The South Dakota ANG is the proud owner of 175th FS Bulldogs. The F-16CM/DMs are painted in the Radar Absorbing Have Glass colours. Five aircraft arrived at Volk Field during Exercise Northern Lightning 2017 for just a lunch break during their air-superiority mission over nearby Wisconsin ranges. This Viper is armed with AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missiles on wingtip weapon stations 1 and 9, and underneath the wings (stations 2 and 8), the newest Sidewinder version, the AIM-9X is placed. Underneath the centre fuselage (station 8), an ALQ-184 Electronic Counter Measures pod is attached.

Luke AFB's gate-guard, 52-6782 in Thunderbirds colours with false serial "6779".

Ex-58 TTW, withdrawn from service and stored with all marks painted over.

The Lightning II, I still name it a cameleon... it does not matter from what angle you take a picture of the stealthy aircraft, its grey color, the (sun) glance, the additional Radar Absorbing Material (RAM) lines (that look like duct tape over fuselage panels), the canopy and so on... this all look always different.

From 5th FIS, Minot AFB, North Dakota, on the Red Flag flightline at Nellis.

From 23rd TFW, England AFB, Louisiana, coded 'EL', one of 8 from the Wing on the Red Flag ramp at Nellis.

From 67th TRW, Bergstrom AFB, Texas, on the Red Flag ramp at Nellis.

[Nikon D300 + Tokina 12-24mm/4]

Old and beautiful, a Talon of the USAF during its take-off from Volk Field. Five T-38As of Langley AFB (VA) participated in exercise Northern Lightning 2017 and acted as Red-Air.

C-124C of 31 Air Transport Squadron, Military Air Transport Service. It wears the then current '3005' abbreviated fin serial when taxying for departure from the snowy Burtonwood (Lancs) logistics base in early 1955.

Pole-mounted gate-guard at 194th FIS, California ANG base.

Very low transition of a Langley Raptor during exercise Northern Lightning 2017.

Wisconsin is known as the Badger state, and Truax Field, home of the 176th Fighter Squadron, is situated very close to the capital of the State, Madison. So the Air National Guard squadron proudly wear a Badger tail design and a red Madison fintip, both to show respect to the State and Capital. In the ready room of the squadron, a taxidermy Badger can be found. And the tradition is that a pilot touches this Badger before every flight.

Light rapidly going as this Hercules of the 757th Airlift Squadron, 910th Airlift Wing arrives from Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio.