Fighter pilots have been known to get "buck fever" the first time they see an enemy aircraft in real life. This distraction can lead to mistakes being made and to slower reaction times right when brevity is needed most. The 64th gets pilots accustomed to this phenomenon in a synthetic manner, so that on the battlefield they will be able to overcome their natural tendencies.

The idea of US aggressors sporting the shark scheme adorned with red stars is maybe a little more controversial than other paint jobs that have come and gone in the past as US-Russian relations have hit an all time low, and the paint job is being flown on Russian jets in Syria today. But really, the fact that the 64th can jettison the political correctness to bring a richer threat representation to front-line fighter pilots underscores how big of a deal their job is, and it is more important now than ever.

414th CTS provided aggressor support at Nellis up until the 1991. The 64th AGRS would take over the mission. The 414th flew in a variety of paint schemes, but this "Fulcrum" style scheme was among the most striking.

This all fits into the larger picture of exercise Red Flag as well—an elaborate aerial war game that gives pilots their first ten combat missions (roughly speaking) without real missiles flying through the air. The Vietnam War proved that aircrews are especially vulnerable to being shot down or even worse, dying by making a dumb mistake over an unforgiving war zone, within their first ten missions. After that their odds of surviving go up dramatically. The 64th supports and helps direct Red Flag among other responsibilities, and making sure aircrews get as realistic experience as possible during Red Flag is the name of the game. Obviously resources are limited, maybe too much so as the 64th AGRS flies some of the oldest F-16s in the USAF, but for decades the presentation of accurate looking aggressor aircraft has been considered well worth the investment.

In the end the idea is that if a fighter pilot ever sees the a Flanker wearing a strange paint scheme in real life they will have already "been there and done that" and can concentrate on what's most important—making sure the other guy, who is probably not so lucky when it comes to training, dies first.

A huge thanks to Bruce Smith, aka EOR1, for allowing us to use his pictures of the newly painted Viper. Bruce's flickr page is a must follow, he captures most all the action at Nellis AFB on a regular basis. Make sure you check it out here and bookmark the site.

Contact the author: Tyler@thedrive.com