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From The Cockpit: Leaving The Boom

Scott Wolff No Comments Air Force

Happy Tanker Tuesday, FighterSweep Fans!

As a follow-up to yesterday‘s aerial tour of the Hindu Kush mountains in Nuristan Province, we have a short, homegrown clip of a couple Boeing F-15Es rejoining with a KC-135 Stratotanker for gas over Afghanistan. With its conformal fuel tanks and two “bags” (wing tanks), the Dark Gray can carry nearly 32 thousand pounds of fuel.

What does that translate to? A lot of on-station time–referred to as “loiter”–between trips to the tanker, all while carrying a pretty massive load of ordnance in a variety of different flavors–a JTAC’s dream, especially when he needs that ordnance delivered in a hurry.

900228_F15E_SJ_GSB_30JAN08_B1FS

As the second aircraft comes off the boom and swings underneath the first Mud Hen already riding off the tanker’s wing, notice the remaining JDAMs, air-to-air missiles, and the Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod.

These two aircraft had just finished their mission near Barg-i Matal, which led to the epic low-level rage you saw. Once clear of the mountains, they climbed out to get some gas. So it’s a short clip, but definitely gives you an idea for the experience we touched on with the NASA F-15D–except downrange and loaded for bear.

Enjoy!

 

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.

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