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Burner Friday: 493rd Fighter Squadron F-15C

November 6, 2015
Jason Hyatt No Comments Photos

Happy Friday, FighterSweep fans! It has reached that time again. Time for another installment of Burner Friday goodies. This celebration of ever-glorious reheat is brought to you by the “Grim Reapers” of the 493rd Fighter Squadron, 48th Fighter Wing, based at RAF Lakenheath in the United Kingdom.

This image comes on the heels of a six aircraft deployment by 493rd F-15Cs to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. The Turkish government has requested the Liberty Wing’s assistance in maintaining the sovereignty of their airspace. You know the Reapers are willing and able to answer the call, as they have in the past.

This particular airframe, the squadron flagship, shot down an Iraqi Air Force MiG-23 Flogger and  Mirage F.1 on January 27th, 1991. Captain Ben “Coma” Powell was at the controls, flying as OPEC 02 that day.

Stay safe over there, brothers and sisters. We are thinking of you and praying for your safe return.

About the Author

Jason Hyatt is an aerospace industry professional with over 10 years of experience in the military and commercial aviation sectors. Born and raised in the Southwest United States, an area blessed with over 300 days of sunshine per year, he is fortunate to have been in and around aviation his entire life. After a brief stint as a semi-professional soccer player in the early 2000's, he realized his desire to live and work in aviation. While working for Boeing IDS (now BDS) in 2005, he first picked up a camera and started experimenting with aviation photography and photojournalism. As a freelance aviation photojournalist, he has been able to stay close to military aviation, his primary area of interest.

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