Aviation Nation 2016: 75 Years of Airpower – Part III

A key component of Aviation Nation 2016 was the Nellis Capabilities Demonstration with Air-to-Air and Air-to-Ground Demonstrations featuring a fantastic array of Nellis Air Force Base aircraft. The base suddenly came under air attack from “Red Forces” General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcons of the 64th Aggressor Squadron (painted up in livery you would expect to see on combat aircraft of Russian origin) and McDonnell Douglas F-15D Eagles were scrambled with afterburners blazing to intercept them.

USAF General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon of the 64th Aggressor Squadron takes off to be part of the Nellis Capabilities Demonstration "Red Force" Aviation Nation 2016 — USAF General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon of the 64th Aggressor Squadron takes off to be part of the Nellis Capabilities Demonstration “Red Force”

USAF F-16 64th Aggressor Squadron Nellis AFB Aviation Nation — The F-16 aggressor aircraft are painted in livery similar to those of Russian origin combat aircraft

NELLIS SCRAMBLE! USAF McDonnell Douglas F-15D Eagle's Aviation Nation 2016 — NELLIS SCRAMBLE! USAF McDonnell Douglas F-15D Eagle’s

USAF F-15D Eagle Nellis AFB Aviation Nation 2016 — Eagle power

A long low take-off by an F-15D as it roars past the USAF Thunderbirds Aviation Nation 2016 — A long low take-off by an F-15D as it roars past the USAF Thunderbirds

USAF McDonnell Douglas F-15D two-seat combat trainer Aviation Nation 2016 — USAF McDonnell Douglas F-15D two-seat combat trainer

F-16 aggressor pass Aviation Nation 2016 Nellis AFB Nevada — F-16 aggressor pass

USAF F-15D in hot pursuit of the F-16C aggressor Aviation Nation 2016 — The F-15D in hot pursuit of the F-16C aggressor

USAF 64th Aggressor Squadron F-16C Aviation Nation 2016 — The Prey – USAF 64th Aggressor Squadron F-16C

Joint terminal attack controller (JTAC) — USAF Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) and Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC)

Then there was a USAF Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters troop insertion and extraction demonstration simulating the rescue of injured troops. The Pave Hawk is a well armed combat search and rescue helicopter. Close support was provided by a pair of Boeing F-15E Strike Eagles and a pair of Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft, the legendary “Warthog”! On the first day the Pave Hawk kicked up a hell of a lot of dust (on the second day they seemed to have been moved further away from the crowd)!

USAF F-15E Aviation Nation 2016 Nellis AFB — USAF McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle take-off with A-10’s waiting in the background

USAF Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II take-off Aviation Nation 2016 — USAF Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II take-off

USAF F-15E Strike Eagle releasing flares as it approaches the target area Aviation Nation 2016 — USAF F-15E Strike Eagle releasing flares as it approaches the target area

USAF F-15E Strike Eagle Nellis AFB — The Strike Eagle banks over the target area

The Strike Eagle releases another flare as it passes the target area Aviation Nation 2016 — The Strike Eagle releases another flare as it passes the target area

USAF F-15E Strike Eagle flying over the target area following a bombing run Aviation Nation 2016 — USAF F-15E Strike Eagle flying over the target area following a bombing run

A-10 breaks away Aviation Nation 2016 — A-10 breaks away to check out what needs to be cleaned up

Note the simulated cockpit painted on the underside of the A-10 to visually confuse the enemy on the ground - which way is it facing? — Note the simulated cockpit painted on the underside of the A-10 to visually confuse the enemy on the ground – which way is it facing?

You can imagine the firepower the A-10 can bring to the party with its massive General Electric GAU-8/A Avenger 30 mm rotary cannon and all those underwing hardpoints! Aviation Nation 2016 — You can imagine the firepower the A-10 can bring to the party with its massive General Electric GAU-8/A Avenger 30 mm rotary cannon and all those underwing hardpoints!

USAF Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk Combat Search & Rescue - Aviation Nation 2016 — Troops are wounded down there

USAF Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk Aviation Nation 2016 — USAF Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk

A-10 USAF Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk Aviation Nation 2016 — The troops and helicopters are safe with the A-10 circling above

Troop extraction USAF Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk Aviation Nation 2016 — Troop extraction time

USAF Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II Aviation Nation 2016 — The protector

Combat SAR Aviation Nation 2016 — Time for the ground troops to depart

Watching all those jets zipping about and listening to the thundering noise they made was a lot of fun, and a major component of the airshow. Something not to be missed!

The F-15D interceptors and F-16C aggressors fly past and peel off from the formation over Nellis AFB Aviation Nation 2016 — The F-15D interceptors and F-16C aggressors fly past and peel off from the formation over Nellis AFB

F-15E & A-10 The strike and close support formation fly past and break Aviation Nation 2016 — The F-15E & A-10 strike and close support formation fly past and break

The A-10 returns to base with an F-15E behind it Aviation Nation 2016 — The A-10 returns to base with an F-15E behind it

A-10 landing Nellis AFB Aviation Nation 2016 — The Warthog lands

USAF F-15D Eagle pass Aviation Nation 2016 — USAF F-15D Eagle pass

In my next post I will show some of the highlights of the Nellis Heritage Parade. This part of the air show featured some historic aircraft operated by the US military including early Cold War era jets. Around all this there were a number of civilian flying displays too.