USAF pictures: F-15E and a new Predator

Antoinette

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http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25452&Itemid=224 :


The 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing received a new MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial aircraft and immediately put it to action. The predator took its maiden flight, Feb. 13, 2009. The Predator is a remotely piloted plane used for reconnaissance and for strike missions with laser guided missiles if needed. Photo by Senior Airman Tiffany Trojca, 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing.​


http://bellum.stanfordreview.org/?p=348 :

081215-F-7823A-931.jpg


F-15E providing close-air-support over A-stan. (Defenselink: SSgt. Aaron Allmon)


Both of these Air Force planes are amazing. The missions the pilots fly support current operations. Thank you AF!

Which aircraft would you rather fly? I think I can quess....:wink:

Here is the text of the Predator article:

New MQ-1 Predator Takes Flight

Thursday, 19 February 2009

JOINT BASE BALAD — The 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing received a new MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial aircraft and immediately put it into action, Feb. 13. “As far as getting a new aircraft, it’s not very often in the Predator community you are launching a brand-new plane that’s never been flown operationally before,” said Lt. Col. Debra Lee, 46th Expeditionary Reconnaissance and Attack Squadron commander. “The one we received today only had four hours on it, which includes testing time back in the United States.”
After arriving here disassembled and packed in a crate, the remotely piloted plane used for reconnaissance and strike missions [if needed] was reassembled within two days and up and flying its perfect first trip into blue Iraqi skies on “Friday the Thirteenth.”
“Normally on a daily basis, we are launching aircraft with at least hundreds, if not thousands of hours on them,” added the squadron commander, deployed from Creech Air Force Base, Nev. “It is great to get a new aircraft.”
The commander and pilot went on to point out that her squadron can’t accomplish its mission without the maintainers who put it together, and the squadron can’t fly missions without the work of other aviators - both in Iraq and back in the U.S.
“The maintenance team we have here is very professional,” Lee said, who’s from Carroll, Iowa. “They get our aircraft crated up and then unpacked over here in a very short time and are working around the clock.”
At 5 p.m. local, the plane went through a series of checks and the engine started. After another series of power and brake checks, maintainers pulled away the chocks (pieces of heavy wood holding the tires in place) and, a few seconds later, the Predator carefully taxied out to the runway - which is also used by fighter, cargo and civilian aircraft.
Twenty minutes before sundown, the MQ-1 aircraft launched from the desert base without a hitch, rising high into the light blue sky to help provide overwatch and security for U.S. and Coalition forces and Iraqis alike. Back in the control booth, Lee and sensor operator Senior Airman Charlie Cui were busy talking to controllers and each other while working a multitude of buttons, controls and radios.
“This first day we’ll fly it just a couple of hours,” said Lee. “After this first sortie is over, it will be full-up and ready like the rest of our aircraft and it will be able to do everything we need it to with longer missions.”
Day in and day out, the Predator mission continues at Balad.
Also deployed here from Creech AFB, Cui said he is proud of his work alongside the pilots.
“What is nice and unique out here is that we work with security forces locally to help with security for both our base and the Iraqis. We set the Predator up to launch its first flight in Iraq.
“It is a lifetime opportunity; you are responsible for a lot of people on the ground helping them as their eye in the sky,” continued Cui, smiling as he watched the plane’s sensors on his monitor. “I have a great chance to help people down below the plane, especially security forces. Overall, it’s a pretty cool mission.”
(By Maj. Stan Paregien, 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing)
 
I will tell you that Jet Noise is the sound of freedom

I am a woman, but there is a beauty in that jet. I have spent many afternoons making sure that I didn't walk across the red line:confused::eek: Even at Bullets retirement with 100+ people it was important to make sure nobody crossed it:wink:

The STRIKE is beautiful, the WHISPERING DEATH was also just as amazing. I am sure that people will look at the 22 and the 35 in the same awe. You can either see it as a piece of metal or a piece of military force with and artistic design.
 
We just got back from the Commisary at Nellis. The 2 ships of F-16's and F-15's have been taking off all day for Red Flag. Nothing like walking out side the BX or Commisary and listening to all the car alarms going off as the jets take off.
 
You will also get so use to the noise that while you are on the phone you will tell them to hold on and count off the planes (typically they go in 2 ships or 4)...my family always laughed at that...as you get more experienced you'll be able to tell which runway they are taking off from just from the volume.

I agree watching them as you exit the commissary or hospital was always beautiful...I use to even count when they turned and if Bullet was with me we would look and go oops number 3 is off or number 2, etc.
 
3 x GBU-38s, 1 x GBU-31, looks like a couple of GBU-12s mixed in, sniper pod, 2 x tanks, 3 AMRAAMS and an AIM-9M, chaff, flares (minus the 8 coming off), and 500+ rounds of 20 mike mike thrown in for good measure!!!!:thumb:

In the immortal words of Tim Allen (in his best caveman imitation): "AAAARGH, AAARGH, AAARGH!" :shake:

My words now? Sigh..... Dang I miss it!
 
This has been a fun Red Flag becuase Nascar and the Thunderbirds are both in town too. The race starts on Friday and the Thunderbirds are practicing for their season opener in two weeks. I watched them do the 4 ship diamond today on my way to work. Then a KC135 took off for the range to do some refueling. Gotta go out to the hospital tomorrow might try and snap a few pictures while I'm there.
 
3 x GBU-38s, 1 x GBU-31, looks like a couple of GBU-12s mixed in, sniper pod, 2 x tanks, 3 AMRAAMS and an AIM-9M, chaff, flares (minus the 8 coming off), and 500+ rounds of 20 mike mike thrown in for good measure!!!!:thumb:

In the immortal words of Tim Allen (in his best caveman imitation): "AAAARGH, AAARGH, AAARGH!" :shake:

My words now? Sigh..... Dang I miss it!

ONLY 540+/- rounds? Piker...

"C" model we carried 900 normally...although if my DIM memory serves, we could carry a max of around 940. That and 8 "white shots"...(I go back to the Great White Hope, never had Slammers)

BUT I have to admit...I really think the "E" would have been more fun, challenging, and exciting. All we did was bore holes in the air and WISH someone, anyone, would come up to "play."
 
ONLY 540+/- rounds? Piker...

Hey, don't blame us if we needed less rounds because we were able to get to the gun track solution on ya quicker! And none of these "well, I kept gettting snap shots on ya, I counted 10 RATRs" debreifs either. Gun tracks all the way! :shake:

Oh Snaaaap! Fights On! :yllol:

Seriously, Dissimilar agains the Cs stunk for us, the puffy cheeks and extra weight made us bleed energy like a pig up against ya. And yeah, the pod video of a GBU-12 makes some great .jpgs for the guys back home, but I'd much rather have had the chance to paint a red star under the canopy.

Oh well, the grass is always greener....
 
F15s, like Pima said, are art pieces! I could die flying one of those and not complain...unless its preventable :thumb:
 
I love this conversation...it reminds me of Elmendorf...two seater v single seat. We all need to sit back and watch the testerone flow between the two!

I am going to make some combat corn to watch them duke it out:shake:
 
I love this conversation...it reminds me of Elmendorf...two seater v single seat. We all need to sit back and watch the testerone flow between the two!

I am going to make some combat corn to watch them duke it out:shake:

No duking in out. Totally different role: fighter pilot versus bomber, er...mudmover...er...Eagle Brother! :shake:

Seriously though...if you want it done correctly; air supremacy and no target untouched, you send in Eagles: "C's" and "E's"

Once the Raptor proves itself...maybe I'll change my...

Nah...
 
Oh seriously now guys....

You know that the truth of it is this,

When it positively, absolutely, must be destroyed overnight, you can only count on the Marines.

:)

You can bomb it, you can strafe it, you can fire missles at it, but only the marines can clear it out.
 
Oh seriously now guys....

You know that the truth of it is this,

When it positively, absolutely, must be destroyed overnight, you can only count on the Marines.

:)

You can bomb it, you can strafe it, you can fire missles at it, but only the marines can clear it out.
True...but until we're finished, they won't go there.:thumb:

And then we'll be there 'cause we got their backs!
 
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