F15EX

We have an incredible set of images to share today from our friend Russell Hill (@Sabian404), an aviation photographer out of the Portland, Oregon area. In fact, I would go so far as say this is the most incredible photo of the U.S. Air Force’s new F-15EX Eagle II in existence.

The image was taken at Portland International Airport (PDX), which also hosts Portland Air National Guard (PANG) Base, whose prominent tenant is the 142nd Fighter Wing/123rd Fighter Squadron, better known as the Redhawks. This celebrated unit was chosen as the first F-15EX operator, rapidly transitioning the Eagle II from testing to operational status. In the process, the Redhawks would give up their 40-year-old F-15C/Ds.

You can read all about the Redhawks and their transition to the F-15EX in this past exclusive feature of ours.

The main image in question, seen at the top of this post, shows an F-15EX, part of RAMBO flight, blasting out of PDX in full afterburner and executing a hard pull-up for a fast climb at the end of Runway 10R. According to Hill, this was a ‘fini-flight’ for one of the 142nd’s pilots. These are usually lively affairs marking the end of a pilot’s military flying career.

It’s worth noting that the use of afterburner by PANG-based F-15s is not a daily occurrence. This is largely due to sound abatement and fuel conservation, as well as the airport’s long runways. But for some missions, like when the alert birds launch, or a functional test flight occurs, or for a special occasion, like this fini-flight, the F-15s rocket down the runway in full reheat, often executing a ‘gate climb’ (a vertical climb roughly over the airport’s grounds) at the end of the runway. This is really something to see, and especially hear, inside the terminal where throngs of weary travelers get a sudden wakeup call as the ruckus literally rattles the windows.

With the 142nd FW still in transition, part of Rambo flight included F-15Cs, which also went out with their cans blazing, one giving a deep wingtip drop to those standing on the base’s apron:

Hill was able to capture the departure on video, too. Check it out below: