This really reminds me how much I miss the old days... Back when military fighters flew this route. Now, I think civilian aircraft are cool dont get me wrong, (I love the occaisional F-5) but nothing beats the F-18s, F-15s, F-16s, and F-35s that flew by around 300-500knts. I heard the sidewinder route is similar in some ways, I just haven't seen much info about it. Anyway, great video Erik! I love the content.
Around 1964/65 I was horseback with two friends in the Superstition Mountains, it was rainy, heavily overcast, clouds hung below the mountain ridges….a 104 jet fighter (I believe it was ) dropped into the canyon out of the clouds, very loud,we could see the pilots face. I was conscious of the enormous contrast in transportation modes….it was amazing. The pilot kicked in the afterburners and straight up through the clouds and gone, even out of hearing….Ten minutes later he was back for a repeat ! Very risky ! I doubt that was authorized….At the time there were German pilots training at a base south of those mountains, It may have been one , they crashed quite often it seemed. 👍🏻
I was there about 1 month before the crash and saw a f18 fly it backwards far lower than any others - had to literally look down into the canyon. I wonder if anyone here saw that?
It doesn't look all that long of a 'canyon run'. Is there more of it behind the ridge they drop in over? The AN-2 will probably still be flying long after the rest are aged out airframes and grounded,.. And the Citation looked to be the most fun.
L-39s and T-38s always please the eyes. Visually my favourite jet trainers, right behind the Su-27UB. Can't beat the sexy look of the Flanker 😊 That An-2 was a really cool surprise, too. Looks like a relic from the past, but it's a fascinating airframe. Good stuff. Any plans on visiting the Mach Loop in the UK any time soon?
