FYI - California Air National Guard - 194th F.S. 'Griffins'

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Pony02
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FYI - California Air National Guard - 194th F.S. 'Griffins'

Post by Pony02 »

Mid April, during a trip to the Western part of the US, I had the opportunity to visit Fresno Yosemite International (FYI) Airport. Fresno is home of the California Air National Guard's 144th Fighter Wing / 194th Fighter Squadron. In 2013 the 194th was the latest squadron to convert to the F-15C/D Eagle, after they flew the F-16C/D's since 1995. On June the 13th 2013 the first Eagle, being 84-0014, touched down in Fresno and today the unit operates around 21 F-15's.

I was able to witness two morning launches on a Tuesday and Wednesday morning in perfect weather conditions from a spot near the beginning of runway 29. The Tuesday the first Eagles started their engines at 09.00am and I was very lucky they flew runway 11L (most of the time, even with light tailwind, they prefer rwy 29R), meaning they would pass on front of me towards the parallel taxitrack. No less than 10! F-15's departed and on Wednesday 6 Eagles took off, but this time via rwy29R.

1.Image
Two F-15C's just vacated their sun shed, both carrying two 2000lt. fueltanks underneath their wings, on their way towards holdingpoint runway 29R.

2.Image
Eagle 84-0035 of the 194th F.S. on its way towards the parallel taxitrack enroute to runway 11L around 09.30am for its first mission.

3.Image
Two-tone brown camouflaged F-15C, being a former 65th AGRS Agressor Eagle from Nellis, now flying within the 194th and already carrying the distinctive 'Griffin' on its tails.

4.Image
Latest addition to the Eagle fleet was this beautiful blue 79-0504. This F-15C was delivered to Fresno only a few days/weeks prior to my visit, because in March it was still flying Red Air missions from Nellis for its former owner during Red Flag 15-2.

5.Image
F-15C 80-0010 climbing out after a runway 11 departure.

Regards, Edwin Schimmel
http://www.final-approach.nl
e.schimmel@live.nl
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CR-74050
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Re: FYI - California Air National Guard - 194th F.S. 'Griffi

Post by CR-74050 »

Very nice, Edwin! We were at Fresno in 2013 but no F-16 or F-15 was flying. Did you take these pics from a public accessible spot?

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Re: FYI - California Air National Guard - 194th F.S. 'Griffi

Post by Rene Peteri »

Nice report and nice to see former Soesterberg F15 80-0010 flying around
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Re: FYI - California Air National Guard - 194th F.S. 'Griffi

Post by Pony02 »

Thanks gentlemen, had two great mornings in Fresno seeing the Eagles take off, and Dick I made these pics from spot nbr 3 (http://www.scramble.nl/airfield-guide/fresno-ca).

Regards, Edwin
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Re: FYI - California Air National Guard - 194th F.S. 'Griffi

Post by warthog64 »

Nice set!
last time i was there the F-4D's did not fly (1988) LOL..
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Re: FYI - California Air National Guard - 194th F.S. 'Griffi

Post by CR-74050 »

Thanks, Edwin. Have to go back!!!

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