If, like me, you’re a fan of the F-16 Fighting Falcon and cool colour schemes, then the recent couple of weeks at RAAF base Williamtown, just north of Newcastle, have been a spotter’s heaven with the deployment of a baker’s dozen machines from the US Air Force’s 18th Aggressor squadron from Eielson in Alaska, taking part in exercise Diamond Shield.
Diamond Shield was a part of the Air Warfare Instructor’s Course which is currently being conducted at Williamtown and the role of the 18th Aggressor Squadron and their F-16s was to simulate the tactics, performance and electronic signatures of possible opposition aircraft against “allied forces”.
From a spotter’s perspective, the chance to see the impressive and nimble F-16s in the distinctive colour schemes worn by the Aggressor units has been a welcome opportunity, with the observation deck at the Fighterworld Museum and the viewing spots on the roadside at the end of Williamtown’s runway seeing a constant stream of enthusiasts waiting to get a good look at the visitors.
While we will be doing a full wrap-up at the end of the Air Warfare Instructor’s Course, these guys have just been too cool not to share by themselves.
Below is a selection of images of each aircraft from this deployment.
86-0268
86-0270
86-0282
86-0286
86-0290
86-0295
86-0298
86-0304
86-0305
86-0308
86-0335
87-0366
87-0375
Our thanks to the 18th Aggressor Squadron and the Royal Australian Air Force for the chance to get a closer look at these awesome aircraft. We hope you enjoyed your time in Australia.
Motty.
Motty, beautiful collection of photos! Have you been able to capture any shots of 86286 in the new black, green, and tan splinter scheme, it looks sinister!