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'Completely coincidental': Air Force launches 52 fighter jets in training exercise

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....908bbd4490.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....ec0697d843.jpg
Photos: USAF

Presumably the photos are from earlier events. One for each Iranian target?

From the Ogden, Utah Standard-Examiner:

Quote:

Hill launches 52 F-35s Monday, showing the world the capability of the Air Force

By MITCH SHAW Standard-Examiner

HILL AIR FORCE BASE — Hill Air Force Base launched more than four dozen F-35s Monday morning — an effort base officials say had been planned for months, but one that nonetheless showed the world the military power of the United States Air Force.

Hill’s 388th and 419th Fighter Wings conducted the combat power exercise at about 11 a.m. Monday, launching 52 F-35A Lightning IIs over what was about a 10-minute period. The jets headed west for the Utah Test and Training Range to perform various missions, then a short time later, flew back to the base.

Col. Michael Ebner, 388th FW vice commander, said Monday’s exercise had been planned as a “culminating event” after the two fighter wings received their full complement of fighter jets.

In December, Hill received an F-35 from defense contractor Lockheed Martin — a jet that marked the final F-35 delivery at Hill and brings the total number of aircraft on base to 78. The first two operational F-35s arrived at Hill in September 2015. Since then, the base has received approximately one to two jets every month. The wing’s three squadrons — the 4th, 34th and 421st — each have 24 F-35As, with another six back-up aircraft stored at the base.

Ebner said while Monday’s effort was intended to demonstrate the wings’ ability to conduct a large-scale combat deployment at a moments notice, it was not in direct response to the United States’ escalating situation with Iran.

“That’s completely coincidental,” Ebner said.

Coincidental or not, Ebner said Monday’s demonstration sends a message not only to potential adversaries, but allies and U.S. military brass as well.

“What you saw today was our ability to take off (52) aircraft ... it’s no small feat,” he said.

As the Air Force’s only combat capable F-35A units, the 388th and 419th fighter wings must be prepared to launch any number of aircraft to support the national defense mission at a moment’s notice, said 388th FW spokesman Micah Garbarino. Last year, the wings began regularly supporting combat operations with the F-35A with multiple deployments.

From April to October 2019, the 4th Fighter Squadron deployed to Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, and conducted combat operations in support of the Central Command mission in the region. In October, the 34th Fighter Squadron departed on the wing’s second combat deployment.

“We are at full strength and our airmen are ready to continue to deploy this aircraft wherever we’re needed to meet any adversary,” said Col. Steven Behmer, 388th FW commander.

Currently, the wings fly between 30-60 sorties per day from Hill’s flight line.

LOL count the pylons :ok:

Good effort!!!! pity it wasn't 78 out of 78.

Yep the RAF once launched the whole fleet of 10 Belfast at once, some where limmed up to their eyeballs to get them in the air.

Impresssive sight, and no doubt a lot of engineering blood, sweat and tears to see it happen, I wonder how many were serviceable when they landed.

We routinely launched 40+ Tornados out of Bruggen in the 80's. No R/T, 30 second separation on take-off, all flew around the North German Plain at 250ft msd, bombed on Nordhorn Range at 30 second intervals then landed back at Bruggen with the only R/T from ATC being "clear land", even though we could see the runway was clear. There was even a picture similar to above of the whole wing after landing back on the runway featured in the Daily Express. I have a framed picture of it somewhere.

Not sure how many were serviceable afterwards though. :}

Good effort from the USAF though. :ok:

The US’ $22 Trillion national debt at work.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airbubba (Post 10656005)

One for each Iranian target?

Aviation journalist Tyler Rogoway weighs in on my theory. :)

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....0d896baff0.jpg

If you want an expensive ramp? PSAB heavy/ISTAR dispersal during GW2.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....3174ebc03d.jpg

Gutersloh's Lightning wing, 19 and 92, managed some big numbers launches ............. well into the thirties, if I recall correctly.
The practice was said to have ceased after the good burghers of the town thought WW III had started, and headed for the hills.
So the folklore said.
It might have been the Wobbly talking of course.

Colt often managed to get 6 jags airborne ;-)

Quote:

Originally Posted by just another jocky (Post 10656071)

Similar with the Jag..... though I don't know if they have all returned yet ;)

Quote:

'Completely coincidental': Air Force launches 52 fighter jets in training exercise

The Times quotes "a commander" as saying it was "a threat to America's enemies".

Me and my Green Aldis

Quote:

Originally Posted by just another jocky (Post 10656071)

J A J/Nutty,
And I was usually the hero in the caravan for both Jag and Tonka mass launches at Brüggen, using my green Aldis lamp as a silent take off clearance. For the recovery I kept both Very pistols loaded with a red (just in case). Sadly, after the recovery phase of one such Tonka launch, my movement sheet was missing one ATA, and no, the a/c hadn't diverted. I spent the following week or so on crash guard in Northern Germany during a VERY cold period. (Tonka - RAF slang for a Tornado)

A342

At Hahn AB, we would regularly display the ability to launch 50 F-16’s. Why? To prove to the enemy we could. Why 50? To fulfill our assigned Strike mission.

During the first Gulf War, we would launch 48 F-16’s from Al Dafra AB, UAE - usually that number in two go’s a day.

A few times I was at the tail end of those Gorilla packages. It was an extraordinarily impressive sight, until one realized the first couple dozen Vipers woke everybody up, just in time for your own roll in which - in Pappy Boyington style - was from about 30,000 feet, 60 degrees nose low, full AB. Wild stuff.

I'm amazed they can find 52 serviceable F-35's in one place................

The intakes look weird in the second photo - what's going on there?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Auxtank (Post 10657064)

The intakes look weird in the second photo - what's going on there?

Y-shaped duct, the inlet openings are outboard of the engine compressor face so, from head on, you don't see the compressor face which greatly reduces the radar cross section from the the head on aspect...*

-RP
* I'm sure there's a more technically accurate description available, but that's the basics.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhino power (Post 10657093)

That makes perfect sense.
Cheers for explaining Rhino.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Auxtank (Post 10657064)

The intakes look weird in the second photo - what's going on there?

Not sure if that's what you see in the daylight pictures but there is a form of Yehudi lighting in the inlets according to some aviation articles.

Ah, numbers. I had the interesting experience of being the Local Controller at Tengah when Nos. 3 and 75 Sqns RAAF recovered (mercifully VFR) from a flypast at KL. Thirty-four Mirages, including the 2 spares/whippers.

They spaced in 4s on AI on the way in, 5 miles between sections, and broke downwind on AI at ~1 mile trail. “Land in turn, 5 ahead and 4 on”. :)
VERY professional operators, bless ‘em, even if their beer was cr@p. :ok:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhino power (Post 10657093)

Are you sure it's not just protective covers -- the image is from a different time, there's snow on the surrounding fields.