Aircraft pics

[427TJ]

It's all fun-and-games until someone gets decapitated! (Or consumed by the fireball, etc.)

[mockingbird812]

A bud forwarded this to me:


Airventure 2009!

[427TJ]

I took these during Desert Storm (1991) when I was a tanker copilot. 363rd TFW F-16Cs from Shaw AFB, SC. Real bombs. Some bad guys are about to die.

[427TJ]

More from Desert Storm.

F-15C pilot from the 33rd TFW, Eglin AFB, FL taking a smoke break while his buddy refuels. Photo by a copilot from my squadron--we all traded photos. Note the single Iraqi kill flag and green star near the windscreen. Those guys loved it when we took out our cameras.




The swan-song for the F-4 Phantom in combat. Two RF-4Cs (photo reconaissance) perform for my camera during a refueling stop. It was like this: I said "Okay, break" on the radio and then I snapped the photo. We'd top-off anyone who would give us a little show while they were up with us.



Navy KA-6 Intruder (K = refueling version) close up by the cockpit for a photo. Note the extra tanks to refuel his Navy buddies. Yes, we'd occasionally refuel a KA-6 while the KA-6 refueled an F-14 or F-18.



My buddy Ken Murray shot this Eagle northbound at sunset. The war was fought primarily at night early on. I think this one made it into a calendar back in the '90s.

[427TJ]

Recent photo of USAF "Heritage" F-4 Phantoms inflight near Tyndall AFB, Florida. They are painted in various authentic paint schemes from the Phantom's past. All four are drone aircraft and will eventually be shot down during tests.

[427TJ]

Internet photo of an Air Guard KC-135 crew trying to kill themselves buzzing Wake Island. Try a stunt like that in the regular Air Force and your career is over.

[427TJ]

The sole Convair XC-99 cargo plane at Kelly AFB, TX in about 1950. It is now being restored for display at the USAF Museum at Dayton. The dark-tailed transport in a Boeing YC-97 (derived from the B-29) and that's a pair of B-29s behind the 97. Several Beech C-45s and Douglas A-26 Invaders beyond the left B-29.

[mockingbird812]

[ QUOTE ]
Internet photo of an Air Guard KC-135 crew trying to kill themselves buzzing Wake Island. Try a stunt like that in the regular Air Force and your career is over.



[/ QUOTE ]

SOLL II capable?

[427TJ]

Yeah Sam, they wish.

Found a nice evening shot of a pair of F-117s northbound over Saudi during Desert Storm. Hard to believe the F-117 is no longer in service. Remote-piloted drones are the future of aerial warfare. Cheaper too. No more Buck Rogers, no more Wild Blue Yonder.

[mockingbird812]

KC-135 actually has a SOLL II mission, but then again they would be doing the low levels at NIGHT !!