Pilot dead after plane that took off from Nellis Air Force Base crashes

[PHXPhlyer]

Pilot dead after plane that took off from Nellis Air Force Base crashes

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ai ... y-n1268433

Pilot dead after plane that took off from Nellis Air Force Base crashes
The Mirage F-1 operated by a contractor hired to provide adversarial air support crashed after taking off from the Air Force base Monday, officials said.

A pilot was killed when a military plane crashed near Las Vegas after taking off from Nellis Air Force Base, the base said.

The pilot and plane were with Draken US, a Florida company. The plane crashed after taking off from the base, which is near North Las Vegas, around 2:30 p.m.

The name of the pilot was not immediately released, and there was no one else aboard, Draken US said in a statement distributed by the base.


No injuries were reported on the ground.

The plane was a Dassault Aviation Mirage F-1, according to the National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the crash.

The company is contracted with Nellis Air Force Base to provide "adversary air support," the base said.

NBC affiliate KSNV reported that the crash occurred about 3 miles south of the base.
Draken said it is cooperating fully with investigators to determine what led up to the crash.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draken_International

https://www.draken.aero/

Quite the private air force!
Fleet

Aero L-159E aircraft operated by Draken International

Atlas Cheetah
With some 70 jets, the company operates the largest fleet of privately owned former military tactical jet aircraft in the world. The company's fleet as of 2013 included:[8]

13 Douglas A-4K/N Skyhawks[9][10]
23 Aero L-159E ALCA[11]
21 Dassault Mirage F1M/B (2020)[12]
25 MiG-21BIS[13][full citation needed]
12 Atlas Cheetah C/D (2020)[14]
Draken has recently imported the first of up to 25 former Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF) Mirage F1CJ, DJ and EJ aircraft.[15]

PP

[PHXPhlyer]

Any ideas as to where Draken would rank against the world's air forces?

PP

[Boac]

Its job is to provide dissimilar combat facilities for US forces using 'furrin' types. Not too sure what you are seeking?

[PHXPhlyer]

Just wondering in terms of numbers.
Would be a real air force if they were armed.

PP

[Boac]

If they were armed they might well shoot down most of USAF..................

[Undried Plum]

If they've got Svensk stickmonkeys, they'll be too damn pissed to do any harm.

[Pontius Navigator]

Did anyone else read the title to mean:
Pilot took off from Nellis and died, aircraft crashed?

[Boac]

No....

[TheGreenGoblin]

All the Mirage F1's are ex Spanish Air Force aircraft. I was apt to wonder if any of the old SAAF Mirages were used by Draken, but none are apparently!

[ian16th]

All the Mirage F1's are ex Spanish Air Force aircraft. I was apt to wonder if any of the old SAAF Mirages were used by Draken, but none are apparently!

The do have 12 Cheetah's!

[TheGreenGoblin]

All the Mirage F1's are ex Spanish Air Force aircraft. I was apt to wonder if any of the old SAAF Mirages were used by Draken, but none are apparently!

The do have 12 Cheetah's!

Yes, well spotted!

[ian16th]

All the Mirage F1's are ex Spanish Air Force aircraft. I was apt to wonder if any of the old SAAF Mirages were used by Draken, but none are apparently!

The do have 12 Cheetah's!

Yes, well spotted!

Didn't some go to Central America? Columbia maybe?

[TheGreenGoblin]

The do have 12 Cheetah's!

Yes, well spotted!

Didn't some go to Central America? Columbia maybe?

12 went to Ecuador I believe.