70 Fully Armed F-15s Take Off at the Same Time - World's Largest Elephant Walk

The sight of dozens of military aircraft taxiing before takeoff is remarkably uncommon during peacetime operations.

On April 16, 2012, a contingent of 70 American F-15 Strike Eagles of the 4th Fighter Wing prepared to take off at the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina.

The few people that witnessed the impressive aircraft formation feared that a sudden air conflict was brewing between the United States and an enemy nation.

Fortunately, the sleek-looking predators of the sky were performing an Elephant Walk to commemorate brave Americans who had already fought in such a conflict...

[Crashed]

Spoiler: It does not show the 70 jets taking off like the title states.

[RemberReach]

Fact:
The last civil war veteran died in 1956,
Meaning he got to see the beginning of the atomic age and died only one year before the space race began.

[GlacialErratic]

this is the first "let down" I've had from this channel. The sight of these craft on the runway is impressive, however the sight of them in the A I R was the visual I had expected.

[MrJim]

I like how the fist thing you see is a bunch of F-16’s. 🤣🤣🤣

[mfzb]

I typically love your videos but I waited that whole clip just to see all 70 take off in air.. lol f

[outbackjack]

I spent over 24 years in the USAF and the first elephant walk I was involved with was at RAF Upper Heyford Near Oxford in 1980 and after two years there that's how we finished our combat exercise load outs of special weapons. What an awesome sight seeing three squadrons of F-111/E aircraft fully loaded with special weapons doing the "elephant walk". I was also stationed in Korea for five years at Kunsan AB and Osan AB where we did the same thing. And I was stationed at good ole Shady J (Seymour Johnson AFB, NC) for five years and was the first load crew in our squadron to complete training on the brand new F-15E Strike Eagle (transitioned from F-4E to 15E's in 1990/91).

[briancrawford]

The fact the F15s aren't even our most dominant fighter anymore but would still own pretty much any other nations fighters shows how great of a plane it is and how powerful our air force is

[iamnotamushroom]

Let's hope this will never have to be done for anything but honoring the past.

[rhubarbpie]

Shady J Stand up!!! I was at the 336th AMU Rocketeers from Summer of 2017 to Fall of 2020, and was the Dedicated Crew Chief on Aircraft 87-0176.

[tchnicianb]

Heck, I still pop a woody when the F-15s at the FANG Jacksonville gouge it and I hear them ... but don't see them for 3 minutes. Those Guys have the Best Company Cars of Anyone!!

[petrolhead]

Saw this in Independence Day years ago. Didn’t end too well for cousin Eddie

[Joe-kxbl]

I participated in an elephant walk in an F35 you see in the footage. We sat there forever.

[TiberiusMaximus]

3:31 109's did NOT have excellent range and fuel storage, idk where you got that from

[pkat]

"Elephant Walk" does not imply flying, it means taxiing the fleet, a mass takeoff is a MITO, google B-52 and MITO if you want to be really impressed

[AZAce]

I’m still here waiting for them to launch to this day. . . .

[Sal-kknk]

As an Air Force maintainer all I could think about was all the 12s those boys had to pull to get 70 aircraft operational at once, god bless them.

[RedondoBeach]

Supported an A-10 elephant walk years ago. Imagine a large percentage of a squadron preparing for takeoff before sunrise. Pilots strapped in. Checklists complete. Followed by a lot of hurry up and wait. Wait for the precise moment engines would be started in order to meet up with a tanker on schedule. The commander gives a radio call to start auxiliary power units. The flight line went from near silence to very loud in about 3 seconds. Think engine start at the Indy 500. Same concept. Soon after, the elephant walk began. A proud moment for the squadron.

[thegunslinger]

They do look badass when they gather like that.

[kevenc.]

retired B-17 pilot's..."hold my beer".

[cliveadams]

Should be called 70 F-15s not taking off together.