Red Flag 09-2
With the scream of jets and the skies over Vegas filled with aircraft, it can only mean one thing! It’s Red Flag time again!
Approx 4 times a year one of the largest gathering of aircraft takes place to wage a simulated war over the vast ranges in Nevada.
Nearly unlimited airspace allows dozens and dozens of fighters, bombers, electronic surveillance, tankers, transport, combat search and rescue aircraft to fly realistic mission to train them fight anywhere in the world and against any air force.
This Flag brought out aircraft from across the United States Air Force as well as from the Royal Air Force.
During one of the base hosted media days, nearly a hundred photographers from around the world were bussed inbetween the runways at Nellis AFB during the launch cycle of the day mission.
Standing at 150′ from the edge of the runway while over 60 aircraft took off was enough to put a smile on even the most seasoned aviation photographer.
And as if that wasn’t special enough, after the lauch we were allowed access in the EOR (End Of Runway) to be up close and personal for the aircraft landing.
A very special thanks to Mr. Mike Estrada and the PA staff at Nellis AFB for allowing us this unprecedented access.
Red Flag participants
Jan. 26 – Feb. 6, 2009
Red Air
F-16 and F-15, 64th and 65th Aggressor Squadrons, Nellis AFB, Nev.
F-16, NAS Fallon, Nev.
Blue Air
F-22, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
Interdiction
B-1B, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
F-15E, Seymour-Johnson AFB, N.C.
B-2, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
GR-9, United Kingdom (Ally)
F-16CM, Edwards AFB, Calif.
Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses
F-16, Shaw AFB, S.C.
Command, Control, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance
E-3, Tinker AFB, Okla.
E-3, RAF Waddington (Ally)
E-8, Robins AFB, Ga.
RQ-1, Creech AFB, Nev.
RC-135, Offutt AFB, Neb.
RQ-4, Beale AFB, Calif.
U-2, Beale AFB
Combat Search and Rescue
MH-60, NAS North Island, Calif.
Aerial Refueling
KC-135, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
KC-135, Grand Forks AFB, N.D.
KC-135, Seymour-Johnson AFB (AF Reserve)
KC-10, Travis AFB, Calif.
February 9th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
Awesome shots as usual. Those jets at 1/80th (and slower) are amazing, and I love the close up of the aggressor. One of these days I’m going to head out to a Red Flag.
Looking forward to your next series.
February 10th, 2009 at 6:08 am
Great shots Sagar!
February 10th, 2009 at 9:08 am
Fantastic shots, thanks for sharing!
February 16th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
Great shots, it seams as though the color of the F-16′s take on a different hue in the hot desert sun. Nothing better then seein a B-ONE take off up close and personnal.