Iowa Air Guard in Australia Operation Sentry Down Under

I only found out about Operation Sentrywith our RAAF fighters a few days ago so just had to sneak out to RAAF Williamtown to take a look. I have never seen F-16s before so this was a great morning for me. There is apparently a C-5 Galaxy as support but I couldn't see it from the not many viewing spots available. If I can get out when it leaves I'll be extremely happy, but have no idea when it is going....if indeed it is here at all so I don't like my chances.

Anyway, here is what I got this morning and they are about 4 hours fresh.

The weather was very bland, and blowing about 20 knots, but the opposite happened for me today to what normally does, in that as they took off it actually cleared for about 10 minutes and I got some sunshine!!! Sadly as the KC-135 (I hope I have that correctops took off not 10 minutes after the F-16s left, it came over dark again. This is how tight the sunshine gap was, as our guys left at the same time as them it was still overcast. There are a few RAAF hornets and a few more F-16 I didn't get decent shots of due to the crappy light.

If I can get an actual series ID on them too from someone that would be great. I see a 2 seater in there too.

I love shooting a new (to me) aircraft!

nice set!!!

I think they are the same planes that will be down in melbourne for the airshow.

3 and 4 belong on a wall for sure!

WaFp wrote in post #11888740
nice set!!!

cheers!

O_Lethal wrote in post #11889594
I think they are the same planes that will be down in melbourne for the airshow.

Makes sense. I heard from a friend at the base that the galaxy is nowhere to be seen, but as he works as a civi he's only there weekdays so it may have come and gone. That would make a nice addition to Avalon!

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #11890329
3 and 4 belong on a wall for sure!

Now there's a hell of a rap from the man! Cheers Jay.

I think I will get one of them printed. I'm liking #4 for the nicer BG, but prefer the single seater as an aircraft........stuff it, I'll do them both

I wished they would have banked toward me as they took off, I have a few too many belly shots! One did, but he went out further before he turned.

Jealous as but I'm off to Avalon in 2 weeks

As long as the F-22 is a static display, I won't be jealous!

But if it does fly, I expect some photos!!

I got my fix at the Williamtown RAAF airshow last year and I want an UWA so can't spring for Avalon.

Nice shots. Keep it up.

Good series on them.

Perfect shots!

Excellent series.

Great photos. Looks like a fun job. I bet the flight from Iowa to Australia sucked though.

Some really nice shots there; great way to take advantage of seeing the 16's for the first time

Awesome shots. Number 4 is superb. I hope they are still mucking around up there when I fly out on Friday.

Very nice.