Here at Fighter Sweep, we try our best to walk the line between breaking aviation news and offering interesting and insightful analysis into the world of all things airborne. Fortunately for us, that subject matter lends itself to some incredible pictures and videos for us to include in our content.
Sometimes though, amazing pictures can come cross our desks that don’t manage to find a home within a piece we’re putting together. They used to get saved into a folder full of “next times” — but not anymore. No longer content to horde our stash of rad aircraft pics, we decided to just start dumping the coolest ones into weekly roll ups.
So without further ado, here are some of the coolest aviation pictures of the week:
A Royal Air Force F-35 Lightning II, U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle, and French air force Dassault Rafale fly behind a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker from the 100th Air Refueling Wing during Exercise Point Blank over the English Channel, Nov. 27, 2018. Training with NATO allies like the U.K. and France improves interoperability and demonstrates the United States’ commitment to regional security. Exercise Point Blank also represents an opportunity to enhance interoperability and integration between allied fourth and fifth-generation fighter aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Luke Milano)
An A-10 Thunderbolt II from the 442nd Fighter Wing, out of Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., flies over the Atlantic Ocean during the National Salute to America’s Heroes Air and Sea Show media day May 26, 2017, at Miami Beach, Fla. Top tier U.S. military assets assembled in Miami during Memorial Day weekend to showcase air superiority while honoring those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. The 442nd FW teamed up with two HH-60G Pave Hawks and an HC-130P/N Combat King aircraft from the 920th Rescue Wing and the 129th Rescue Wing to headline the airshow by demonstrating combat search and rescue capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jared Trimarchi)
An F-15E Strike Eagle arrives to receive fuel from a 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker during a flight in support of Operation Inherent Resolve May 23, 2017. The KC-135 provides aerial refueling capabilities as it supports U.S. and coalition forces working to liberate territory and people under the control of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Trevor T. McBride)
MEDITERRANEAN SEA (Nov. 24, 2018) An MH-60 Sea Hawk helicopter, assigned to the “Dragonslayers” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 11, lands on the flight deck aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75), Nov. 24, 2018. Donald Cook, forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, is on its eighth patrol in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe and Africa. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ford Williams/Released)181124-N-JI086-486
MEDITERRANEAN SEA (Nov. 19, 2018) Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) 2nd Class Darius Jarmon prepares to signal an F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to the Sunliners of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 81 ready for launch from the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Currently operating in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations, Harry S. Truman will continue to foster cooperation with regional allies and partners, strengthen regional stability, and remain vigilant, agile and dynamic. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Adelola Tinubu/Released)181119-N-IG466-0286
Feature image courtesy of the Dept. of Defense