2019 Aviation Week Photo Contest Finalists: International Fighters

December 24, 2019
Colombian Kfir aircraft

Fire In The Jungle

Credit: Yissachar Ruas/Bet Shemesh, Israel
Two Colombian Air Force IAI Kfir aircraft break away and pop flares during a dusk patrol over the stunning landscape of the Colombian mountains. These aircraft, which celebrated 30 years of service this year, are carrying Rafael Derby and Python 5 air-to-air missiles.
Colombian eye-a-eye kefir

Orbiting Around Jupiter

Credit: Yissachar Ruas/Bet Shemesh, Israel
Three Colombian Air Force IAI Kfir aircraft take fuel from a Boeing KC-767 nicknamed "Jupiter" during a dusk patrol over the Colombian jungle. These aircraft celebrated 30 years of service this year and despite their age carry the most advanced weapons systems courtesy of various upgrades.
Ukrainian flanker aircraft

Full Power

Credit: Ron Kishinevsky/Rehovot, Israel
A Ukrainian Su-27 Flanker takes off for a show during the 2019 Royal International Air Tattoo Airshow at RAF Fairford, England.
Belgian air display

Smoke On Go

Credit: Stephen Wolf/Antony, France
The F-16 solo display of the Belgian Air Component was a welcome addition to the public days at the Paris Air Show.
Swiss Axalp display

Swiss Hornet Display At Axalp

Credit: Peter Lewis/Bruetten, Switzerland
Capt. Nicolas "Vincent" Rossier completes his final official flight as the Swiss Air Force's Hornet pilot at the Axalp air display. Although flown in Sqdn. 18 colors, Rossier is assigned to Sqdn. 17.
Axalp pull up

Tigers At Axalp

Credit: Peter Lewis/Bruetten, Switzerland
Two Patrouille Suisse F-5 Tigers pull up during an air show at Axalp, Switzerland. The only air display situated in the mountains, Axalp is the Swiss Air Force's aerial showcase event held every October.
Swiss tigers

Mountain Tiger

Credit: Peter Lewis/Bruetten, Switzerland
Pictured against the famous Matterhorn mountain, a Swiss Air Force F-5E Tiger pulls away over southern Switzerland. The F-5 fly as aggressors, sparring with Hornets.
Swedish Grippen

Swedish Gripen Over Central Switzerland

Credit: Peter Lewis/Bruetten, Switzerland
A Saab JAS-39C Gripen operated by the Swedish Air Force is flown by Maj. Henrik "Sunshine" Bjorling during a sortie at the 2019 Zigermeet Airshow in Mollis, Switzerland.
Swiss Alps Grippen

Swedish Gripen Over The Swiss Alps

Credit: Peter Lewis/Bruetten, Switzerland
A Saab JAS-39C Gripen operated by the Swedish Air Force is flown by Maj. Henrik "Sunshine" Björling during a sortie at the 2019 Zigermeet Airshow in Mollis, Switzerland.
Saub Grippen

Swedish Gripen Soars

Credit: Peter Lewis/Bruetten, Switzerland
A Saab JAS-39C Gripen operated by the Swedish Air Force is flown by Maj. Henrik "Sunshine" Björling during a sortie at the 2019 Zigermeet Airshow in Mollis, Switzerland.
Sukoy jet fighter

Moscow Air Show

Credit: Leonid Faerberg/Moscow
A Sukhoi Su-35S jet fighter takes part in the MAKS 2019 International Air Show near Zhukovsky, southeast of Moscow.
Belgian air display

Vador Comes Close

Credit: Andreas Zeitler/Manching, Germany
The Belgian Air Component F-16 Demo pilot "Vador" brings his jet up close in an unusual angle.
German Eurofghter

Mission-Ready

Credit: Andreas Zeitler/Manching, Germany
A Luftwaffe Eurofighter Typhoon is being prepared in its shelter for a night flying mission.

A Thunder In A Circle Of Light

Credit: Avichai Socher/Givat Shmuel, Israel
An Israeli Air Force F-15I Thunder sits tight while the technicians circle it in their tractor before calling it a night. The tractor's lights paint circles of light around the aircraft in this long-exposure photo.
Israeli fighter

It's Raining Stars And Thunder

Credit: Avichai Socher/Givat Shmuel, Israel
An IAF F-15I Ra'am ("Thunder") is chocked under a rain of stars in the Negev Desert. It's the only rain this fighter jet can see so deep in the dry desert—a phenomena created by long-exposure photography.
fighter jet afterburner

Burning Lightning

Credit: Avichai Socher/Givat Shmuel, Israel
An F-35I (Lightning II) "Adir" of the IAF burns the evening sky on the Negev Desert as it flies toward the setting Sun behind the clouds.
blazing a trail

An Afternoon Blaze

Credit: Avichai Socher/Givat Shmuel, Israel
The IAF F35I "Adir" blazes a trail in the afternoon sky of the Negev Desert.
Israeli afterburner

Afterburner In The Desert

Credit: Avgar Idan/Rehovot, Israel
An Israeli Air Force F-35I "Adir" shows off its afterburner against the backdrop of a sunset over the Negev Desert.
fighter at sunset

The Mirage Sunset

Credit: Johnson Barros/Brasilia
A Mirage 2000 of the Peruvian Air Force sits ready for takeoff at the Cruzeiro do Sul Exercise in Brazil.
jet

Fighter Flight

Credit: Johnson Barros/Brasilia
Members of the press aboard a C-105 Amazonas cargo aircraft photograph a formation of fighter aircraft participating in the eighth edition of the Cruziero do Sul Exercise in Brazil.
French fighter aircraft

French Rafale

Credit: Gautier Philippine/Avord, France
A photo of a French Rafale in flight is taken from a nearby C-135.

A selection of photos from the 2019 Aviation Week Photo Contest focusing on international fighters.  

Defense finalists include two Colombian Kfirs popping flares during a dusk patrol, midair refueling over the jungle, and a Ukrainian Su-27 taking off at an air show.