F-35 Afterburner Climb with Major Melanie Mach Kluesner by Dave Koch

by Dave Koch - Aircraft Photography

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F-35 Afterburner Climb with Major Melanie Mach Kluesner by Dave Koch

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Dave Koch - Aircraft Photography

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Photograph - Prints

Description

With the afterburner lit and the roar of raw power tearing through the sky, this F-35 Lightning II soars in a near-vertical climb under the command of Major Melanie “Mach” Kluesner — one of the U.S. Air Force’s elite F-35A Demonstration Team pilots. Captured in mid-maneuver, this image showcases the fiery intensity and sculptural grace of America’s fifth-generation stealth fighter.

The F-35’s distinctive profile — with internal weapon bays, blended wing-body design, and sharp angular lines — is dramatically accentuated by the heat bloom of its exhaust and the shimmering distortion of supersonic thrust. It’s a moment that speaks to speed, precision, and unrelenting control.

Photographing high-speed military jets in motion requires not just technical expertise but anticipation, patience, and split-second timing. This image is part of Dave Koch’s expanding series on aerial performance and modern combat aviation — documenting the intersection of power, elegance, and the human pilots behind the machine.

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October 19th, 2025

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