![]() “I think elephant walks are important as it shows our NATO partners and other allies around the world that we care about producing pilots and operators,” added Maj. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Michelle Ferrari Air Force Airman 1st Class Kyle Phelps, 9th Aircraft Maintenance Unit maintainer, prepares an MQ-9 for taxi on April 21. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Nicholas Paczkowski U.S. Caputo The specially painted flagship F-16s of the 311th Fighter Squadron (FS), 8th FS, 314th FS, and 49th Wing. Air Force photo Senior Airman Antonio Salfran The 49th Wing is the Air Force’s largest F-16 and MQ-9 formal training unit. Savanah Koontz The elephant walk at Holloman on April 21, 2023, was the first at the base to involve MQ-9s. Caputo F-16s and MQ-9s assigned to the 49th Wing line up on the runway. MQ-9s assigned to the 49th Wing line up on the runway during the elephant walk at Holloman Air Force Base. We have the largest F-16 Viper and MQ-9 Reaper training pipeline and this elephant walk showcases the amount of airpower and manpower we can generate.” Justin Spears, 49th Wing commander, explained: “When people mention Holloman Air Force Base I want them to picture the aircraft and mission that’s displayed in today’s elephant walk. In an official release relating to the elephant walk, Col. In fact, roughly a quarter of all fighter pilots in the Air Force at this time will have come through the Holloman training pipeline. All these are training units, responsible for generating hundreds of combat-ready fighter pilots, remotely piloted aircraft pilots, and sensor operators every year. The F-16s involved in the elephant walk came from the 8th, 311th, and 314th Fighter Squadrons, while the MQ-9s are assigned to the 6th, 9th, and 29th Attack Squadrons. Air Force Four F-16s line up in formation behind eight MQ-9s. Air Force Eight MQ-9s on the flight line. Air Force MQ-9s and F-16s assigned to the 49th Wing as seen from directly overhead. Air Force Infrared and regular electro-optical imagery of the F-16s and MQ-9s at Holloman Air Force Base. Air Force A gaggle of Vipers lines up in formation. Air Force Engines running, F-16s line up in formation on the flight line. ![]() Air Force All 49 F-16s and MQ-9s line up on the flight line at Holloman. Air Force An MQ-9 sits on the flight line at Holloman Air Force Base. As the jets and drones gather on the runway, the thermal signatures from their engines show up as distinct white plumes on the infrared camera.į-16s and MQ-9s glow on the MQ-9's MTS-B infrared sensor. The TV and infrared footage provided by the sensors aboard an MQ-9 give a very different look at the now-familiar elephant walk. military's Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS) has also released a video and still photos shot from one of the 49th Wing’s Reapers overhead the base as the aircraft sat in formation on the runway. ![]() This pairing of manned fighters and unmanned tactical aircraft in a single elephant walk seems to be new and it is very likely just a glimpse of what's to come in the not-so-distant future.Īs well as the more familiar photos of the aircraft from the “Fightin’ 49ers” gleaming on the runway under the New Mexico sun, the U.S. The April 21 elephant walk at Holloman involved 49 aircraft - 40 F-16 fighter jets and nine MQ-9 drones, the two types that are operated by the resident 49th Wing. Now we have the chance to watch a very unique elephant walk put on recently by Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico in an equally unique way, via the MTS-B sensor turret on an MQ-9 Reaper drone flying above the runway.įorty-nine F-16s and MQ-9s line up on the flight line on April 21, 2023, at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, as seen from an MQ-9 flying over the base. Air Force “ elephant walks” - shows of force that display levels of readiness, personnel skills, and sheer military might, as well as practicing generating large numbers of aircraft sorties quickly - have been spoiled for choice of late, with multiple such events taking place at airbases across the continental United States. A total of 49 F-16 Vipers and MQ-9 Reapers were lined up on the Holloman runway to demonstrate the incredible air power generated by the 49th Wing as the largest Viper and Reaper formal training unit in the Air Force.įans of U.S. F-16 Vipers line up in formation on the flight line April 21, 2023, at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico.
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