Posted on 08/24/2006 7:28:16 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar
The mission of the 18th AS will be to provide realistic combat adversary training in air, space and information operations. Aggressor squadrons use enemy tactics, techniques, and procedures to give a realistic simulation of air combat.
The unit will stand up with 18 Block 30 F-16 Fighting Falcons and later will expand to 24 fighter aircraft. The squadron will be ready to provide aggressor training for Red Flag - Alaska exercises in Spring 2007. The squadron also will support training and exercises throughout the Pacific region and additional requirements of the 57th Aggressor Tactics Group at Nellis AFB, Nev.
The designation of the 18th for this aggressor squadron continues its long history in the Pacific.
Courtesy of the Secretary of the Air Force, Office of Public Affairs
Oh, sure - years after I get out, another F-16 wing opens up in a place I would loved to have been stationed. Sixteens in Alaska would beat the hell out of sixteens and fifteens in Las Vegas.
We had two Aggressor Sqdn's here at Nellis - F-5's
Fun job, for awhile, then it got old. They traveled constantly to other bases to provided the "bad guy" role.
The really cool part was the fact that the F-5 was a "low tech" bird, going up against the (then) newest "high tech" the AF had to offer - F-15 / F-16's. The Aggressor pilots routinely (as in 'flick that spot off my flight suit') bruised / mangled / destroyed the ego's of the "high tech" pilots.
The F-5's went away and were replaced by a single squadron of F-16 Aggressor's.
I think they are still operating, not sure.
The F-5, in skilled hands, was a capable little bird.
They are.
Sorry your timing was off ,but good news.
Agreed. I have been busy lately! :0)
And since I don't own, maintain, or fly one, I really don't have a problem with that (that I have to deal with). They are a beautiful bird. I've only flown one in a simulator. Hot and fast. Point the nose and go.
/johnny
Yes, indeed it was. Especially against those that made the mistake of thinking it was not a threat.
Good!
No bleed air anymore. They have a JFS (Hydraulically driven) internal to them.
Just move the switch and adjust the throttle.
You're running.
F-5, The White Rocket. (well the Nellis ones were camo, but I digress) Barron Flight IIRC.
I worked the EW ranges for years. It was fun to 'shoot down" hotshot pilots. FWIW, we lost some aircrews, the training was at that time, so intense and realistic.
We took our motto from the 64th - YGBSM!
That's all that hot-rod needed, along with Congressional approval to exceed the class B speed limit. And who argues with military aircraft at this point?
/johnny
F-5's were not white. T-38s were and mostly are white. Same basic bird, but the F-5 was a real fighter, with 20 mm revolver style cannon. Not much used in USAF service, except the aggressors, but it was the F-16 of it's day in terms of export sales. Most were painted the same as any other USAF fighter of the day, although the aggressor bird were painted like Soviet fighters, right down to the numbers on the fuselage.
There is also the AT-38, which is a T-38 with a HUD and able to mount a gun pod, or other equipment to allow lead in to fighter training. Cheaper to operate than front line fighter, and it frees them up for killing Jihadies, or whoever else needs killing. We have lots, because not all USAF pilots ever get to fly the T-38 in undergraduate pilot training. The Tanker/Transport/Bomber bound folks use the T-1A Jayhawk(modified Beech 400A), while the fighter (and IIRC B-1) bound folks still go through the T-38. All fly the T-6 Texan (or T-37 Tweet, I think if they aren't all retired by now)
All USAF T-38As and AT-38Bs are being converted to T-38C standard, with modern avionics, GPS, HUD, etc.
After the B52, they must be the oldest birds in the fleet.
I was stationed at Eielson for two years and enjoyed the time there.
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