Forum: Modern Military Aircraft

So I was on my way to work, just groovin' to some Jimmy Buffett on the CD player, cruisin' up the Las Vegas Strip from Sunset towards Russell Road, coming up on the world famous Las Vegas "Welcome sign" and doing my normal scan of the aircraft parked at the executive terminal at McCarren when I did a double take - that can't be right Shocked

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No, my eyes weren't playing tricks on me and stress from work wasn't driving me totally insane Very Happy

. Nope, it wasn't a mirage (at least not a French mirage Wink

)...

There on the ramp at the executive terminal were not one, but TWO Eurofighter Typhoons Mr. Green

!!!

Well, since I'd never seen one before (aside from pictures of course), I just had to pull over into an adjacent parking lot and take a couple of pictures Cool

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Please forgive the poor image quality - I didn't have my normal camera so I had to use my cellphone (LOVE modern cellphones Thumb

!) and the lighting was all wrong but whatcha gonna do in a case like this Razz

? I was in a bit of a hurry, so I was only able to get a pic of one of the jets.

I figure the jets and their pilots are probably in town for Red Flag, got done with a late night sortie, decided to valet park the jets, catch a cab (or limo) and go out for a good time on the strip Smile

. Heck, they're close enough to comfortably walk to the Mandalay Bay Laughing

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So without further ado, here's the pics Mr. Green

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Well ....they are better than UFO photos. This definately isn't a plate or a hat someone threw into the air. Laughing

Wonder why they were at McCarren of all places? Too much Red Flag activity at Nellis perhaps?

Very cool!!! I will be in Vegas Feb. 20-23... I will have to keep my eyes out... Thanks
Honk

Forum Veteran Joined: Dec 15, 2006 - 12:28 AM Posts: 760

Call out the reserves, we are being invaded.

Interesting photos parrothead.

Quote:

Call out the reserves, we are being invaded.

No need, the F-22s are there.

17sqn have maintained (although I thought they came home last month) a detachment of two aircraft in the US for the past 3 years Smile

They are mainly doing EW testing on the ranges and some environmental work they base hop but I believe are 'home based' at Nellis or China Lake.

http://img81.imageshack.us/my.php?image ... 0zrdp0.jpg

Andy

ELP, Thanks for the compliment Smile

! I did my best under the circumstances Wink

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Link, I don't know why they were there, but I know I've seen F/A-18s at McCarren quite a few times Shrug

. My personal, albeit uninformed, opinion is that the guys just wanted a shorter cab ride to the acton Razz

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honkhntr, Have fun while you're here Very Happy

! I don't know if they'll be back to McCarren, but you might want to check out the airspace around Nellis Thumb

! If you can go on base, check out the Threat Training Facility and go play with some MiGs Smile

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AFTS_Crash, I'm not too worried with all the firepower in this state Laughing

! I think Scorpion1alpha has it right.

Scorpion1alpha, Thanks for the compliment Very Happy

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boff180, I saw what looked like a coat of arms on the tail, but I couldn't get a real good look at the national insignia. Which country would these be from? Thanks for the info Cool

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I've looked last night and this afternoon and they weren't there. I'll check back tomorrow and see what's up then.

Have fun!

they're raf. Belonging to 17(reserve)squadron. Which is the typhoon operational evaluation unit (oeu) based at raf coningsby. Who basically test the aircraft for the raf, develop new tactics and assess new updates clearing them for operational use.

All raf typhoon squadrons carry their emblem in a coat of arms on the tail.

Andy posting off his phone at work.

boff180 wrote:

they're raf. Belonging to 17(reserve)squadron. Which is the typhoon operational evaluation unit (oeu) based at raf coningsby. Who basically test the aircraft for the raf, develop new tactics and assess new updates clearing them for operational use......

And the fact it's near Vegas doesn't hurt! Wink

Here's the brief: "OK lads, need to check radar modes alpha and bravo in high clutter, watch out for flutter with loads 1 and 2, and remember.....what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.. Laughing

Thanks for the info and the dedication Andy Thumb

!!!

Link, that's too funny LMAO

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Of course, I've heard it a different way here in Vegas - WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS WINDS UP ON THE INTERNET!!!

I thought I saw a couple in that pattern at Nellis a couple of weeks a go but figured I was seeing things.

Why are they at McCarran?? Why aren't they at Nellis?

And its odd, I've seen a few CH-47 chinook helos at North Las Vegas air port a few times.

Night wrote:

Why are they at McCarran?? Why aren't they at Nellis?

And its odd, I've seen a few CH-47 chinook helos at North Las Vegas air port a few times.

I don't know why they were at McCarren, but I've checked back the past couple of days and they haven't been back. Looks like it was a one time deal.

Forum: Modern Military Aircraft

Eurofighters on the Las Vegas Strip!