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”

Another USAF 64th Aggressor Squadron F-16C takes off to join in on the mayhem!

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

Eagle power

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

F-16 aggressor pass

F-16 aggressor with afterburner blazing!

The F-15D in hot pursuit of the F-16C aggressor

The F-15D in hot pursuit of the F-16C aggressor

The F-15D Eagle is on the hunt

The Hunter – F-15D with afterburner

The Prey – USAF 64th Aggressor Squadron F-16C

Air Superiority – USAF F-15D Eagle

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 McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle take-off with A-10’s waiting in the background

Strike Eagle away!

USAF Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II take-off

USAF Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II take-off past the Nellis control tower

USAF F-15E Strike Eagle releasing flares as it approaches the target area

The Strike Eagle banks over the target area

The Strike Eagle releases another flare as it passes the target area

Another look over the target area with the afterburners blazing on the F-15E

Another flare release to be safe

Lets hit that target…

BOOM!

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

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?

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!

Troops are wounded down there

USAF Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk Combat Search & Rescue helicopters are inbound

USAF Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk

Rescue personnel are inserted at the LZ

Covering fire is provided by another well armed HH-60 Pave Hawk

The HH-60 Pave Hawk can be armed with 7.62mm miniguns and 0.50 Calibre machine guns

The HH-60’s have top cover from the A-10’s

The troops and helicopters are safe with the A-10 circling above

Troop extraction time

Time to go!

Roll out!

The HH-60’s head for base

Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk combat search and rescue helicopter

The protector

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

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

The Warthog lands

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.

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