Military Aircraft Around Las Vegas, Aircraft Around Las Vegas
Identification: F/A-18 Hornets are recognized by the triangular wings and two vertical tail fins that are angled outward. F-22s also have angled tail fins, but the wings are deltoid.
While hiking down from Little Ubehebe Peak in 2009, on the west side of Racetrack Playa in Death Valley National Park, this F-18 make a mock bombing attack on our vehicles parked at the Grandstand trailhead. People by the vehicles, a bit rattled, said they were glad to be Americans and not the object of a real attack. I took these photos from about 300 yards up the trail.
 F-18 flying fast and low up Racetrack Playa Valley |
 Passing a small cluster of vehicles, the pilots tip the jet on is side for a quick battle assessment. |
 Pilot's heads turns hard towards vehicles |
 Straightening out, I can just hear the pilots saying they have a fix on an enemy position. |
 Pilots begin to bank right |
 Pulling hard to the right |
 Coming around |
 Lined up for the bombing run |
 Banking in over the target |
 Bombs Away! |
 Hitting the gas, they fly straight and level over the targets |
 Pulling out |
 Pilots bank back to the left |
 Pulling hard to the left, the pilots flew off into the sunset. I can imagine they were high-5-ing each other after a successful kill. |
Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
; Last updated 240214
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