Can anyone identify these fighters on desert runway???

Found these fighters on a desert runway on Google, looks as if it may be a bombing range but no sign of craters!! I think it is in Kansas?

click here...

Sorry guys, actually in New Mexico - my mistake...

Originally posted by Black Watcher
Sorry guys, actually in New Mexico - my mistake...

That is the soon to be closed Cannon AFB. Currently it's F-16's based out of there, but back in the good old days, you could see F-111's, B-52's and B-1's flying through there.

Are you sure it's connon AFB as there are hardly any buildings??

It's NOT Cannon AFB as this is near Clover? This desert airstrip is to the west in the middle of nowhere?

Originally posted by Black Watcher
Are you sure it's connon AFB as there are hardly any buildings??

The actual map section is the Melrose Bombing Range. Which is part of Cannon AFB's command.

cnjonline.com...

Mirthful Me. Thank you for the info, much apprecaited.

Clovis is due east of Cannon, but this field is a good piece WSW from Cannon; at least 45km as the crow flies. The light coloured ones look like they either have twin tail stabilisers or "T" configurations. The darker ones definitely look like they have "T" tails. It took me a few minutes, but I finally found the area with Google Earth. Probably a graveyard of some sort, would be my guess. Not sure exactly what type the craft are though. Good find.


Thanks Mirthful!

[edit on 24-7-2005 by Lordling]

They look like decoys. Not sure about jet operation off of a dirt runway. The runway looks likeit is just bulldozed for looks, and not for actual use, kinda a quick job. I would guess either for bombing practice, that has yet to happen, or for straffing practive with cannons.

This is mere speculation here, but a very informed guess. Since we (the Air Force) seldom design airfields in the fashion that appears in this picture, one could assume it is a mock-up air base for the sole purpose of letting pilots practice laser lock-ons.

I may be wrong, but I can see no hangers or parking areas for aircraft except for the aircraft adjacent to the flightline, and we usually don't park our valuable aircraft directly next to the flightline which is our always our top priority to upkeep and defend, so that we can better respond after an attack.

So, (although I admit it is a guess) This may well be a model airfield that was or is being used as training grounds for pilots. The fact that there are no craters, doesn't mean they are not playing "laser tag" with ground objects that do have sensors.

Originally posted by Esoteric Teacher
This is mere speculation here, but a very informed guess. Since we (the Air Force) seldom design airfields in the fashion that appears in this picture, one could assume it is a mock-up air base for the sole purpose of letting pilots practice laser lock-ons.

I may be wrong, but I can see no hangers or parking areas for aircraft except for the aircraft adjacent to the flightline, and we usually don't park our valuable aircraft directly next to the flightline which is our always our top priority to upkeep and defend, so that we can better respond after an attack.

So, (although I admit it is a guess) This may well be a model airfield that was or is being used as training grounds for pilots. The fact that there are no craters, doesn't mean they are not playing "laser tag" with ground objects that do have sensors.

That is a good idea. I was under the assumption of straffing practice with cannons because of some of the crumpled aircraft towards the bottom of the map. I figure the darker aircraft are from smoke damage/fire damage.

You may be right. I find it hard to believe we would have aircraft utilizing a dirt runway, and we usually make some attempt to conceal aircraft, but most of these are rather bright and stick out like a sore thumb with respects to the surroundings. I can't speculate much more, but I do know we have similar fake runways with retired aircraft used to practice on here in Nevada, north of Nellis AFB.

Good inquiries, though.

Originally posted by Esoteric Teacher
You may be right. I find it hard to believe we would have aircraft utilizing a dirt runway, and we usually make some attempt to conceal aircraft, but most of these are rather bright and stick out like a sore thumb with respects to the surroundings. I can't speculate much more, but I do know we have similar fake runways with retired aircraft used to practice on here in Nevada, north of Nellis AFB.

Good inquiries, though.

I do not belive them to be real aircraft, but mearly plywood moc ups.

Originally posted by wiggy


I do not belive them to be real aircraft, but mearly plywood moc ups.

You may be correct. But, I have seen old fuselages from aircraft utilized for training excersizes. They also seem to reflect and are shiny, but that could easily be paint.

Originally posted by Esoteric Teacher

Originally posted by wiggy


I do not belive them to be real aircraft, but mearly plywood moc ups.

You may be correct. But, I have seen old fuselages from aircraft utilized for training excersizes. They also seem to reflect and are shiny, but that could easily be paint.

Yeah, I was thinking plywood, with aluminum foil/whatever, or as you said, old war birds on final for eternity.