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 Ted Carlson specializes in aerial photography of military aircraft. He enjoys capturing the excitement of high-tech military machines and their hardworking crews. His photographs and articles have been published in numerous magazines, including Code One. He has flown in and photographed almost all types of aircraft in the US inventory. But he claims the Viper as “an awesome experience. The fighter is arguably one of the most agile aircraft in the world. With an incredible view and an ergonomically designed cockpit, the F-16 is a pilot’s plane—begging to be handled aggressively."
However, Carlson says his most memorable F-16 experience came not in an F-16 but in a KC-135 of the 163rd Air Refueling Wing of the California ANG. “We were flying a practice incursion on the Pacific coast to test the crew and controller skills of the 144th FW. This California ANG unit, based at Fresno, employs F-16s in the air sovereignty role to defend the United States against any invasion into the airspace within the Southwest. Two armed Vipers, ready with live ordnance at all times, can scramble within minutes if called upon.
"With only a handful of insiders privy to the test, we took off from March ARB, California, and headed far west over the Pacific Ocean. Out of controller radar range, without notice, and unannounced, we turned eastbound and sped back towards the coast. The controller queried our KC-135, but the Stratotanker gave no response. Instead, we continued our rapid pace for US soil. Sure enough, we heard controllers scramble the armed Vipers and vector them toward us. Only a few minutes lapsed from the time we violated US airspace to the intercept. With multirole capabilities and versatility given, the low-maintenance Fighting Falcon certainly also makes a superb interceptor."
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