2016 Trip Report

This is going to take at least a couple of days to get it all up, but I thought I'd start with the report and photos from our trip.

Day one was Monday, at Nellis, for the Red Flag launch. It was quite the eventful day. We started out on the Las Vegas Speedway end of the base, near the landing area, and started off with a trio of F-15Es coming home, followed by two F-15Cs.

Then we went down to the other end of the base, and started getting launches. Some were for Red Flag, some were just normal operational missions.

Then things got interesting. The Thunderbirds came home from the Toledo, Ohio airshow.

Then the launches began again.

Then we had our first emergency of the day.

Launches continued around it.

We were being watched too.

Then we had a B-52 that had to back taxi to parking, because it broke before take off, while taxiing to the runway.

Normal cargo operations with a pair of C-130s (these play a role in later events we believe)

This Growler did a wing wag as it was taking off towards us.

That was day one of the trip. I'll upload more pictures tomorrow, with the continuing adventures of Zaphod and Sam, in Nevada.

Thanks for those photos. Perfect blue sky's behind the aircraft make the photos pop. You two stay safe and have a good time.👍

Having issues with ATS. Thanks for the photos. The perfect blue sky's really help the aircraft pop. Looking forward to the rest. You two stay safe and have fun.👍

Having issues with ATS. Thanks for the photos. The perfect blue sky's really help the aircraft pop. Looking forward to the rest. You two stay safe and have fun.👍

a reply to: Zaphod58
Thanks for the awesome pics Zaph.

Stay safe and enjoy, I'm jealous.

a reply to: Zaphod58

G'day Zaph,

Great pics. Am I correct you've taken a couple of A4's and a TA4.

Are they still operational?

Kind regards,

Bally

a reply to: bally001

If you zoom in on them, you'll see the Draken name, an N-number registration near the tail and the company logo. They're a civilian company hired to do counter air for exercises.

You can also still see the Kiwi, showing at least one is a former New Zealand aircraft.

The rest of the trip:

Tuesday, we headed out past Creech, to Tonopah. Most of the Tonopah pictures will come from Sam, as he had the better setup for long distance shots there, but I have a few that turned out interesting.

Creech:

Prior to Creech there's a practice area that is used. There are a pair of A-7s that have been stripped down, a vehicle convoy out in the desert, and various vehicles scattered around.

Then when we got to Creech, this guy was flying around.

There were a few sitting around too, the lazy bastards.

We also ran into the Thunderbirds again, practicing.

Those were Draakens rather than a4's?

Never noticed how much alike they look.

Sounds like you're having a blast, Zaph.

a reply to: seagull

No, the company name is Draken. They're A-4s.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Displaying my ignorance again, I see... ((sigh))

Someday...

a reply to: seagull

No worries. I hadn't heard about them until a few years ago. I knew about one or two companies that did counter air, but it wasn't until I saw a pair of Su-27s over Alabama, that I found out who the various companies were.

Wednesday and Thursday we were at Tonopah, up on Brainwash Butte. Wednesday, was a rather fun day.

It's not easy to see, but if you look closely, you can see that two hangars are open. Shortly after these guys came out to play on the range. We watched them come back down the valley, well below the top of the ridge, then climb up over, staying very low over the top of the ridge,and disappear behind it,before coming back to land.

Friday, on our way back out of Nevada, and heading home. We decided to stop at Star Wars Canyon for an hour or two along the way, and see what we could see. And these guys decided to come out and give us a show.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Nice pics of a bird that's not supposed to be even flyable anymore

a reply to: Bfirez

We have better, but I'm going to let Sam post them after he gets home and settled.

a reply to: Zaphod58

I thought those were out of service now?

Those were the black jet, right?

Gotta say I'm a bit jealous! THANK YOU so much for posting these!

Zazz