Fred Johnsen, the force behind the Airailimages YouTube channel and General Aviation News Of Wings & Things columnist, recently posted this video of the Red Flag jets in afterburner, during a Nellis Air Force Base training mission.
“The unbeatable combination of night afterburner takeoffs with Las Vegas’ unreal night skyline, including the new Sphere, is captured in these scenes from Red Flag 24-2 on March 19, 2024,” Fred notes.
AB night-ops takeoffs always give me chills and bring-back deeply hidden memories…
“I love the smell of jet fuel-exhaust in the morning… or anytime.” –me
Nothing like seeing the stage-5 Mach diamonds from the twin engines of an F-15C struggling to accelerate with 3-bags* of fuel and full weapons load. You can feel the power vibrating deeply in your chest a couple of thousand feet away.
*3-bags = 3 x 500-gallon external tanks
What’s really fun:
Taking off from Nellis on runways 21L or 21R, towards downtown, in full blower, and setting off all the car alarms…
Absolutely stunning