon me for posting, but I was wondering…Does anyone know why there were so many different names used for the F-22 Fighter? As I remember, first it was the “Lightning II”, then for a while it was the “Rapier”, NOW it’s the “Raptor.” Can anyone enlighten me? Thanks for your time, Nick gaston ---
**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2001, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-there-so-many-names-for-the-f-22-ligtning-rapier-raptor/86422/2 "2001-10-09T22:19:26Z")
**Lightning II** was the lockheed’s unofficial name for its prototype, the YF-22A. **Rapier** and (_gag_) **Superstar** were production names under consideration by the Pentagon until it went into service. The in-service name is **Raptor**. ---
**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2001, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-there-so-many-names-for-the-f-22-ligtning-rapier-raptor/86422/3 "2001-10-09T22:20:34Z")
Make that “…was Lockheed’s unofficial…” ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2001, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-there-so-many-names-for-the-f-22-ligtning-rapier-raptor/86422/4 "2001-10-09T22:24:06Z")
According to mixed (and confused) Google search results, Lockheed suggested ‘Lightning II’ for the YF-22 prototype. The USAF didn’t like this. Cheney suggested ‘Super Star’ (to honour the old ‘Shooting Star’) but was thankfully booed down. ‘Rapier’ was a popular suggestion around the same time, but ‘Raptor’ was selected by the USAF. Other sites claim ‘Lightning II’ was either the prototype radio call-sign or purely a provisional name (alongside ‘Black Widow II’ for the competing YF-23 design), and that ‘Rapier’ was purely media invention. ---
**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2001, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-there-so-many-names-for-the-f-22-ligtning-rapier-raptor/86422/5 "2001-10-09T22:31:34Z")
I’m wondering if **Rapier** might not have been the result of a hurried glance at **Raptor** - someone perhaps saw **Raptor** in print, misread it as **Rapier** , and passed on the incorrect name? Just a random thought… ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2001, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-there-so-many-names-for-the-f-22-ligtning-rapier-raptor/86422/6 "2001-10-09T22:40:51Z")
And _I’m_ wondering why both the YF-22 and YF-23 both took their working names from twin-boomed strategic pursuit aircraft from WWII (well, the P-61 was a night fighter, but…). ---
**Author:** ![Mekhazzio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b38774/32.png) [@Mekhazzio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mekhazzio)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2001, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-there-so-many-names-for-the-f-22-ligtning-rapier-raptor/86422/7 "2001-10-10T03:31:47Z")
Well, the P-38 Lightning was one of the more well-rounded fighters of WW2. It had good range, good speed, good maneuverability and was used as an interceptor quite a bit (they shot down Yamamoto’s transport, for instance) Since interception is the role the F-22 is destined for and it also performs pretty well in all categories, the Lightning’s legacy is as applicable as any. It’s no more of a stretch than “Thunderbolt II” is for the A-10. ---
**Author:** ![bdgr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2001, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-there-so-many-names-for-the-f-22-ligtning-rapier-raptor/86422/8 "2001-10-10T06:15:08Z")
Well, at work, we only refer to it as the Raptor, and we are the ones who build it. I cant wait to see what they decide to call the JSF ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2001, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-there-so-many-names-for-the-f-22-ligtning-rapier-raptor/86422/9 "2001-10-10T08:24:44Z")
Steve. I think ‘Steve’ would be a great name. Kind of informal, but with an undercurrent of menace. I give you the F-24 (or whatever) - the F-24 Steve.