Summary

  • Since September 2011, the United States Air Force (USAF) has been publishing the best weekly pictures submitted to the branch.
  • Every picture set includes around a dozen images depicting aircraft, airmen, and executive leadership.
  • The past few weeks’ pictures displayed some of the most iconic aircraft, including the F-15, B-52, F-35, and F-16.

Every week, the United States Air Force (USAF) publishes some of the best pictures from the past few days and shares a short story associated with each picture. Called AF Week in Photos, the first collection of images was uploaded in September 2011, with the USAF welcoming the military branch’s members to submit their pictures via email.

As such, here are some of the best and/or most exciting shots that were submitted to the AF Week in Photos from the past few weeks. The pictures include some of the most iconic aircraft or fighter jets the USAF has operated during its history, including the…

5

Boeing F-15 Eagle on the ground

Picture taken at Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam (JBPHH, HNL)

Aircraft involved in the shot:

The picture depicts a Boeing F-15 Eagle preparing to taxi onto the runway during the Sentry Luau exercises. The fighter jet was at Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam (JBPHH), which is also Honolulu’s only airport, Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL).

Describing the picture, the USAF said that during the Sentry Luau exercises, the F-15s went against the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptors to improve and test fifth-generation fighting abilities. The Pictured Eagle belongs to the 173rd Fighter Wing, located at Kingsley Field (LMT), Oregon, US.

A Boeing F-15 Eagle on an airfield apron.

Photo: Staff Sgt. Emily Copeland | ANG

Speaking about the exercises, the Air National Guard (ANG) said that Sentry Luau was created specifically to test the F-22’s capabilities against the grandfather of fighter jets, the F-15, within the Pacific Air Force (PACAF) domain. The ANG added that the F-15s were able to do more than 100 flight hours (FH) and 68 sorties without any major maintenance issues.

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4

Boeing B-52 Stratofortress leading a formation

Picture taken at US 7th Fleet area of operations, located within the Pacific Ocean

Aircraft involved in the shot:

  • Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
  • Boeing F-18 Super Hornets
  • Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye

On February 24th, 2024, a USAF Boeing B-52 Stratofortress was captured flying just ahead of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt at the US 7th Fleet area of operations. The area is located within the Pacific Ocean.

A Boeing B-52 Stratofortress being escorted by F-18 Super Hornets and an E-2 Hawkeye.

Photo: Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Thomas Gooley | US Navy

Nevertheless, the mid-air shot depicts the eight-engined B-52 bomber being escorted by four Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, with a lonely Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye trailing the five aircraft. The B-52 belongs to the 5th Bomb Wing, with the other aircraft being attached to the Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11.

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3

Three Lockheed Martin Lightning II surrounded by fog

Picture taken at Mountain Home Air Force Base (MUO)

Aircraft involved in the shot:

  • Three Lockheed Martin Lightning II fighter jets

Following the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress formation image, the next one depicts three Lockheed Martin Lightning II surrounded by fog at Mountain Home Air Force Base (MUO). Airmen assigned to the 34th Fighter Squadron and Fighter Generation Squadron are conducting pre-flight checks on the trio of Lightning IIs on March 28th.

Three Lockheed Martin Lightning II parked on an airfield apron during foggy conditions.

Photo: Airman Keagan Lee | USAF

According to the USAF, the squadrons deployed at the Hill Air Force Base, Utah, US, used the Mountain Home Air Force Base to fly within the latter’s unique terrain and airspace“to conduct simulated combat scenarios to test their agile combat employment and readiness capabilities.”

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2

Lockheed Martin Lightning II showcasing its belly

Picture taken at Hill Air Force Base (HIF)

Aircraft involved in the shot:

  • Lockheed Martin Lightning II

The USAF noted that the pictured Lockheed Martin Lightning II was piloted by Captain Melanie Kleusner, a pilot and commander of the F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team, adding that she was flying a demonstration maneuver at the Hill Air Force Base (HIF). The picture was taken on March 19th, 2024, with the fighter jet being captured with its weapons bay open.

A Lockheed Martin Lightning II flying overhead with its weapons bay open.

Photo: Senior Airman Zachary Rufus | USAF

“The F-35A is an agile, versatile, high-performance, 9 g-forces-capable multirole fighter that combines stealth, sensor fusion and unprecedented situational awareness.”

The F-35A is one of the variants of the Lockheed Martin fighter jet, with the aircraft replacing the USAF’s aging Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon and Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft. The variant has a conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) system, giving the US and its allies the power to dominate the skies anywhere and anytime.

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1

Two Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcons deploying their flares

Picture taken at Rayong Province, Thailand

Aircraft involved in the shot:

  • Two Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcons

Lastly, one of the best pictures in the past few weeks is a shot depicting two Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcons deploying their flares while flying in Rayong Province, Thailand, on March 1st. The pair participated in the Cobra Gold exercises, which unite the US and Thailand’s armed forces. These maritime exercises began on February 27th.

Two Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcons deploying their flares.

Photo: Spc. Elaina Nieves | US Army National Guard

“Cobra Gold is a demonstration of a strong, forward-looking U.S.-Thai defense alliance rooted in history, which helps to foster a free and open Indo-Pacific region where all countries enjoy prosperity and peace.”

Meanwhile, the United States Army (USA) pointed out that Cobra Gold began in 1982 as a bilateral maritime exercise between the US and Thailand, expanding to include many other countries, such as Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea.

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