KNZY/NASNI May 2021 A Flock of Goshawks ++

[SBGrad]

Finally the carriers went out and then the deluge. 2 dozen + Goshawks from NAS Kingsville AND NAS Meridian.

17 May

US Navy VRC 30 Providers
Grumman C-2 Greyhound
31/162165
23/162177

US Navy VRM 30 Titans
Bell-Boeing CMV-22B Osprey
32/169439

USMC VMM-165 White Knights
Bell-Boeing MV-22B Osprey
YW 15/168685

US Air Force?? //can't figure out who operates the aircraft
Beech MC-12W Liberty
Ronin 11/08-0376 //only marking on the aircraft were 080376, the US flag and stars and bars. Didn't say US Air Force or anything like that. Very spooky.

US Navy
McDonnell Douglas T-45C Goshawk
1xx Training Wing 1 White 'A' on orange tail NAS Meridian
2xx Training Wing 2 VT-7 Black 'B' on orange tail NAS Kingsville

155/165498
178/165620
260/167097
183/165265
229/165057
181/165623
167/165609
228/163628
112/165091
158/165600

this is only a partial list of Goshawks. I was out in the middle of the day for 4 hours, but they were landing for 10 hours, from 8a to after 6p.

18 May

US Navy VRM 30 Titans
Bell-Boeing CMV-22B Osprey
32/169439

USMC VMM-165 White Knights
Bell-Boeing MV-22B Osprey
YW 14/168662

Phoenix Air Group 'Riptide'
Lear 36
N547PA 'Riptide 47' //grey paint with black tiger stripes, RM-30A cable reel and towed target on wing hardpoint

US Navy VR-57 Conquistadors
Boeing C-40B Clipper
Convoy 836/165836 //requested and performed high speed rejected take off on 27, then departed on 18, came back 4 hours later

US Navy
McDonnell Douglas T-45C Goshawk
1xx Training Wing 1 White 'A' on orange tail NAS Meridian
2xx Training Wing 2 VT-7 Black 'B' on orange tail NAS Kingsville

200/163656 //ex-CoNA paint, now with Texas flag paint scheme
194/167092
112/165091
167/165609
154/165497
263/165063
219/163619
121/165464
145/165488
149/165492
276/165076
237/167087
139/165482
266/167102
209/163609
132/165475
268/165068
194/167092
182/165624 //Salty Dog paint

again, a non-exhaustive list, they were flying for 10 hours at least. I've heard another half dozen land just while I was typing this up. The morning has had marine layer and heavy overcast, but late yesterday the sun was out and I had blue sky for a backdrop. I'm going back out again whenever the sun comes out (the later the better).

Eventually I'll have pix posted but not until the Goshawks go home.

[Victory103]

US Air Force?? //can't figure out who operates the aircraft
Beech MC-12W Liberty
Ronin 11/08-0376 //only marking on the aircraft were 080376, the US flag and stars and bars. Didn't say US Air Force or anything like that. Very spooky.

US Army operated, callsign is 15th MI BN.

[SBGrad]

Army, huh? Well, I did a google search for 'Ronin squadron call sign' and one return was Army MC-12 EMARSS, so it looks like it checks out.

The Goshawk parade (+ special guests) continued...

19 May

US Navy VRM 30 Titans
Bell-Boeing CMV-22B Osprey
32/169439

US Navy/Naval Depot
Grumman E-2D Advanced Hawkeye
'Depot 11' BUNO 168275 //did not have air to air refueling modification, not sure if the Depot will be doing that

US Navy
McDonnell Douglas T-45C Goshawk
1xx Training Wing 1 White 'A' on orange tail NAS Meridian
2xx Training Wing 2 VT-7 Black 'B' on orange tail NAS Kingsville

178/165620
181/165623
112/165091
260/167097
276/165076
263/165063
154/165497
191/167095
236/163636
200/163656 //Texas flag paint
194/167092

Thursday and Friday the Goshawks left in small groups, 2-4 at a time, headed east.

There was one interesting visitor

21 May

US Navy VX-30
Lockheed Orion P-3C
BUNO 163291

Plane was on the ground for maybe 1/2 an hour, before she took off and went home to Pt Mugu. A few hours later, a 2nd Orion took off, but I didn't see any number, nor did I see where that one was headed.

[The DJ]

A photo I've seen from the T-line had 29 Goshawks, 13x 'A' and 16x 'B'.
You never know what turns up at NI, fascinating place! Thx for posting.