strations of fighter and attack capabilities. They demonstrate the tactics and techniques that are developed
and taught at the USAF Warfare Center, based right here at Nellis AFB. First off was a demonstration of air‐
to‐air combat that started when a pair of F‐16 Fighting Falcons from the 64th Aggressor Squadron bounced
the airfield. A pair of F‐15C Eagle fighters immediately scrambled, taking off in full afterburner. The four air‐
craft dueled it out in the sky, jinking and weaving through the bright November skies, the attackers desper‐
ately attempting to evade their pursuers, all four fighters popping flares as countermeasures against heat‐
seeking missiles. It was a rare display of the dogfighting capabilities honed to perfection during endless train‐
ing missions and taught to US and allied pilots during the Red Flag exercises held at Nellis several times each
year. (For a review of these exercises, see our coverage of Red Flag 14‐1, 14‐2 and 14‐3.)
Next was a very impressive demonstration of ground attack capabilities carried out by a pair of A‐10 Thun‐
derbolt IIs and F‐15E Strike Eagles. Preparing to attack the airfield, they too deployed flares during their in‐
bound flights before engaging in simulated bombing runs. The pyrotechnics accompanying their passes were
remarkable, the percussive explosions providing incredible simulations of the military ordnance being de‐
ployed. Training for such ground attack missions takes place regularly during Green Flag exercises at the Na‐
tional Training Center at Fort Irwin with aircraft staging out of Nellis. A Green Flag exercise was actually in
progress during the weekend, so the audience was treated to takeoffs and landings of several B‐1B Lancer
bombers during Sunday’s show. Kudos to the organizers for arranging this air show extra!
After the close air support demonstration, HH‐60G helicopters of the 66th Rescue Squadron, accompanied by
pararescuemen assigned to the 58th Rescue Squadron, swooped in to demonstrate a combat search and res‐
cue mission. As one Pave Hawk provided cover, the other came in low, slowed to a hover and dropped a line
to the ground. A pararescuer fast‐roped down, attended to the wounded Airman, then both were winched
back aboard the waiting helicopter. It sounds simple enough, but the fluid execution of such a complex and
important life‐saving mission only results from countless hours of training and practice.