The Air Show Planes

I’m not very good at identifying airplanes, so I asked Jim to help. Also be prepared for something of a homeschool lesson with this post.

The first plane is the F-4 Phantom*. It is a twin engine, all weather, tactical fighter-bomber. The F-4 Phantom II could carry twice the normal load of a World War II era B-17 bomber. The F-4 scored more than 100 MiG kills in Vietnam:

The next plane is the MiG17F*. The MiG was the primary enemy aircraft engaged in the skies over Vietnam by US aircraft such as the A-4, A-7, F-8, B-52, F-100, F-105, and the F-4. During the war and up until the F-16, the MiG was the tightest-turning fighter in the world. It was one of the first production jet fighters in the world with an afterburner. It can attain speeds of 715 mph and climb to 30,000 feet in 3 minutes.

Next is the C-17 Globemaster III*. It is the newest, most flexible cargo aircraft to enter the airlift force. The C-17 is capable of rapid strategic delivery of troops and all types of cargo. The aircraft can perform tactical airlift and airdrop missions and can transport litters and ambulatory patients during aeromedical evacuations. The C-17 measures 174 feet long with a wingspan of 169 feet 10 inches. The four engines are each rated at 40,440 pounds of trhust. The aircraft can operate with a crew of just 3. Maximum payload capacity is 170,900 pounds and its maximum gross takeoff wight is 585,000 pounds. The design of the aircraft allows it to operate through small, austere airfields. It can take off and land on runways as short as 3500 feet long and 90 feet wide. It helps the US to rapidly project and sustain an effective combat force close to a potential battle area.

Next is the B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber*. The B-2 bomber is capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear munitions. The B-2 brings massive firepower to bear, in a short time, anywhere on the globe through previously impenetrable defenses. It’s low-observable (“stealth”) characteristics give it the unique ability to penetrate an enemy’s most sophisticated defenses and threaten its most valued, and heavily defended, targets. Its capability to penetrate air defenses and threaten effective retaliation provides a strong, effective deterrent and combat force. The B-2 has a crew of just two pilots. This was the first time a stealth has been seen in an air show since 2006!

Next is the A-10 Thunderbolt II* (the Wart Hog). The A-10 has excellent maneuverability at low air speeds and altitude, and is a highly accurate weapons-delivery platform. The wide combat radius and short takeoff and landing capability permit operations in and out of locations near front lines. The A-10 has Night Vision Imaging Systems and the pilots are protected by titanium armor. The redundant primary structural sections allow the aircraft to enjoy better survivability during close air support than did previous aircraft.

The next two photos are of three different planes. The top plane (first photo) is the F-4 Phantom. The middle plane is the A-10 Thunderbolt II (the Wart Hog), and the bottom plane is the F-16 Fighting Falcon* (the Viper).

The F-16 is a compact, extremely maneuverable multi-role fighter aircraft. The F-16 has proven itself in air-to-air combat as well as air-to-surface attack. It provides a relatively low-cost, high-performance weapon system.

In this photo, the A-10 is on top, the F-16 in the middle, and the F-4 on the bottom:

No airshow is complete without a demonstration of God’s work. This example is a Redtail Hawk:

We had an awesome time at the air show. This is my absolute favorite photo that Jim took of the planes. It is not cropped at all, this is how close the pilot was: