F-15 Eagle in vertical climb above clouds, dramatically backlit
Happy Holidays! Photo: Larry McManus. #eaglebot
F-15 Eagle in vertical climb above clouds, dramatically backlit
Happy Holidays! Photo: Larry McManus. #eaglebot
Spotted on the DMAFB transient ramp this morning: Ospreys from ??, boneyard-bound Eagles from Oregon ANG. #eaglebot
wristwatch selfie
32nd TFS unit plaque
The touches of orange on this Timex Expedition remind me of the oranges on a unit patch I once proudly wore. #BigSeiko #SierraHotel #EagleBot
F-15B aerobraking at Bitburg AB, Germany, late 1970s (photographer unknown)
Aerobraking is an effective way of slowing the F-15 Eagle after landing, but you have to watch your pitch or you'll scrape the tailcones. In this case, in front of witnesses. #EagleBot #SierraHotel
My interview is up on YouTube, also on my blog: pwoodford.net/blog/?p=36878 #EagleBot
... an F-15 squadron-mate did it during an ocean crossing (Europe to the USA) between turns on the tanker. Used the cardboard box his in-flight lunch came in. #EagleBot #TheIncontinentEmperor
two dachshunds out for a walk
wristwatch held against embroidered shirt
selfie w/cactus
Good morning, Bluesky! #desertdachshunds #bigseiko #eaglebot
wood model of an F-15 fighter
wood model of an F-15 fighter
Wood model of the F-15C I flew at Kadena in the early 1990s. Had it made in Angeles City, Philippines, as a gift to my father, then inherited it on his passing. #EagleBot #SierraHotel
B-21 Raider seen from below
They said the F-4 Phantom II proved that with enough power you could make a brick fly. I see we’ve moved on to laundry room utility sinks. #eaglebot
Not linking to the video, but the Polish F-16 demo pilot was in afterburner with his nose pointed straight down at the ground at several points during his routine, including the final maneuver, and I don't understand why anyone would intentionally do that. #eaglebot #milair
Patriotic Eagle in flight
Happy Independence Day! California ANG F-15C Eagle (photo: Staff Sgt. Steven Lewis, 2023). #eaglebot #sierrahotel
The photo is uncredited and Google Image Search was no help. The Eagles are Holloman jets; the Delta Darts are from Tyndall ... my guess is the photo was taken in the early 1980s. #EagleBot #SierraHotel
We called our new squadron mates Coneheads, which was hardly fair given that a big part of our mission set was intercepting unknown/hostile aircraft, just as they did. The F-106, like the F-15, was a fast (Mach 2+) jet, and very pretty to look at. #EagleBot #SierraHotel
Two F-15 Eagles flying formation with two F-106 Delta Darts
Came across this old photo of F-15 Eagles flying formation with F-106 Delta Darts, once the premier interceptor of the USAF. When the Delta Dart began phasing out in the 1980s, many of its pilots cross-trained into the Eagle. #EagleBot #SierraHotel
coffee mugs w/wristwatch
Another former unit: 44th TFS Vampires, Kadena AB, Japan. The watch is the one I wore for most of my USAF career. #eaglebot #sierrahotel #bigseiko
Squadron mug w/wristwatch
Squadron mug w/wristwatch
Memories of a former flying squadron. The watch is the one I wore then (and now). #eaglebot #sierrahotel #bigseiko
I often post F-15 content here. The original, soon-to-be retired Eagle is a single-seat fighter, but there's a two-seat version for training, check rides, and orientation flights. Here's a nice (uncredited) photo of both versions together. #eaglebot #sierrahotel
Lakenheath F-15s landing in formation
Nice one (stolen from a Facebook F-15 group, photographer uncredited). #EagleBot #SierraHotel
Back in the day: tourists over Kinderdijk NL. Spence lead, Skid (me) wing. #Eaglebot #SierraHotel
Tell me you don't understand anything about flying fighters without coming right out and admitting it. #EagleBot #MilAir www.eurasiantimes.com/as-90-of-f-1...
There's a new Air-Minded post at Paul's Thing: pwoodford.net/blog/?p=35793 #EagleBot #MilAir #SierraHotel
Armament crew loading gun pack into Hawker Hunter fighter
Armament crew member attaching "Sabrina" blister for collecting spent brass
"Sabrina" blisters and gun pack equipment underneath a Hawker Hunter fighter
Archival photos sent by a friend: RNLAF weapons crew loading a Hawker Hunter gun pack, Soesterberg AB, NL (NATO photo, 5 Apr 1961). Some fascinating details, including mounting the "Sabrina" blisters used to collect spent brass after the guns were fired. #SierraHotel #EagleBot #GunsOnly
variety of NATO aircraft on display at a Dutch air base, aerial view
One for the spotters: Open Day, Twente Air Base, the Netherlands, Sep 15, 1979. Squeaky-clean F-15 Eagle from nearby Soesterberg Air Base (my unit) at center stage. Photographer unknown. #EagleBot #SierraHotelv
Looking for more of these, sometimes called flat lay or knolling photos of military aircraft w/armament & equipment. Google Images is not being my friend in this search. Any help appreciated. #EagleBot #MilAir
I wrote about this incident in May 2023. Now the accident report's been released and I've published an update. You can read both at pwoodford.net/blog/?p=33347
#EagleBot #F15Eagle #AirMinded
There's a new Air-Minded post on my blog, this one about USAF pilot training assignment night. pwoodford.net/blog/?p=34986 #EagleBot #MilAir #SierraHotel
four F-15C Eagles breaking left over a German air base
I do love pretty pictures. Eglin AFB-based Eagles in the break overhead Lahr AB, Germany, 1987 (photo: SSgt Fernando Serna). #MilAir #F15Eagle #SierraHotel #EagleBot