Likely First Such Images Captured In The U.S.

An air traffic controller from Hampshire in the U.K. visiting the desert surrounding Area 51 in Nevada managed to capture some amazing images of an F-16 engaged in a mock dogfight with a Russian-made Su-27P Flanker-B aircraft that he thinks may be the first such images captured in the U.S.

The photographer is 42-year-old Phil Drake, according to the U.K. newspaper The Daily Mail. The paper reports that the Flanker-B has never officially been imported into the U.S.

Drake captured his images from Tikaboo Valley, which is near Groom Lake. But he had to push his telephoto lens to the limit to capture the images, which are published in the paper and posted on its website.

Rumors of the Flanker flying from Area 51 have swirled for 20 years, according to the report, but this is the first time that images of it have actually be captured.

Drake told the paper that he had hoped to seem some exotic airplanes flying around the super-secretive base when he traveled there on election day last year. It would seem that he got his wish.

We'll put aside for a moment that the paper breathlessly speculates whether the exercise is proof that the U.S. is preparing for war with Russia.

(Images from file)

FMI: Full article with images