General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon

[Joe Copalman]

Yup.  Former Nellis bird that was swapped out recently.  There were five of them, and my understanding is that most have been repainted at this point.  Get this sucker while you can!

[Joe Copalman]

Actually managed to catch this 310th FS Viper popping chaff along with flares. 

[Matt Ottosen]

Actually managed to catch this 310th FS Viper popping chaff along with flares.

Sweet shot, Joe!

[Bubak]

[azbill]

A couple from the past few days.

[jslugman]

Nice gear-plant shot there azbill!

[azbill]

Thanks James!

[scottcolbath]

Actually managed to catch this 310th FS Viper popping chaff along with flares.

Nice shot Joe. What are those flares used for? I saw that once while I was out in the middle of nowhere (outside Congress, Az. on my dirt bike).

S.C.

[Joe Copalman]

These flares are used to distract potential IR-guided missiles from the aircraft when leaving a threat area.  The chaff is meant to distract radar-guided missiles.

There are also parachute flares that burn much longer and are used to illuminate a target area at night.  A string of these dropped by a Maryland ANG A-10 over the Goldwater Range is what started the whole ridiculous "Phoenix Lights" UFO conspiracy. 

[Joe Copalman]

152nd FS Viper departing TIA.

[jslugman]

SUH-WEET burner shot Joe.

[Daniel DeSart]

[Bubak]

[F-16_fixer]

[josephea6]

425th Viper on Final for 21L...