This experience has to rate as my aviation photography career highlight, February 2007 and two tanker flights during Red Flag to capture the F-117s last Flag. The sunset flight is a story on its own! The poor PA rep from Fairchild had to deal with multiple requests from journos and spotters alike, she really didn’t want us to fly a second time but was overruled, but was relieved when she was told as it was an ANG crew we didn’t require her her to escort us as they operate under different rules. We had 2 F-117As schedule an early launch before the main RF ‘Go’ just so they could formate on the tanker at sunset, I still can’t believe they did that! Our take-off time was delayed by ATC and we sat at the EOR watching the sun sink from the cockpit, me and Rich Cooper giving concerned looks to eachother, thinking this could all go wrong at the last minute, fortunately we got clearance and as we climbed the sun came back! I still pinch myself when I look at the photos to think little old me got to do this!
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Beautiful @KevinJ - wonderful story as well. Guess you were biting nails sitting at the EOR… Thanks for sharing!
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Those last two shots… epic!
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Thanks Roger. Here’s a few from the day mission, this Flag had great PA support and every day of the two week exercise they flew a couple of media on one of the tankers. During most missions the F-117s were not air refuelling but Rich asked his 8th FS contact if they could join up on our flight for photos. I think we had 16 receivers on the flight, 8 F-22s, 6 F-16s and 2 F-15s, then the 2 F-117s. Our PA escort was napping the entire time the F-117s were up with us so we joked we should tell her they never showed so we’ll need another flight!
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