ANG F-15A's @ Lakenheath
Fri Jun 13, 2008 11:52 am
Not historic, but these early F-15A's pitched up at Lakenheath today. ANG from Louisiana arrived for a night-stop before heading into deeper Europe for a Exercise.
So what airfield are these from in Louisiana? And history of the FW / Sqn
So what airfield are these from in Louisiana? And history of the FW / Sqn
Fri Jun 13, 2008 12:23 pm
The top pic looks like 062 on the tail and the bottom pic is OG 76-062.???
Fri Jun 13, 2008 1:41 pm
NAS New Orleans.
Did you get any shots of jets flying today (Friday)?
Did you get any shots of jets flying today (Friday)?
Fri Jun 13, 2008 1:46 pm
That's the Bayou Militia. 
Robbie
Robbie
Fri Jun 13, 2008 2:10 pm
Randy, check pm
These shot taken about 2 weeks ago
These shot taken about 2 weeks ago
Fri Jun 13, 2008 2:17 pm
Is that Hacker in any of those last shots? 
Robbie
Robbie
Fri Jun 13, 2008 2:45 pm
It doesn't look like it. I just checked my logbook, my last couple flights were in tails 320, 201, and 217.
Fri Jun 13, 2008 2:47 pm
Randy
Those shots taken on 29-5-08
Those shots taken on 29-5-08
Fri Jun 13, 2008 10:27 pm
Boghopper wrote:Randy
Those shots taken on 29-5-08
Well, then that's me in tail 309 in the first shot!
Do you have any more of 309?
Fri Jun 13, 2008 10:37 pm
and I thought this was a warbird forum
Fri Jun 13, 2008 11:51 pm
skippyscage wrote:and I thought this was a warbird forum
Those are warbirds there shooter, just of a different era.
Sat Jun 14, 2008 12:56 am
Just thought I'd relay the story if what was going on during the flight in 309 on the 29th.
It was a pretty tough day for me, all told.
Every 18 months, USAF pilots must have a Mission Checkride. This is a flight evaluated for your permanent record in which you have to demonstrate proficiency at your combat qualifications.
I have also spent this spring in a 4-ship Flight Lead qualification program. I was a 4-ship flight lead in my previous assignment, but when I was assigned at Lakenheath I was initially only qualified as a 2-ship lead. The upgrade back to 4-ship lead should have happened quickly, but a variety of reasons -- from the requirement in my current job to spend a lot more time driving a desk and pushing papers to the Afghanistan deployment last summer -- kept me from becoming a 4-ship lead. The upgrade is capped off with a checkride in which I have to demonstrate proficiency leading 4 jets through a simulated combat mission.
This sortie in which I'm pictured is the mission which was both my Mission Checkride as well as my 4-ship flight lead evaluation. A double-whammy. No pressure there.
It was a stressful sonafabitch to plan and prepare for -- took two solid days of work to get ready for a single 1.5 hour flight.
The mission itself was a simulated combat mission, what we call a Surface Attack - Tactics (SAT) ride. This is where you fight your way into a target, bomb the target, then fight your way back out. For as much of a pain as it was to prepare for, it was equally a SOB to brief and execute.
Things went poorly for me from the beginning, as I had to maintenance ground abort my jet for a reason I don't remember. You'll notice in the photo that I don't have external fuel tanks...the original jet did, and the other three jets in my flight all had tanks. The "spare" aircraft that I took didn't have them, meaning I had a lot less gas than the rest of my flight.
So, the sortie went okay initially. We got to the rally point, pushed into the route to the target on time, and even had a reasonable success against the bandits that were protecting the target area.
The problems arose when we tried to execute the target attack we had planned. The problem was that the attack was not executable. It was a giant mistake which had been made during the mission planning process which meant that we simply would not be able to find the target, adhere to the strict rules of engagement, and guide our bomb to the point of impact.
The result of this was that my less experienced wingmen both missed the target.
Ordinarily this is a contingency that we plan and practice dealing with. We have a plan to go back and re-attack the target, and we had one on this day, too. Unfortunately, this plan did not take into account that I would have 10,000 pounds less fuel than the rest of the flight! So, I had to go home early because I ran out of gas.
The end result was, a successful checkride, but NOT a successful 4-ship flight lead evaluation. I lead the formation fine, but because I flew home alone, I could not fulfill all the requirements for the flight lead evaluation.
It was a pretty tough day for me, all told.
Every 18 months, USAF pilots must have a Mission Checkride. This is a flight evaluated for your permanent record in which you have to demonstrate proficiency at your combat qualifications.
I have also spent this spring in a 4-ship Flight Lead qualification program. I was a 4-ship flight lead in my previous assignment, but when I was assigned at Lakenheath I was initially only qualified as a 2-ship lead. The upgrade back to 4-ship lead should have happened quickly, but a variety of reasons -- from the requirement in my current job to spend a lot more time driving a desk and pushing papers to the Afghanistan deployment last summer -- kept me from becoming a 4-ship lead. The upgrade is capped off with a checkride in which I have to demonstrate proficiency leading 4 jets through a simulated combat mission.
This sortie in which I'm pictured is the mission which was both my Mission Checkride as well as my 4-ship flight lead evaluation. A double-whammy. No pressure there.
It was a stressful sonafabitch to plan and prepare for -- took two solid days of work to get ready for a single 1.5 hour flight.
The mission itself was a simulated combat mission, what we call a Surface Attack - Tactics (SAT) ride. This is where you fight your way into a target, bomb the target, then fight your way back out. For as much of a pain as it was to prepare for, it was equally a SOB to brief and execute.
Things went poorly for me from the beginning, as I had to maintenance ground abort my jet for a reason I don't remember. You'll notice in the photo that I don't have external fuel tanks...the original jet did, and the other three jets in my flight all had tanks. The "spare" aircraft that I took didn't have them, meaning I had a lot less gas than the rest of my flight.
So, the sortie went okay initially. We got to the rally point, pushed into the route to the target on time, and even had a reasonable success against the bandits that were protecting the target area.
The problems arose when we tried to execute the target attack we had planned. The problem was that the attack was not executable. It was a giant mistake which had been made during the mission planning process which meant that we simply would not be able to find the target, adhere to the strict rules of engagement, and guide our bomb to the point of impact.
The result of this was that my less experienced wingmen both missed the target.
Ordinarily this is a contingency that we plan and practice dealing with. We have a plan to go back and re-attack the target, and we had one on this day, too. Unfortunately, this plan did not take into account that I would have 10,000 pounds less fuel than the rest of the flight! So, I had to go home early because I ran out of gas.
The end result was, a successful checkride, but NOT a successful 4-ship flight lead evaluation. I lead the formation fine, but because I flew home alone, I could not fulfill all the requirements for the flight lead evaluation.
Sat Jun 14, 2008 2:34 am
Only this one randy
Sat Jun 14, 2008 2:51 pm
Randy, that's a great insight into what you guys do. We really enjoy still being able to watch the comings and goings at Lakenheath, with so many restrictions on viewing at other UK airfields.
Better luck for your next evaluation!
Better luck for your next evaluation!
Sat Jun 14, 2008 3:59 pm
Randy, I have a question about the F-15E. IIRC there is a set of controls in the back seat. Are WSO's in the E rated pilots?
If not then A) would they be able to land the ship if the pilot was incapacitated, (bird strike, enemy fire)? and B) does the opportunity exist for them to upgrade to a pilot slot after serving a tour?
Thanks.
Also, have you given any thought to applying for the F-15E demo team slot? You get to fly heritage flights with warbirds on your wing.
Pete
If not then A) would they be able to land the ship if the pilot was incapacitated, (bird strike, enemy fire)? and B) does the opportunity exist for them to upgrade to a pilot slot after serving a tour?
Thanks.
Also, have you given any thought to applying for the F-15E demo team slot? You get to fly heritage flights with warbirds on your wing.
Pete