Air Force OCC chopper retires

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The Orange County Chopper on display at its new home at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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Air Force OCC chopper retires

Posted 5/29/2013 Updated 5/30/2013

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by Staff Sgt. Hillary Stonemetz
Air Force Recruiting Service

5/29/2013 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO - RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) -- After more than five years of service, one of the Air Force's mobile marketing assets, the F-22 Raptor-themed chopper, retired and moved to its new home in the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

Designed by the Orange County Choppers, the chopper is now on display in the museum's gift shop.

"It is one of the first artifacts seen by the 1.2 million visitors who visit the museum annually," said Jeffery Underwood, NMUSAF historian. "Future plans call for its display on a raised platform that will allow visitors to view its unique features more easily."

During its service, the chopper reached millions of people through appearances on the reality television show American Chopper and the Military Channel, and by being displayed over 1,000 Air Force recruiting events nationwide, according to Master Sgt. Lance Griffin, Air Force Recruiting Service Strategic Marketing Division advertising superintendent.

Griffin has been involved with the chopper project from the very beginning.

"With the popularity of the show American Chopper, we partnered with OCC back in 2005 to build this chopper," he said. "The chopper demonstrated how a passion for mechanics can translate into a career in the Air Force."

The chopper toured the nation in a trailer that featured a video documenting the chopper being built. The 150-horse power chopper sports an F-22 Raptor custom theme complete with F-22 shaped mirrors, rims, seat, exhaust and an aircraft themed paint scheme.

It was officially retired in 2010, and has been on display in the AFRS Headquarters' lobby until being donated to the Air Force museum this month.

"The National Museum of the United States Air Force maintains a close relationship with the Air Force Recruiting Service, and obtaining the OCC Chopper will help us to tell the public the Air Force's story and to educate our youth," Underwood said. "Its F-22 Raptor theme will convey the importance of air power while assisting in teaching the principles of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)."

Comments

6/4/2013 1:05:38 AM ET
17 years ago when I was a senior in highschool i signed up for DEP. not because of a motorcycle or a paint job on a NASCAR. it was an air force recruiter showing up to my rural KS highschool. that is what sold me.

bs, ks

6/3/2013 4:51:49 PM ET
There are lots of government agencies which do not put this kind of junk money into advertising and still manage to meet their accession goals. The Air Force should pull back on all advertising for awhile. Besides this kind of gimmickry will attract more rednecks and we do not need any more of them in the Air Force.

Sgt Whoever, conus

6/3/2013 9:42:14 AM ET
A1C Cameron's comparison of this bike to TV ads misses the mark. Yes the ads do cost money but they can be present in every TV market simultaneously and aired repeatedly especially during programming popular with the AF's target demographic. The bike can be in only one place at a time and it needs time and money to move it around. Chopper Fan quit the name calling. This bike is not an example of 'strategic reticle' it is a marketing gimmick. All the talk about this bike NASCAR or TIB as recruiting tools is misguided. The best recruiting tools we have are the people in uniform. A recruiter NCO who can speak intelligently about AF life in public is far more effective than an expensive useless toy.

DMPI, Arlington VA

6/3/2013 9:26:49 AM ET
It's all about return on investment. This advertising piece was used to draw attention to our recruiters at major events all over the United States during a time when it was hard for recruiters to get attention. The motorcycle was great for drawing people to our recruiting booths. Also there were 3 separate episodes on American Chopper the series that aired over and over and over worth Millions in advertising. They also let Air Force Marketing put up an Air Force flag that can be clearly seen in 2 or 3 years of episodes worth millions in free advertising. It was clearly not a waste of money and did its job honorably. Because of this crazy custom motorcycle thousands of kids spoke to recruiters and joined the Air Force. I understand the sentiment of some of the comments as these are hard times. At the time the bike was purchased Air Force Marketing had a budget that could support out of the box ideas to help recruiters who were struggling.

G man, Randolph AFB

6/2/2013 7:03:06 PM ET
@Jack 150K spent 5 years ago has no impact on furloughs today. I agree with MSgt J in that you have to spend money to attact talent. Of course it can be argued that this chopper might not have had a real effect but that could be said of any deal that YOU are not interested in I don't care for NASCAR for instance. As far as wasted money let's focus on current things like resurfacing perfectly good roads building new buildings or renovating or replacing existing ones just because or putting new facades on aircraft hangers that don't need them.

SSgt K, AR

6/2/2013 1:32:44 AM ET
This bike enticed a lot of young Airmen to join the AF. One of them may become the future CMSAF or CSAF. What a bunch of pitiful whiners. This was a great investment. Lack of strategic reticle here is embarrassing.

Chopper Fan, JBSA

5/31/2013 4:58:58 PM ET
@MSgt J Actually the 150000 wasted on the OCC chopper is quite significant as it could eliminate the need for up to 60 civil service employees to be furloughed this year.

Jack, San Antonio

5/31/2013 4:29:31 PM ET
I remember when I was 13 watching OCC build that bike 5 12 years later I joined the USAF... Now did seeing this make me want to join Absolutely not. But it did plant the seed subliminally. Regardless of what they paid for it or how unpractical it is it worked. You could make the same argument for television commercials that the USAF airs. Those cost thousands of dollars to run but you're not saying anything about that.

A1C Cameron, RAF Croughton

5/31/2013 3:49:45 PM ET
@MSgt J JBSA Your comment about 150000 is nothing in the big scheme of things is exactly what is wrong with our AF and the US Government. Thats precisely the mentality that has put our country in debt and weakened our military. If every organization knew the value of a single dollar and then obligated only those dollars necessary to complete the mission we would never be in this mess. How many times have you heard if you dont spend it this year you won't get it next year On a side note nobody joined the AF because OCC built a cool chopper. Another failed recruiting argument is Tops in Blue fiasco. Folks who joined the AF because of TIB inspired them to do so only wanted to become TIB. How much is spent on TIB per year

MSgt K, JBSA

5/31/2013 10:27:13 AM ET
Have any of you ever heard of recruiting AFRS has to appeal to the young generation in order to recruit people. OCC was very popular so the AF just like many other business had a very impractical chopper built to be used for advertisement. 150000 is nothing in the big scheme of things.

MSgt J, JBSA

5/31/2013 9:10:14 AM ET
Since this chopper symbolizes an F-22 it also comes equipped with a roll of duct tape to cover a rider's mouth and nose in order to prevent them from breathing.

Alan, USA

5/31/2013 9:07:51 AM ET
There was also a B2 chopper built by American Chopper.

Brian, MO

5/31/2013 8:29:27 AM ET
While they're at it why not park another wannabe piece of AF memorabilia in the gift shop one of those AF sponsored Richard Petty Motorsports NASCAR race cars. Other than some F-22 inspiration it has nothing to do with the history of the AF. Regardless of who paid for it or how great the craftsmanship is it has no place in the museum.

DMPI, Arlington VA

5/30/2013 2:30:00 PM ET
All answers can be found on google....The United States Air Force commissioned a 150000 ten-feet long 'Raptor Bike' designed after the FA-22 Raptor jet by OCC.

Aaron, wa

5/30/2013 2:12:02 PM ET
This will be one of the artifacts seen by 1.2 million visitors that shows wasted money that was spent.

John Clark, Outside looking in

5/30/2013 11:27:34 AM ET
What a waste but certainly not surprising.

Ernie, CAFB

5/30/2013 9:56:52 AM ET
The chopper demonstrated how a passion for mechanics can translate into a career in the Air Force. Well he's really stretching to justify why this impractical bike was built probably since he was involved with the thing for the past 8 years.

Pj, OS

5/30/2013 2:48:51 AM ET
Nice to know this is what happend to the money for my auto hobby shops...

Jacob P, Shiny lights

5/29/2013 3:16:01 PM ET
very nice....anyone know what the AF paid for that bike

Jon, LA

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