--- title: "This Is The Greatest F-15EX Photo Yet" date: "2026-01-15" modified: "2026-01-15" authors: - name: "Tyler Rogoway" job_title: "Editor-in-Chief" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/tyler-rogoway" url: "https://www.twz.com/air/this-is-the-greatest-f-15ex-photo-yet" categories: - "Air" - "F-15" - "Fighters" --- # This Is The Greatest F-15EX Photo Yet ![F-15EX from the 142nd fighter wing roars out of pDX in a huge vapor cloud as it climbs at the end of the runway.]() *Russell Hill* We have an incredible set of images to share today from our friend Russell Hill [(@Sabian404)](), an aviation photographer out of the Portland, Oregon area. In fact, I would go so far as say this is the most incredible photo of the [U.S. Air Force's new F-15EX Eagle II]() in existence. The image was taken at Portland International Airport (PDX), which also hosts [Portland Air National Guard (PANG) Base](), whose prominent tenant is the [142nd Fighter Wing/123rd Fighter Squadron](), better known as the Redhawks. This celebrated unit was chosen [as the first F-15EX operator](), rapidly transitioning the Eagle II from testing to operational status. In the process, the Redhawks would give up their 40-year-old F-15C/Ds. You can read all about the Redhawks and their transition to the F-15EX in [this past exclusive feature of ours](). The main image in question, seen at the top of this post, shows an F-15EX, part of RAMBO flight, blasting out of PDX in full afterburner and executing a hard pull-up for a fast climb at the end of Runway 10R. According to Hill, this was a 'fini-flight' for one of the 142nd's pilots. These are usually lively affairs marking the end of a pilot's military flying career. ![]() *An F-15EX climbs into the vertical in the dewy Oregon morning sky. (Russell Hill)* It's worth noting that the use of afterburner by PANG-based F-15s is not a daily occurrence. This is largely due to sound abatement and fuel conservation, as well as the airport's long runways. But for some missions, like when the alert birds launch, or a functional test flight occurs, or for a special occasion, like this fini-flight, the F-15s rocket down the runway in full reheat, often executing a 'gate climb' (a vertical climb roughly over the airport's grounds) at the end of the runway. This is really something to see, and especially *hear*, inside the terminal where throngs of weary travelers get a sudden wakeup call as the ruckus literally rattles the windows. With the 142nd FW still in transition, part of Rambo flight included F-15Cs, which also went out with their cans blazing, one giving a deep wingtip drop to those standing on the base's apron: ![]() ![]() ![]() Hill was able to capture the departure on video, too. Check it out below: https://twitter.com/Sabian404/status/2009817685241278684?s=20 A huge thanks to Russell Hill for sharing these awesome images with us! *Contact the editor: Tyler@twz.com* ## Author Tyler’s passion is the study of military technology, strategy, as well as foreign policy, and he has fostered a dominant voice on those topics in the defense and national security space. Tyler was the creator of the hugely popular defense site *Foxtrot Alpha* before developing *TWZ*, which he continues to lead as the Editor-In-Chief to this day. ### Author social links [Twitter]()