UPDATE: Happy 60th Birthday to the USAF (18 Sep 1947 – 2007)
(thanks for the reminder Mike)
Frequent readers of this site (all 3 of you…) know that we tend not to cut the Junior Service too much slack, especially since their idea of a tailhook has not much more heft than a bent coat hanger (if one is present at all). However, there is the occasional photo op that is too good to pass on, especially if it can elicit a response from the strike-fighter contingent. And so, we came across the photo below whilst working (in our official capacity too – sometimes it is fun doing what you are paid to do) on some research for a project (click on photo for higher-res shot):
We await the response with no little curiosity 
There’s some more below the fold…
A pair of Mustangs flank an F-4 at the March 2007 Heritage Conference at Davis-Monthan AFB. For those marveling at an operational F-4 when they had been retired from the operational inventory some few years ago — this is a drone painted in Heritage colors and will (one day) offer itself up as a target.
Offer us an opportunity to show a Mustang (winged or pony-car variety) and we, of course, will bite the hook…
…throw in a (rare) Jug (OK, P-47 for the noobies) and we’ll bite harder:
Sometimes, inspite of their best efforts, the home team manages to sneak a presence onto the Junior Service’s photo site:
One would imagine the above group would spell bad news for the operator of a SAM or EW site…
And finally, remember the Valiant Shield ’07 photo? Well, with the exception of the real aircraft, all the others had to come from someplace:
(Anderson AFB, GUAM)
Stumble It!
Stumble it!
That Raptor flies in ways that I am not familiar with. All this and stealthy too?
It’s pretty cool.
I remember seeing a Rhino-F perform at Andrews several years ago; it was the first time I have ever seen a military plane do a Hammerhead stall or a one-turn spin (or so it appeared from the ground; I doubt that the plane departed controlled flight).
This summer I saw the Raptor perform at Andrews; not only did it do Hammerheads, but it would literally stop in the air; “float” downward belly first while the pilot yawed the nose through 180° turns, and then throttle up and return to normal flight.
Damned impressive engineering.
Saw Raptors performing at an Airshow in Rhode Island this past June. Amazing things to see – power, speed and maneuverability at speeds that boggle the mind. I too saw that “Hammerhead” move mentioned by Bruce above (didn’t know that’s what it was called). “Damned impressive” is an understatement.
We watched a video recently about the choreography behind those airshows – it’s just as impressive that while much of it is planned, overall the pilot just “does his/her thing” in the moment, depending on conditions.
Wow.
Ahhhh – note the mighty war pigs crouched at the ready on the starboard hot pads. Ready to spring in to action on a moment’s notice! By action, of course, I mean an R2N to Hong Kong, or perhaps a mini-det to Amsterdam.
What’s the per diem rate these days?
Nice way to celebrate the USAF’s 60th!
That Raptor is gorgeous.
What Mike said. Great pics, SJS, thanks!
Very kewl!
Thanks SJS … and Lex
Just got back from the Reno Air Races where the 60th anniversary was
a theme of the event. No Raptor or F-4, but the Viper West and A-10 West demo
teams were there for the Heritage Flyby with the P38, Glacier Girl, and an A-1
Skyraider. Beautiful!
NAVAIR participation was an F/A-18C on the ramp, and a formation flyby
of an F/A-18C and F-16 from Fallon’s Adversary Squadron.
A Restored T-2 Buckeye won the Jet Gold Race, and Mike Brown’s
F-7F Tigercat “Big Bossman” painted in Marine colors is always a crowd favorite!
There was also a FM-2 Wildcat “Air Biscuit” in the Bronze as well.
If anyone’s sitting on the fence about going to Reno, think about falling
on the side to see the races-My 1st year and I’m hooked!
Blue Skies & X6,
Rich
re #4 Kris in NE, linky for the video by chance? I was at the same show @ Q BTW and it was impressive watching the 22 and the 15 flying tight (relatively) with the Mustang. That Raptor was sweet – kinda makes one wish for a high in the Hi-Lo for the Navy, eh? Though nice to see the Superbug screaming fast & low though it did soil the underthings of some attendees…