Hi Everyone,

Just a one pic of one of the six F-16's that departed for Italy, from there they'll uphold the NO-FLY zone in Libya.

An armed take-off, something you won't see everyday over here.



Cheers,

Mike

Very nice, and yes, I so rarely get to see them armed. I think the few shots I've gotten of aircraft carrying ordinance probably had them carrying training ordinance, and I'm sure the stuff carried by the plane in your shot is live.

No Winders, but a litening pod. Or is that the new digital recce pod? Interesting shot.

Curious. I haven't kept up to date with the Falcon, but I thought it only had two hardpoints and one wingtip point on each wing? It looks there like there is an extra outboard stub pylon just for an AMRAAM on it, with the "middle" hardpoint empty.

Oh hey, it *does* have a 'winder, where the AMRAAM on the far-side wing would have been - these asymmetrical loadouts are quite unusual.

Good catch!

Nice pic. I wonder if they'll be fitted with HARMS for SEAD. Maybe the Tomahawks took care of that?

If I read his post right, it was taking off from the Netherlands for the transport leg to Italy for basing there. So it's armed with air missiles, fuel pod and a targeting pod?

Yep. Often planes will carry some initial ordonance with them when deploying. I also belive AMRAAMs are more sensitive to 'borrow' from other countries so you BYOM.

Didn't spot the winder, the 120 behind it made me overlook it. Reports in of the first AG munitions dropped, so it's not a RecceLite Pod.

Very nice picture. Very rare indeed to see them armed.

According to the government, the RNLAF won't be participating in AG sorties, purely AA enforcing the no-fly zone. So I'd imagine that it wouldn't be a targeting pod. However, when it comes to military matters, you never know with the Dutch government, they're incredibly secretive.
Today one minister said bombing is on the table, only have the vice prime minister say otherwise a few hours later.

Jaz

Actually, part of the missions are simple intel-gathering. For which the targeting pod is well suited.

That's a very nice photo.