Bottom View Silhouettes
Military Aircraft Around Las Vegas, Aircraft Around Las Vegas
Jet fighters are recognized by their relatively small size, highly aerodynamic shapes (pointy nose, short wings), and big noise. The all look alike, more or less, until you look carefully. Note: the relative sizes of these aircraft images are approximately correct.
F-15 Eagle and F-15 Strike Eagle. Relatively large (length = 64 feet), the size and shape of the two F-15s are almost identical. The fuselage of the Strike Eagle is a bit wider to carry bombs internally. These jets are recognized by the long pointy nose from a cylindrical fuselage. The air intakes are located on the sides of the fuselage, and the openings (shaded gray) are slanted back on the bottom to make a large, rectangular opening towards the ground. The wings are triangular, and the trailing edge is almost straight. The horizontal tail fins are splayed outward and have a notch on the leading edge. There are two exhausts. |
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| F-16 Fighting Falcon. Relatively small (length = 49 feet), these jets are recognized by the short, conical snout, a single air intake (shaded gray) under the fuselage, and triangular wings that are absolutely straight across the back edge. F-16s also have two rocket guides (or rockets) projecting ahead of each wing tip. There is a single exhaust. |  |
| F-22 Raptor. The largest fighter around Las Vegas (length = 62 feet), these jets are recognized by the short, pointy nose, square air intakes on the sides of the fuselage (the opening is almost vertical), the deltoid wings (not triangular) with rounded tips, and the splayed horizontal tail fins that look like paddles. There are two exhausts. |  |
| F-35 Lightning. A relatively small fighter (length = 51 feet), these jets have a short, conical nose. The air intakes (shaded gray) are narrow and contoured to the sides of the fuselage, but the outer edge of the air intakes projects forward. The wings are deltoid with flat tips, and the horizontal tail fins are triangular with flat tips. There is a single exhaust. |  |
Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
; Last updated 081207
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