Magnificent!

United States Air Force ^ | May 14, 2010 | Captain John Peltier, U.S. Air Force

[EnjoyingLife]

USAF Lt. Col. Gabriel Green and USAF Capt. Zachary Bartoe patrol the airspace in an F-15E Strike Eagle as Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-132) launches May 14, 2010, at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Colonel Green is the 333rd Fighter Squadron commander and Captain Bartoe is a 333rd Fighter Squadron weapons system officer. Both aircrew members are assigned to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, USA.

The Photographer 
Capt. John Peltier, United States Air Force  

Notable Quote 
From the May 21, 2010 article "4th FW Strike Eagles assist shuttle launch" by 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs  
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123205663  

CONR members ensured airspace sovereignty by enforcing the Federal Aviation Administration's temporary flight restriction area established around Kennedy Space Center. Using F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft from the 4th FW, CONR Airmen identified and redirected five aircraft that inadvertently violated the restricted airspace.

"The U.S. Air Force protects the United States every day in support of Operation Noble Eagle," said Lt. Col. Gabriel Green, the 333rd Fighter Squadron commander. "When needed, the 4th FW supports this mission. (The wing) protected the (sky) by flying an air patrol over and around the space shuttle. When an aircraft entered the no-fly zone, we intercepted, identified and redirected (it) out of the airspace."  

[EnjoyingLife]

November 29, 2001: A Florida Air National Guard F-15C Eagle fighter jet, assigned to the 125th fighter wing, protects NASA's Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-108). Via http://ChamorroBible.org/gpw/gpw-20051129.htm

In his excellent article about STS-108 mission security -- titled "Military Poised to Use Deadly Force to Protect Shuttle as 'No Fly Zone' Expanded for Launch" and posted November 27, 2001 at http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/sts108_security_011127.html -- Todd Halvorson says:

In a stern but somewhat cryptic warning, the official indicated that military fighters would be ready to intercept and shoot down any aircraft that strays too far into restricted airspace as countdown clocks tick toward a planned liftoff at 7:41 p.m. EST (0041 GMT Friday).

And without discussing details, the official left little question that military pilots have been briefed on what he called "the rules of engagement that we're using on how we will engage a potential adversary - shoo away the innocents and eliminate the hostiles."

"I'm not going to go into what precise rules of engagement we use in order to ensure that innocent folks are not harmed, but there is a set of procedures that we use to specifically address that question," said Col. Sam Dick, vice commander of the Air Force's 45th Space Wing, the military unit responsible for shuttle launch-day security.

"For those folks who are unfortunate to accidentally end up in that area, they may actually see some of our assets attempt to intercept and move them away. Our purpose is to keep them from reaching a point where decisions have to be made that would be adverse," he said.

"There are many, many steps we would take before we take that last step," he added.

In the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks on America, President Bush gave the military the authority to shoot down civilian aircraft if it became apparent they were under control of terrorists and posed a clear and present danger to the public.

[dragnet2]

Outstanding images.

[VeniVidiVici]

Second one is very cool.

[Republic]

Wonderful...great detail in both! I love American ingenuity and strength. It’s a beautiful thing!!!

[ASOC]

Cool pics.

The very best of the US and 70’s technology.....