THREE COAST AVIATION
Red Flag
Red Flag is a two-to-three week multinational exercise that is held at Nellis AFB three or four times per year focusing on air-to-air combat training. Started in 1975, more than twenty nine countries have participated in the exercise resulting in more than 500 000 military personnel and 150 000 aircrew receiving the highly specialized training meant to simulate the first ten combat missions during a conflict. 'Blue Air' is a combination of units deployed to Nellis featuring anything from fighters and bombers to electronic or reconnaissance and more recently space and cyber forces. They are opposed by the 'Red Air', usually lead by the extremely photogenic 64th Aggressor Squadron in their F-16s.
While I am fortunate to be in Las Vegas often and therefore have attended many Red Flag exercises, usually it is only for a day which means I am very dependant on a lot of variables like weather, flying schedule and runway utilization. Sometimes it works well and I can get most of the participating aircraft in the minimal time I have. Other times, such as when the Israeli or Columbian Air Forces participate, I am left with very few pictures of the aircraft I was hoping to capture.
22-2
It was a pleasure to be back at Nellis AFB for Red Flag 22-2, almost exactly two years since 20-2 was shortened due to the start of the Covid Pandemic. Unfortunately, another global event, the invasion of Ukraine, threatened to cancel this exercise and caused multiple participating squadrons to cancel. Fortunately, the highly anticipated F-15SAs from Saudi Arabia were able to attend along with American based units flying F-16s, B-1Bs, F-15Es and EA-18Gs. While the international flavour is always welcome, it's always wonderful to get some sharp images of the local 64th Aggressor jets flexing off Runway 03L then landing with a "right for the right". A small flag is still a good flag!
20-2
I will never forget the two days I spent outside Nellis during Red Flag 20-2. March 11 started out poorly as my flight was delayed two hours and resulted in me missing the aircraft departures. Then, I figured I would position myself between gates 5 and 6 for the arriving aircraft as that seems to be where the international participants typically turn. In typical frustrating Nellis fashion, all of the European aircraft turned inside my location or went left for Runway 21L. I was able to salvage the day however by chasing the B-52s and being in perfect position when they flew the pattern as opposed to landing after a straight-in approach. My luck continued when the locally based aircraft departed in beautiful evening light after the exercise participants had landed but those pictures will eventually be loaded in the Nellis Spotting gallery.
Then, March 12, North America shutdown. The miserable weather was joined by the cancellation of air shows in El Centro and Yuma meaning my week long trip was shortened to a day and a half. The remaining week of 20-2 was then cancelled after a member of one of the visiting military units contracted the virus. However, the B-52 pictures I took on March 11 are my favourite images of the ageless bomber so I look at this event with fond memories instead of focusing on what could have been.
20-1
On January 31 everything seemed to work in my favour resulting in some of the nicest pictures I've taken of Red Flag participants in years. Just about every aircraft that launched executed a FLEX departure allowing some great topside angles even in the harsh winter light. There was a lovely Super Hornet celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Australia's Fighting First while the famous 617 Dambusters squadron was in attendance from the Royal Air Force. Both B-1s made it into the air and their pilots seemed more interested in flying them like fighters as opposed to large bombers leading to wing down images as they headed to the training range and then even nicer images when they flew tight patterns on return to Nellis.
For a more detailed review of this exercise please enjoy my article at Checksix - the military aviation online magazine. https://www.checksix.de/review/exercises/red-flag-2020/
19-1
On January 28, 2019, I spent the day on Las Vegas Blvd N watching the participants in Red Flag 19-1. Unfortunately, I battled more than the harsh winter light that day as the sky clouded over after the departures which made photographing the arrivals unenjoyable. Luckily, while the sky was still blue I was treated to Flex departures from more than just the local Aggressors as Hickam Raptors, Shaw Vipers and Lemoore Super Hornets dropped a wing on their way to the range.
18-1
Once again I spent an enjoyable January 31st photographing the Red Flag participants from the gates of the Las Vegas Speedway. This date continued to be lucky for me as it once again provided favourable weather conditions and ample top side opportunities. This edition of Red Flag was loaded with USAF fighters including 'Redhawk' Eagles, Langley Raptors, 'Green Mountain' Vipers and the usual air-to-ground participants from Shaw and Seymour Johnson. While the B-1B is of course a bomber, it has the soul of a fighter which was demonstrated on the return to Nellis by two 9th Squadron Bones as they flew the overhead with a lovely right-for-the-right pattern to land on Runway 21R. 'Black Raven' Growlers from the US Navy were responsible for electronic warfare while the Royal Air Force was represented by Typhoon FGR4s from 11 Squadron and their big friends from Brize Norton, the Voyager KC.Mk 2 tanker. Another wonderful day spent on Las Vegas Blvd.
17-4
It's amazing home much of a difference a little colour can make. The 428th Fighter Squadron 'Buccaneers' from the Republic of Singapore Air Force were participants in Red Flag 17-4 and their two jets celebrating the Peace Carvin V program were a delight to see. Conversely, while the 112th Fighter Squadron from the Ohio Air National Guard has some of the most interesting tail art of any US based F-16 squadron, it was disappointing not to see their yellow highlighted jet. Thankfully, the 64th Aggressor Squadron is full of colourful airplanes which are always part of the mission package for Red Air.
16-4
Red Flag 16-4 was the beginning of a stretch of years of bad luck outside Nellis AFB. The lineup was full of interesting participants including Pakistani F-16s with their conformal fuel tanks, Spanish EF-18s and Israeli fighters and tankers. Even the American Strike Eagles came from Lakenheath AFB in the United Kingdom. I was also able to spend two days in Las Vegas for this exercise but due to a combination of weather and the dreaded left hand pattern for Runway 21L, my favourite pictures don't even amount to double digits.
15-4
There was all kinds of colourful flavour to Red Flag 15-4 under the scorching heat that accompanies the summer flag. Israeli Air Force F-15D Baz and F-15I Ra'am are always a treat to see, but it's even nicer when they fly a right-hand pattern to land on Runway 21R as they did while I was in town. Another rare participant, also from the Middle East, were the Royal Jordanian Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons. More F-16s from Singapore and Shaw featured colourful tails, while of course the locally based 64th Aggressors looked good in their camouflage patterns and were worth jumping out of the air conditioned car to photograph.
13-2
Less than a year after attending Red Flag for the first time, we were welcomed on base during Media Day for 13-2. This was such an incredible treat as we were located between the runways and permitted within 50 feet of the surfaces as aircraft launched and departed for the exercise. The list of participating aircraft was impressive as it included B-1s, B-52s, Hawaiian Raptors, Navy Rhinos and Growlers, Tulsa and Spang Vipers and locally based F-15 and F-16 aggressors. European participation featured Swedish Gripens and Dutch Vipers.
Although the weather wasn't sunny and blue and even with a malfunctioning camera, the pictures opportunities were terrific and it was such a pleasure to be included in this special day.
