The painting depicts the U.S. Air Force's two front line fighters of the 1980's in afterburner, climbing to the left under overcast skies and cloudy weather. The aircraft depicted are the McDonnell Douglas F-15A Eagle, serial number 74-0109 as it appeared in March 1979 while assigned to the 27th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 1st Tactical Fighter Wing at Langley AFB, Virginia, and the General Dynamics F-16A Fighting Falcon serial number 79-0347 as it appeared in June 1981 while assigned to the 428th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 474th Tactical Fighter Wing at Nellis AFB, Nevada. The Eagle is shown armed with four AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles and four AIM-7F Sparrow missiles. The Fighting Falcon is shown in a relatively clean configuration armed with two AIM-9L Sidewinders. Should America go to war in the 1980's, the "Birds of Prey" would be assigned to maintain air-superiority over the battlefield, a job that both aircraft are unequalled in ability to perform.