When we got back from overseas, we participated in one of the frequent CAXes. We were the first A-6 squadron in many years to actually deploy during the exercise, rather than just support it out of El Toro. We actually went in the field! I think some grunts will disagree with that statement, since we were in quasi permanent tents. It was the best deployment I've been on!
A three pack of 2000 lb bombs, HE. Blue is for practice bombs. A few years earlier, it would have been unheard of to use so many practice bombs, but I guess they decided to save the real ordnance as a cost saving measure when I got in the squadron.
Now THIS is the real stuff! Good stuff, too. This is FAE, Fuel Air Explosives. Some newspapers went nuts about Saddam Hussein having FAE, and called it the poor man's nuke. What rubbish! Reporters never know anything. The little blue bombs on the outboard pylons are what I used to call "Smurf killers." They're just small practice bombs that make a puff of smoke. They are ballistically similar to a Mk-82 500 lb bomb.
Our crew takes to the cockpit.
My favorite picture. I slewed the camera to keep the plane in focus and blur the background to show the speed of the plane better. I think it worked, but it was moving pretty fast, and I accidentally cut off the tail. Drat! I was doing this in the"offhand" position, so that's my excuse.
If you look closely, you can see our stalwart killers dwarfed by the nearby mountains.
FAE goes off with a very quick flash. I was lucky to catch this, it only lasts for a fraction of a second.
Then there's a pause, and the gasses are ignited in a very powerful concussive blast. This is with a telephoto lens, so I'm a long way away, and I almost got knocked over! Good stuff!