Fighter Sweep
  • Home
  • Military Aviation
  • Air Force
  • Navy
  • Spec Ops
  • Expert Analysis
  • Careers
  • Photos
Home Previous Post Next Post
Follow @fightersweep

From The Cockpit: Lake Powell Low Level

Scott Wolff 7 Comments Military Aviation

In our last video, you saw the gut-wrenching reality of dogfighting in the defensive position from the cockpit of a Lockheed-Martin F-16CM Fighting Falcon. In this video, we illustrate what it’s like to conduct a low-level, visual flight rules (VFR) sortie along a Military Training Route, or MTR.

MTRs are corridors through which military aircraft can operate below 10,000 feet mean sea level (MSL) in excess of 250 knots indicated air speed (KIAS), the speed all other aircraft are restricted to when operating at or below that altitude–per the Federal Aviation Administration‘s regulations.

These training routes are a joint venture between the FAA and the Department of Defense to provide for high-speed, low-level flight operations for tactical platforms. In other words, you won’t see C-5s or KC-10s flying through the canyons. Generally speaking, air combat or special operations assets would utilize a low-level MTR on a consistent basis. Occasionally the heavies will do such a thing, but only under specific circumstances–a C-130 conducting a low-level air drop mission, for example.

“We train low level flying to evade radar detection through direct or indirect terrain masking,” the F-16 pilot in this video explains.

Just prior to converting to Super Hornets, this C-model from VFA-192 the "World Famous Golden Dragons" is descending through Star Wars Canyon on the Sidewinder Route in Death Valley, CA. SSHWFGD!

Just prior to converting to Super Hornets, this C-model from VFA-192 the “World Famous Golden Dragons” is descending through Star Wars Canyon on the Sidewinder Route in Death Valley, CA. SSHWFGD!

Tactical aviators must train to this particular skill set and given the right environment and threat, it is a viable tactic in a combat environment. When available, flying below vertical terrain features, or between them, can allow a striker like the F-15E, F-16, or F/A-18 to get into a WEZ without being seen, increasing the chances of destroying a defended ground target before its position is detected and the adversary has an opportunity to repel the attack.

“US and especially British aircrews learned very harsh lessons during Operation Desert Storm of how detrimental it is to our survivability to fly at those low altitudes during combat without having terrain to hide behind,” the Viper Driver went on to say.

This is a perfect visual illustration of how the technique works. Not many get to see Lake Powell and the surrounding canyons from this perspective, so enjoy it!

About the Author

Scott Wolff is an accomplished writer and renowned aviation photojournalist. He has held the position of Managing Editor for a print flying lifestyle magazine, and is the Host and Editor for FighterSweep. Scott's area of expertise is military flight operations, drawing on ten years of experience working extensively with all branches of the armed forces. He holds an FAA pilot certificate, the culmination of a life-long passion for flying airplanes. Scott has received military altitude chamber training, emergency egress training, and has logged time in a variety of civilian and military aircraft. He is also a member of the International Society of Aviation Photographers and Nikon Professional Services.

Related Posts

  • From The Cockpit: Super Hornet SP360From The Cockpit: Super Hornet SP360
  • From The Cockpit: Defensive BFMFrom The Cockpit: Defensive BFM
  • Fighter Pilot Traditions: Jeremiah WeedFighter Pilot Traditions: Jeremiah Weed
  • Watch: Take a Wild Ride on an F/A-18 Low Level FlightWatch: Take a Wild Ride on an F/A-18 Low Level Flight
  • One Million FAA Registered Drones!One Million FAA Registered Drones!

Find Us on Facebook

FighterSweep.com

Sign Up
for the Newsletter

What’s Hot

  • Will Taiwan Buy Refurbished Harrier Jump-Jets?
    January 19, 2016

    Will Taiwan Buy Refurbished Harrier Jump-Jets?

  • September 4, 2019

    Photo Gallery: McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II

  • F-14B_VF-32
    March 4, 2018

    Watch: Take 2 Minutes and Remember the Mighty F-14 Tomcat!

Follow Us

Facebook Twitter Twitter

Recent Comments

  • Duncan Wilde Weather as a Force Multiplier: Owning the Weather in 2025. Yeah there's no such [...]
  • pak152 " the team came up with what the Brits dubbed as Mustang, powered by a [...]
  • P K Polish AF never has and never will operate Su-27, An-26 aircraft has been out [...]
  • bnarfhyde The best book is also great. have a [...]
  • TerrorTrike ive never survived this long with such a clumsy FL- cG.866B.CO/NC6155hc

© Copyright 2023 SOFREP Media Group. All Rights Reserved.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Advertisers
 

Loading Comments...