Nellis Air Force Base
Nellis Air Force Base, Las Vegas, Nevada, the United States Air Force, hosts a unique two-week advanced aerial combat training exercise for military units worldwide. This exercise is known as Red Flag. Red Flag is conducted quarterly as a training mechanism for squadrons to sharpen their skills further and promote unit cohesion.
As an admirer of aviation, especially military aircraft, this experience is second to none. A collection of some of the world’s finest aircraft is nothing short of a spectacle and remarkable to observe. The pilots will fly multiple sorties over the Nevada test range and recover to Nellis to debrief. This training cycle gives unmatched opportunities to capture aircraft on departure and recover to Nellis.
In February 2020, I was fortunate to attend my first Red Flag in person. I took over 4,000 images that week. There were so many opportunities with such a variety of unique aircraft. The collection in this gallery represents just a few from my time at Red Flag. As you look at the images, I hope you can feel a bit of the excitement I felt capturing them. Truly an unforgettable experience. Enjoy!
The United States Air Force
General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon
64th Aggressor Squadron
F-16C “Ghost“ 84-1220 this F-16 "Ghost” Aggressor paint scheme is designed after the Russian SU-57 Felon
Flex Departure on February 11, 2020
F-16C “Lizard” 86-299
Lizard landing on runway 21 right with Sunrise Mountain as a backdrop. February 12, 2020
F-16 “Blizzard” 87-0267
Gear down for a landing approach to Nellis. February 10, 2020
Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor
USAF F-22 block 20 no. 04-4073 from the 94th FS is seen banking just after take-off Nellis AFB during Red Flag 21-1 on February 12, 2020
USAF F-22A block 20 no. 04-4071 from the 433rd WA is seen overhead flex departure at Nellis AFB on
February 9, 2020
USAF F-22A block 20 no. XX-xxx from the 433rd WS is seen overhead flex departure at Nellis AFB on
February 10, 2020
USAF F-22A from the 433rd WS is seen overhead in the landing pattern at Nellis AFB on
February 9, 2020
USAF F-22A block 20 no. 06-116 from the 433rd WS 433rd landing at golden hour at Nellis AFB
on February 13, 2020
Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II
USAF 421st Fighter Squadron “Black Widows”
Hill Air Force Base, Utah
F-35A: USAF 421st Fighter Squadron “Black Widows” from Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The 421st FS is one of the most decorated fighter squadrons, awarded three Presidential Unit Citations and seven Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards for Valor in Combat. Returning in echelon left formation to Nellis AFB after a training sortie.
February 14, 2020
F-35A no. 15-5126 Widow 11 USAF 421st Fighter Squadron F-35 banking to line up for a landing approach on February 13, 2020
F-35A no. 15-5255 Widow 5 USAF 421st Fighter Squadron landing approach to Nellis AFB on February 10, 2020
F-35A no. 15-5118 of the 422 TES / 53 Wing OT on departure from Nellis on February 13, 2020
McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle
F-15C Eagle 83-0027, assigned to the 433d Weapons Squadron, departs Nellis AFB for a training sortie flight over the ranges
February 13, 2020
F-15C 81-036 122 FS / 159 FW / Louisiana ANG unit assigned to 159th Operation Group based at Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, Louisiana.
February 11, 2020
McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle
General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon
F-16c 88-0439
With markings from the 421st Fighter Squadron, the "Black Widows" Hill AFB, Utah
February 12, 2020
F-16C 89-075
The 162nd Fighter Wing Arizona Air National Guard
Tucson, Arizona
February 12, 2020
F-16 90-702
USAF Air National Guard -112th Fighter Squadron
Toledo, Ohio
February 12, 2020
Rockwell B-1 Lancer
37th Bomb Squadron
“Tigers”
Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota
Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II
Boeing E-3 Sentry
E-3C sentry 80-0139
Radio Callsign “Disco Ball” returning during Golden hour on February 10, 2020
The United States Navy
Boeing EA-18G Growler
Electronic Attack Squadron VAQ-131 "Lancers"
Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Oak Harbor, Washington
EG-18G BuNo.168772
Lancer’s Commanding Officer Growler on final approach on February 11, 2020
EG-18G BuNo.168772
Topside view of the Laner’s CO aircraft on landing at Nellis AFB.
Draken International
Tactical Flight Support/Aggressors
A4N N162EM
A4N N162EM
A4N N163EM
Royal Air Force
Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II
No. 617 Squadron RAF "Dambusters"
RAF Marham King's Lynn, Norfolk in England
F-35B: RAF No. 617 squadrons are based at RAF Marham · 617 Adopted its name and badge after the famous Dams Raid in 1943. The Dambusters reformed on 18 April 2018 and was equipped at RAF Marham in June 2018 with the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning, becoming the first squadron to be based in the UK with this advanced V/STOL type. The unit comprises RAF and Royal Navy personnel and operates from the Royal Navy's Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.
F-35B: RAF No. 617 squadron ZM-141 Lands at Nellis AFB.
F-35B: RAF No. 617 squadron ZM-142 Lands at Nellis AFB.
Airbus KC2 Voyager (A330-243MRTT)
No. 101 Squadron RAF
RAF Brize Norton in Carterton, Oxfordshire in England
KC2 Voyager (A330-243MRTT) ZZ337
February 11, 2020
Royal Australian Air Force
Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet
No.1 Squadron
RAAF Amberley in Ipswich, Queensland in Australia
F/A-18F: No. 1 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force squadron based at RAAF Amberley known as the "Fighting First." RAAF F/A-18’s return to Nellis after a successful training sortie over the Nevada test range.
A RAAF F/A-18F specially painted to commemorate the Royal Australian Air Force First Squadron's 100th anniversary
Boeing EA-18G Growler
No.6 Squadron Electronic Warfare
RAAF Amberley in Ipswich, Queensland in Australia
RAAF Growler carries two external gas tanks and 3 jamming pods.
Boeing E-7A Wedgetail Early Warning Aircraft
No. 2 Squadron
RAAF Williamtown in Williamtown, New South Wales in Australia
Beechcraft Super King Air 350
Beechcraft Super King Air 350 N2316
Operated by National Nuclear Security Administration. NNSA radiation detecting aircraft
February 13, 2020