10/05/2026
Thursday this week was a special day, the F-15E Strike Eagle 91-311 of proudly took to the skies on its maiden flight and passed through the Mach Loop with its new livery on show, known as ‘KARMA52.’
Back on the 5th April 1986 during Operation El Dorado Canyon, the F-111 Aardvark known as ‘KARMA52’ was unfortunately shot down off the coast of Libya, killing both the WSO, Captain Paul F. Lorence and the pilot who was Captain Fernando Ribas-Dominicci.
To pay tribute to the loss of the two serviceman and the jet, and also to the fact that it’s been 40 years since this happened, this F-15 was painted in the same scheme as the F-111 that was lost. What an amazing opportunity it was to see this jet fly through effortlessly and it was well worth the last minute scramble up the hill to photograph!
