Aggressor and Adversary Aircraft

[M.M.]

At FC, we listen to member feedback.   Here's a one-stop thread for A-4s, F-5s, F-15s, F-16s, F/A-18s and other aircraft -- and not necessarily fixed-wing, either -- in USAF Aggressor or USN Adversary colours.  Aircraft from other nations (like Japan! ) are welcome too.

Let's see what everybody's shot!

-M.M.

[10Boomer]

Here's a recent one.

[10Boomer]

Here's an older one of the same tail

[10Boomer]

Eagle Aggressor.

[Dave O'Brien]

my one and only viewing of any aggressor this year 

[M.M.]

Bird in the hand, Dave.  I'd donate an organ to see a VF-111 bird with the "Sundowner" rudder ... if not the tail. 

Since I can't beat Rob on quality or Dave on cool markings, I'll have to resort to old stuff.  Here are some Adversaries from the last millennium.  First two are Topgun F-16s -- the original ones, not the diverted Pakistani a/c -- form the days before I realized ropes and legs in the background existed.  Third is an AMARC F/A-18A that previously served with VFA-127 "Cylons."

-M.M.

[M.M.]

Speaking of VFA-127....

-M.M.

[M.M.]

... and VFA-127 begat VFC-13, who still operate from Fallon ....

-M.M.

[M.M.]

These may not look like Aggressors, but they are!  Back in the early 00's when the USAF had a mere six Aggressor F-16s, AETC training squadrons and foreign types like the Tornado F.3 or Mirage 2000 would be used to bolster the Red Force during Red Flag and Maple Flag exercises.  Here are a few examples: a 63rd FS F-16C at Cold Lake, an RoCAF F-16A-20 (flown by a USAF IP) at Nellis, and a 5 Sqn Tonka at Nellis.  The red CATM-9 provided a visual means of distinguishing the "Bandit" F-16s from the masses of Blue Force Vipers.  Why the Tornado needed to carry an orange pod I can't explain....

-M.M.

[Mickey]

I love that third F-5 shot Mark, with the DC-6 in the background .

Mickey

[Deadbolt]

Speaking of VFA-127....

Mark is that a MiG-28 in that first shot?!?!?!? 

Great images!

[Skys7]

These may not look like Aggressors, but they are!  Back in the early 00's when the USAF had a mere six Aggressor F-16s, AETC training squadrons and foreign types like the Tornado F.3 or Mirage 2000 would be used to bolster the Red Force during Red Flag and Maple Flag exercises.  Here are a few examples: a 63rd FS F-16C at Cold Lake, an RoCAF F-16A-20 (flown by a USAF IP) at Nellis, and a 5 Sqn Tonka at Nellis.  The red CATM-9 provided a visual means of distinguishing the "Bandit" F-16s from the masses of Blue Force Vipers.  Why the Tornado needed to carry one I can't explain....

-M.M.

Mark, I don't know about the color but I think the Tor is carrying an ACMI pod, which even the B-52's would carry as partcipating players into the ranges. Maybe that's a "Bandit" ACMI pod.

[M.M.]

Mark, I don't know about the color but I think the Tor is carrying an ACMI pod

Good point.  Maybe I should get in the habit of looking more closely at my photos before commenting on them. 

Tony O. would likely tell us the orange ACMI pod is to warn other aircraft that the F.3's not a real fighter. 

Thanks for the kind words about my shots, guys, but I wish you'd join Rob and Dave in adding images that outclass mine....

-M.M.

[ecuhockeyguy]

only agressor I saw this year, or have ever seen....static at Oceana...blah

[Jake Melampy]

The Viper's pod in question is an AMA pod used to help the F-16 show up on ATC's radar.  It is painted dayglo to help differentiate "teams" as mentioned.  It is astonishingly rare for a Viper to not carry one during peacetime.


Jake