[EDIT] All images are now links to higher-resolution images.[/EDIT]

45 minutes away from my town of Tempe is Luke Air Force base. Last weekend there was a pretty good air show, though I was only there for a couple of events. They canceled at least one show because of high winds that really sucked. It picked up sand from the massive flat area and blew it into any open skin you had - it was like being sandblasted. I took over 665 photos watching the two events that I was there for - because, you know, the more you take, the better your chances at getting good ones. It's hard to track something flying at 600 miles an hour, you know. Especially with a shitty $250 lens.

Anyway, here they are, if you care:

The Air Force Thunderbirds















More photos inside...









C-17 Globemaster. It's an extremely impressive piece of aeronautical engineering. This thing can take off from a runway as short as 3500 feet. By comparison, the Boeing 767 requires at least 9,500 feet.

What's even more impressive is the landing distance. This thing can come in, touch down and be stopped and reversing in as little as 1800 feet. The Boeing? Nearly a mile.