Happy Friday, FighterSweep Faithful! Today marks the first day of 2016, and our quest continues to bring you all amazing aviation content. And what would the first Friday of 2016 be without a glorious display of ‘burners and heat haze, especially from a Gomer Eaglejet?!

Though it has been nearly a year since its demise, we still look fondly upon the heady days of the 65th Aggressor Squadron as it provided expert threat replication of the Russian-built Sukhoi Su-27 family of fighters.

Not only that, but the 65 AGRS flew the ever-amazing McDonnell Douglas F-15C, and all of the jets wore some pretty awesome paint schemes. Various shades of blue, gray, brown, and white turned the World’s Greatest Air Superiority Fighter into an intimidating, lethal adversary.

This shot, taken by the talented Jonathan Derden, shows one such Gomer light-gray departing Nellis Air Force Base during an Advanced Integration VUL at the Weapons School.

Happy New Year to you all, FighterSweep Faithful! Today is day one of this year’s journey, and we can’t wait to take you along with us. Enjoy your evening!

(Featured photo by Jonathan Derden)