Nellis 4-24

a reply to: seagull

Oh god yes. The other half loves to spot with me because I'm like an overgrown kid as they come by. Especially with seeing the L-159s. First time I've seen them.

a reply to: randyvs

That's about right. The first 12 launched a little after 8, so allowing for navigation alignment and checks, they started between 7 and 730.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Very cool, Zaphod58. Thanks for taking the time to post these pictures, dude!

I miss watching the Eagle's doing maneuvers out West. The air station i used to live next to was home to a large wing of Falcon's and then they got moved to another location and large wing of 15's took their place. Both were a pleasure to see flying over the neighborhood. Cheaper than alarm an alarm clock too. You could hear the twin engine afterburners on the 15's for miles.

a reply to: Zaphod58

I remember thinking the intensity of the G's must be immense as
they shot from the horizontal to a verticle climb in the space of what
seemed to me as within a mile. Straight up so they looked like a nat.
We had an awesome time out there all the other crews at night
in Vegas. Imagine waking up every morning similar to this and
then going to a military base,

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: seagull

Oh god yes. The other half loves to spot with me because I'm like an overgrown kid as they come by. Especially with seeing the L-159s. First time I've seen them.

For those that don't know what the L-159 ALCA looks like:



u-boob vid of an ALCA in a dogfight with a Russian Mig-1.45s Vulture

a reply to: AnonyMason

One of the coolest things I ever saw, airplane wise, was watching two Harriers playing tag over the plains and hills of Eastern Washington between Pasco and Walla Walla, a few years ago...

Looked like they were having a grand time of it, too. Watched them play for about 15 minutes or so then they climbed away and headed for home, or to refuel so they could play some more...never saw 'em again, though.

Wish I'd had a camera.

Going back a few years watched RAAF Superbugs doing simulated ground attack on a paddock waaaay out Western Queensland as we were putting up grain silos..As a kid we were close to the training area for Pigs doing attack runs on Copeton Dam in NSW.Low level and fast.

a reply to: seagull

You should have seen us when we spotted that U2 at last year's Red Flag, or when we saw the Reapers at Creech, or that "special" transport convoy headed to TTR, or the F-117's at TTR, or the Rhinos at Star Wars Canyon.
Pretty much every day of that trip we were a pair of kids in the world's largest candy store wrapped around a private toy store with an unlimited budget.

a reply to: Sammamishman

You two in the same place? I can only imagine...

I think I'd have as much fun watching you two as I would the airplanes, though that'd be fun, too.

a reply to: seagull

Between the bad jokes and the "oooo! ooooo!" those trips are a blast.

a reply to: Zaphod58

What's that one on top??

Strange looking set of winglets in the center there...

a reply to: seagull

One of the Draken A-4 Skyhawks. I thought that was a pretty good shot with the spoilers deployed. If you zoom in on some of the F-16 pictures, you can see their spoilers deployed too. I'm always amazed at how tiny they are on the Viper.

a reply to: Zaphod58

I thought it was an A4, but then those winglets/spoilers kinda, well, spoiled it for me...

Thanks.

a reply to: seagull

I've got some more shots of the A-4s uploading. I always like the Scooter.

More Scooters:

Oregon and Nellis F-15s heading out to the range.

A4,s always remind me of Top Gun...

Great shots.

Love the A-4. I was lucky enough to finish my training in the TA-4J. When fully dirty (like your shot) they have so much hanging out. Those long spindly gear.

My first Trap was in the skyhawk. And my first Cat. And my first waveoff (up the starboard side:duh and my first bolter.

We had some that were converted combat aircraft and they still had the switchology for weapons. Loved seeing the Rockets switch.

Last cool thing was how the stick had to bend halfway up the shaft of the stick in order to put in roll commands because the cockpit is so dang small. Great Airplane. Thanks for the pics.

a reply to: cosmania

Some of those were fun shots to get. Where I was standing, they'd go right over my head, so I'd start snapping, and instead of trying to turn around and find them again, I'd end up leaning over backwards as far as I could, until I couldn't bend anymore, then I'd turn around. It was interesting to see the different patterns. Some would go behind me, and others wouldn't even get over me.