Identity crisis at Red Flag 81-1 - with added images

[Old Viper Tester]

The Royal Saudi Air Force at Red Flag 81-1 in November 1980.

 

An interesting mix of F-5Bs, F-5Es, and F-5Fs on the ramp at Nellis. A unique markings variation is the wearing of the typical USAF markings for the 425 Tactical Fighter Training Squadron out of Williams AFB and the addition of the RSAF roundels and tail flag. That's the 405th Tactical Training Wing emblem on the right side of the nose and the 425 TFTS emblem on the right.

 

F-5B, USAF s/n 72-0439. Another variation on this example is the partial use of light green in place of tan for what would otherwise be a standard Southeast Asia camo scheme. Compare with F-5Es '402 and '406 below…

 

 

F-5B, USAF s/n 73-1602

 

F-5B, USAF s/n 73-1408

 

F-5B, USAF s/n 73-1603

 

F-5E, USAF s/n 71-1419

 

F-5E, USAF s/n 72-1392

 

F-5E, USAF s/n 72-1398

 

 

F-5E, USAF s/n 72-1402

 

F-5E, USAF s/n 72-1406

 

F-5E, USAF s/n 73-0855

 

 

F-5F, USAF s/n 73-0889

 

F-5F, USAF s/n 73-0891

 

 

Not that it was any of my business as an operational test guy from the other end of the Nellis ramp, but we were told that the Saudis were scheduled to participate in this Red Flag exercise but it was “easier” for them to “borrow” aircraft from the USAF rather than ferry or ship their own aircraft from Saudi Arabia. Others may no more?

 

Thanks for looking,

Sven

Edited October 16, 2017 by Old Viper Tester
Added images and data

[Calum]

Cool picks of an interesting subject

[lasermonkey]

Thanks for sharing the pictures.

Interesting to see the tan-green (24201?) replacing the 30219 on '439. I've seen it previously on 48th FW and 81st FW F-4Ds but not elsewhere. I wonder what the cause of the colour substitution was.

 

Cheers,

Mark,

[Giorgio N]

Very interesting pictures, thanks for sharing !

Very interesting subjects, and the aluminum USAF F-5Bs are quite good to see too

 

 

1 hour ago, lasermonkey said:

Thanks for sharing the pictures.

Interesting to see the tan-green (24201?) replacing the 30219 on '439. I've seen it previously on 48th FW and 81st FW F-4Ds but not elsewhere. I wonder what the cause of the colour substitution was.

 

Cheers,

Mark,

 

IIRC it was not really a colour substitution but the result of the use of a batch of paint that resulted in a different colour from what was supposed to be

 

 

 

[RidgeRunner]

Very nice! Despite having LA codes these were Williams AFB based machines. At least, that is my guess and I saw many there in the schemes in May 1979 amongst the T-37s and T-38s.

 

Martin

[Old Viper Tester]

58 minutes ago, RidgeRunner said:

Despite having LA codes these were Williams AFB based machines. At least, that is my guess and I saw many there in the schemes in May 1979 amongst the T-37s and T-38s.

RidgeRunner,

 

Yes, the 405th TTW belonged to Tactical Air Command and was headquartered at Luke AFB. The 425th belonged to the the 405th, hence the LA tail code. The T-37s and T-38s at Williams belonged to Air Training Command and the training wing headquartered at Willie.

 

Sven

[Hook]

Great pics, thanks for posting them! 

 

Now where's that Italeri F-5F... 

 

Cheers,

 

Andre 

 

 

[F-32]

Very cool indeed, thanks for posting