T
HIS MAY LOOK like a
nondescript F-16D, but in
fact it’s anything but run-of-
the-mill. Photographed as it
ew at low level in the Jedi
Transition in the R-2508 range
complex, California, during the early
afternoon of November 14, unmarked
F-16D Block 30 serial 86-0052 was
actually making a very rare appearance.
There are no other recent images of this
aircraft, mainly due to the fact that it is
stationed at the top-secret Groom Lake
air base on the Nevada Test and Training
Range (NTTR).Google Earth images reveal that two-
seat F-16Ds are regularly parked out in
the open on the ramp at Groom Lake. A
handful are based there, used for chase
and test support duties in relation to the
ultra-secret activities at the Nevada base.
Indeed, a few hours before this shot
was taken an F-16D similar to this was
photographed ying in formation with an
F-117A Nighthawk near Rachel, Nevada,
close to Groom Lake. It too appeared to
be carrying a Lockheed Martin Legion
Pod with an infra-red search and track
(IRST) sensor, as can be seen on 86-0052.
This pod was rst noted being carriedby an F-16C of the 64th Aggressor
Squadron at Nellis AFB during a ‘Red Flag’
exercise in 2013.
Even more remarkable is the fact that,
on close scrutiny, the pilots in this F-16
wear the patches of the clandestine ‘Red
Hats’ (rear cockpit) and ‘Red Eagles’ (front
cockpit). The 6513th Test Squadron ‘Red
Hats’ of Air Force Materiel Command
(AFMC) test- ew secretly acquired
Soviet military aircraft at Groom Lake
from the late 1960s. The 4477th Test and
Evaluation Squadron (TES) ‘Red Eagles’ was
subsequently formed as part of Tactical Air
Command (TAC). This unit was established
in order to give USAF, Navy and Marine
Corps pilots experience of ying against
these ‘assets’ under the ‘Constant
Peg’ program.F-16D serial
86-0052 fl ashes
through a canyon
at low level on
November 14.
Photos
Alan ChadwickBREAKS COVER
50 February 2018 //^ http://www.combataircraft.net
50-51 Centre C.indd 50 13/12/2017 14:40