Looks no different from when I was there in the late '80's-early '90's. Only difference was my F-111F's were rolling out of the 494th by the EOR. Damn, I miss that place! What a GREAT base to be stationed at.
@@samuelforsyth6374 They were pretty damn long, and with the wings swept out at 35 deg. for takeoff, yes. A lot of real estate under that jet. You should have tried standing right next to one with the engines running. Like hot needles in your ear/brain!
My grandfather worked here, So i'm (and family) allowed entry. Saw F-22s that were being supplied to poland stationed there shortly. Fucking awesome base.
Its the end of the year...most likely needed the flights to meet yearly flight/sorties requirements... I would know... was stationed there from 1996 to 2002 when the 493rd was flying 15Cs..good times back then. .
My cousin son is stationed there he said that there is a lot of activity in air craft and support equipment and supplies coming in as well . They are showing a sign of readiness for Russia china and Iran to see
For all that wonder why the US chose a single engine for the F-35......it's built around a very large engine that puts out 40K pounds of thrust. There is a USMC station near where I live and those things are loud.
So, you think Putin is planning on attacking NATO ?" Do you understand how that would go for Russia .... ? NATO would destroy the entire Russian military in 30 days ..
Air power is nice, but wars are won on the ground. If I had to guess, I’d bet it’s the wing and individual pilots making sure they’re getting their required flight hours in before the calendar turns over. Or, a required annual readiness drill
"Wars are won on the ground" is a limited view of the situation. The fact is, ground forces often wouldn't be able to manoeuvre nearly as freely without air power. It takes a mixture of air and land assets working together to win a fight.
@@georgestokes5116 Ukraine's an interesting study right now: stalemated on the ground, but with an ace card in the hangars waiting for the soil conditions to allow ground forces to finish it.
One cannot be victorious without the other. Many times the birds have cleared paths and been the decisive factor in turning the tides in the theater for pinned down ground forces. But yes ground forces are needed to fortify and secure gains but air support is needed to ensure ground troops are supported. Not to mention the importance of naval support to clear shipping routes and ports. They all play in perfect synchronization.
I can see the F-35 was built in 2020 (1:52), I couldn't see the F 15 close enough to see the year. Anyone? EDIT : I see that one was 1992 (6:08) There is one built in 2020. (7:04)
Why do these squadrons always spend so much time and fuel maneuvering to, and occupying temporary holding positions on the ground before takeoff? Any engine warm-up or other preflight activities could just as easily take place together at the hangars... so there has to be some specific reason they all line up together again. I can't imagine take off clearance takes that long to acquire at an air base handling pre-scheduled departures? What is going on there?
Many pre-flight activities cannot take place in hangars as you suggest. The formations line up, check in with each other on comms, then run through their usual checklists.
@@Orbital_Inclination I did not suggest any activities take place in hangars. I suggested the activities leading to the aircraft being cleared for taxiing takes place before they then move to another two rallying points before the runway.
@@gerry4b apologies, I misread. In any case, it is common for engine checks to be carried out at the hold, or on areas nearer the runway. It allows fluids to get up to temp during the taxi, amongst other reasons.
It's part of the Air Force inspection checklists. More eyes = fewer mishaps. This is called the end of runway inspection or a last chance inspection and is also where they would arm guns and missiles. This appears to be the regeneration portion of a NATO inspection that usually takes place at the end of a period of heavy flying to see how many airplanes can be regenerated. They used to be called elephant walks but too many airplanes that could walk couldn't fly so they made them take off to prove they could.
@@davefromflorida.1932 Perhaps they are just going through the motions you mention - that do make sense. But although I recognize this video has been edited for time, other broadcasts show them parking up twice before takeoff without even ground handlers, never mind inspections. It reminds me of commercial flights needing to burn off fuel to make flight weight. Maybe too many hamburgers at the Lakenheath canteen!😁
RAF Lakenheath is the name of the base that is leased to the United States. It used to be a British Air Force base (and I guess it still is/would be if the lease was terminated). Lakenheath itself is a village though.
@@Orbital_Inclination I doubt they coundn't chose the color they want. First of all they have already changed the color and second, they have applied this coating to the F-22 and the color of the F-22 hasn't changed AFAIK.
NATO looking for a FIGHT? No, no. Looking to deter and prevent. How is that done? By being prepared to defend if deterrence fails, which, hopefully, it won't. Yes, F35 is ugly. But it's rival in the fly-off was uglier still 😂😂
@@joefell7845 Now you have long time neutral nations of Finland and Sweden looking to join NATO... how did that war turn out for you fool. If Russia stopped giving nations a reason to join NATO people would stop applying.
Maybe preparing for something? Well yes, always preparing, always practicing. War is coming? I damn well hope not, therefore we have to maintain deterrent by showing we are ready and continuing to support Ukraine. If Putin wins, goodness knows what he might be tempted to do next. So, important to show how strong we are, how ready we are, and how good we are.
Russia has already won! How numb are you? The US is not going to interfere besides sending or hard earned money/ tax dollars. We should have never help Ukraine when or government started this whole war in 2014 with the overthrow of the elected Ukrainian president. Hey Ukraine stop being a bunch of neo nazi shitheads!
The primary design priority for defence equipment is military capability above all else. That isn't the same for your average family vehicle. If there were viable alternatives which didn't degrade military capability, they'd probably use them. Until then, jet engines are the best options.
@@TappioLopullinen-us8dx F35s are NOT fighters... They arent pretty, they are invisible missile trucks to defeat enemy air and radar. If you are an Su-57 Felon, or a J-20, you just get an AIM-260 up your from at least 5 miles further away than you can even see on radar. Once the skies are clear, the F15s and F16s can operate with relative impunity
The same reason they let us base aircraft in their country and allow us access to their military space-based capabilites, amongst others - military co-operation between NATO allies.
F35 Lightning: Strike Eagle! I've heard so much about you F15E Strike Eagle: Yeah you have. What you DIDN'T hear was the deep contempt i have for you. You haven't proven anything to me and you sure as fuck ain't fit to be sleeping in my hangar. My record speaks for itself, 104 to 0. Against REAL Migs, not that Red Flag shit you think is so impressive. I been there and done that too. UNTIL i see you match my record, you ain't shit to me. You ain't nowhere near my level. So do not come up to me like i'm supposed to be in awe of you. I'm a real legend in the Air Force, just like my daddy the F-4 Phantom. F35 Lightning: I was just saying.... F15E Strike Eagle: I don't care. You come to me in my house, you make sure you put respect on my name first. Got it, little pissant?
