Photos of the Week: Aviation Adventure

As Easter approaches, travelers are taking to the skies, in what is expected to be record numbers for spring break air travel this year.

That includes Blue Sky staff writer Evan Dougherty, who recently returned from a weekend trip to Las Vegas this month.

Evan’s adventure began with a nonstop flight from Pittsburgh to Las Vegas on Southwest Airlines, where he captured a photo from his window seat showcasing the snow-covered covered San Juan Mountains in western Colorado. Part of the southern Rockies and the source of the Rio Grande, the San Juan Mountains are one of America’s largest mountain ranges encompassing 12,000 square miles with peaks that rise to more than 14,000 feet.

In an era where airlines are heavily investing in onboard entertainment options, it is still tough to beat the tried-and-true window seat view, especially on transcontinental flights that showcase the American landscape.

As the entertainment capital of the world, Las Vegas hosts one of the most popular air shows in the country. Nellis Air Force Base, located just a few miles north of downtown Las Vegas, hosted the Aviation Nation Air Show on April 5-6, which featured the past, present and future of civil and military aviation.

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon in “Ghost” paint of the 57th Wing flies past at the 2025 Aviation Nation Air Show at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. (Photo by Evan Dougherty)

Evan, who is an avid aviation photographer, made the trip to Las Vegas for this year’s show. Among the aircraft he photographed was a specially painted F-16 Fighting Falcon flown by the U.S. Air Force’s 57th Wing, based at Nellis. The 57th Wing specializes in advanced training for U.S. and allied forces. This includes flying various F-16 fighters painted to mimic adversary aircraft and flying tactics to create a real-world combat environment.

The F-16 paint scheme in the photo is nicknamed “Ghost,” resembling Russia’s newest stealth fighter, the Sukoi Su-57.

In addition, Aviation Nation is the homecoming show for the Air Force’s world-famous Thunderbirds demonstration team, which capped off this year’s show. Flying the F-16 Fighting Falcon, the Thunderbirds perform at air shows around the world, showcasing the pride, precision and professionalism that the Air Force represents.

Evan captured an impressive image of the Thunderbird’s signature “calypso” pass, which has both of the Thunderbird’s solo pilots flying just inches apart at speeds exceeding 700 miles per hour, with one aircraft inverted.

Thanks for letting us share these wonderful photos, Evan!

Our readers continue to pass along shots of unique aircraft, international airports, historical events, gorgeous views and even family vacation photos for this feature. We love them! Keep them coming — you can click here for submission guidelines.

The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform the calypso pass at the 2025 Aviation Nation Air Show on April 5, 2025. (Photo by Evan Dougherty)