In The Wild - 2001

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The Mojave desert is the site of nearly continuous military aircraft operations. The R-2508 Restricted Airspace Complex stretches from Bishop to Edwards Air Force Base and from Tehachapi to the Nevada State line. Approximately 18,000 low level test and training missions are conducted within the R-2508 Complex annually.

Under the R-2508 Complex, the Saline Valley, adjacent to Death Valley, is used by military aircraft to transit between China Lake NAWC, Edwards AFB, and test ranges in Nevada. Aircraft from Fresno ANG Station and Lemoore NAS aircraft use the area for training.

This is the location where I photographed these military jets in November 2001.

Boeing-McDonnell-Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle of the 412th Test Wing of the Air Force Flight Test Center based at Edwards AFB is silhouetted against the Inyo Mountains.

Visit the Air Force Flight Test Center web site.

Link to the Air Force Fact Sheet for the F-15E Strike Eagle.

Lockheed-Martin F-16C Fighting Falcon of the 194th Fighter Squadron based at Fresno ANG is carrying four AIM-120 advanced medum range air-to-air missiles (AMRAAMs) and a pair of AIM-9 Sidewinder short range missiles.

Link to the Air Force Fact Sheet for the AIM-120 AMRAAM.

Link to the Air Force Fact Sheet for the AIM-9 Sidewinder.

Link to the Air Force Fact Sheet for the Lockheed-Martin F-16C Fighting Falcon.

Boeing B-52H Stratofortress leaves a broad contrail across the early morning sky.

Link to the Air Force Fact Sheet for the Boeing B-52H Stratofortress.

Link to Boeing's Fact Sheet for the B-52 Stratofortress.

Royal Air Force SEPECAT Jaguar dives into the valley.

Visit the Royal Air Force SEPECAT Jaguar web page.

Two-seat Boeing-McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18D night warfare Hornet of VMFA-242 based at Miramar MCAS.

Link to the Marine Corps Fact Sheet for the F/A-18D Hornet.

Boeing-McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18C Hornet.

Link to Boeing's web page about the F/A-18 Hornet.

Boeing-McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18E Super Hornet #72 of VFA-122 Flying Eagles based at Lemoore NAS.

Link to Boeing's web page about the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.

Link to the Lemoore NAS web site.

Boeing-McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18E Super Hornet #72 of VFA-122 heads up the Eureka-Saline Corridor.

Link to the Navy's Fact Sheet for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.

Grumman EA-6B Prowler based at Whidbey Island NAS, Washington makes a low altitude pass nearly directly over camp.

Link to the Navy's Fact Sheet for the Grumman EA-6B Prowler.

Grumman EA-6B Prowler drops down to the valley floor below camp.

Visit the NAS Whidbey Island web site.

Boeing-McDonnell-Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle, 86-0184 of the 412TW based at Edwards AFB carries Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infra-Red for Night (LANTIRN) pods under its engine inlets. It was the second Strike Eagle off the production line.

Link to the Air Force Fact Sheet for LANTIRN pods.

F-15E, 86-0184 was a featured performer at the 2000 Edwards AFB Open House.

Grumman F-14 Tomcat flies up the Eureka-Saline Corridor shortly after sunset.

Link to the Navy's Fact Sheet for the Grumman F-14 Tomcat.

Armed for bear. Lockheed-Martin F-16C Fighting Falcon of the 194th Fighter Squadron based at Fresno ANG is carrying four AIM-120 AMRAAM medum range air-to-air missiles and a pair of AIM-9 Sidewinder short range missiles.

Grumman EA-6B-35 Prowler, 158544, #522 of VAQ-134 Garudas based at Whidbey Island NAS, Washington.

Link to the VAQ-134 Garudas web site.

Grumman EA-6B ICAP-II Blk-86 Prowler, 158544, #523 of VAQ-134 based at Whidbey Island NAS, Washington.

Grumman EA-6B ICAP-II Blk-86 Prowler, 163530, #523 and EA-6B-35 Prowler, 158544, #522 of VAQ-134 cruise along the Saline Range toward Steele Pass and the Eureka Valley.