After a long time of COVID we finally were able to do something about our hobby again.
After Europe, also the United States was re-opened. So after 6 years we headed back again to this “Spotters Heaven”
This is what we saw during our 2,5 week TRIP to both East and west coast.
Serials between brackets have not been read by us but taken from other sources and need confirmation.
RONALD REAGAN/WASHINGTON IAP , VA 28-04-2022
Based:
6527 MH-65D USCG Washington
6566 MH-65D USCG Washington
6588 MH-65D USCG Washington
After a to long delay and terrible mess at Amsterdam-Schiphol we arrived much later as expected in the States. As it was getting dark already we had to skip Andrews AFB and started at Ronald Reagan IAP.
Over here the USCG is easy to spot, with well lit ramps.
COLLEGE PARK ,MD 28-4-2022
??? UH-1 ex USAR pres
On the way to our hotel this old helicopter was noted without any serial and in poor conditions.
Any help with this one is needed.
(82-0054) C-130E ex USAF pres/gate marked 64-0521
78-0196 A-10A ex USAF pres/gate
55-3411 F-86H ex USAF pres/gate
(51-7193) HU-16B ex ROCAF pres/gate marked 0004
Glenn L Martin Aviation Museum:
66-15238 UH-1M ex USAR pres
(53-5854) T-33A ex USAF pres marked as 9988
56-3899 F-100F ex USAF pres
(56-3905) F-100F ex USAF pres marked as 56-3238
(53-7554)/FS-412 RF-84F ex USAF pres marked as 52-7412
(69-6197)/VA A-7D ex USAF pres marked as 70-0354
52-1467 RB-57A ex USAF pres
52-1446 RB-57A ex USAF pres
58-0303 F-101B ex USAF pres
63-8274 F-105G ex USAF pres
64-0919 F-4C ex USAF pres
153525/02 TA-4J ex USN pres
160509/AD-01 T-34C ex USN pres
142976 TF-9J ex USN pres
The ANG ramp was full with almost all canopies open at 08:00, so it was looking good. Unfortunately no flying this day, most likely because of the upcoming deployment to Europe. A visit to the flight line of the museum was pre-arranged as it is only open in the weekends.
MIDDLE RIVER TOWN ,MD 29-4-2022
741531/07 F-5E ex USN i/a
The F-5 is very close to the base and standing near the Lockheed buildings.
ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, MD 29-4-2022
(94-00324) C-12V USAR (2nd-641st AVN)
ATLANTIC CITY IAP,NJ 29-4-2022
81-0816 F-16B ex USAF pres/gate
57-2523 F-106B ex USAF pres/gate
56-3897/423 QF-100F ex USAF pres/gate
6543 MH-65D USCG Atlantic City
6560 MH-65D USCG Atlantic City
6582 MH-65D USCG Atlantic City
6605 MH-65D USCG Atlantic City
Flying at Atlantic City was better and a nice spot was found on the top roof of the parking garage. As the security was told in advance about our presence we had no problems but we were checked.
MILLVILLE RAP, NJ 29-04-2022
85-25343 C-23C ex USAR pres
154200/NP-00 A-4F ex USN pres
0409/N409J TS-11 ex PWL stored
NEW CASTLE RAP,DE 29-04-2022
53-1296 F-86G ex USAF pres/gate
(73)-21809 UH-1H ex USAR pres/gate
91-1231 C-130H USAF 142th AS
91-1233 C-130H USAF 142th AS
91-1235 C-130H USAF 142th AS
91-1237 C-130H USAF 142th AS
91-1238 C-130H USAF 142th AS
The DE ANG received the old C-130H’s from Kentucky recently, in about 3 years they will get the J models.
05-08017 CH-47F ex USAR stored
08-08770 CH-47F ex USAR stored
03-03731 MH-47G ex USAR stored
04-03735 MH-47G ex USAR stored
04-03738 MH-47G ex USAR stored
05-03752 MH-47G ex USAR stored
05-03753 MH-47G ex USAR stored
06-03763 MH-47G ex USAR stored
06-03764 MH-47G ex USAR stored
07-03772 MH-47G ex USAR stored
08-03775 MH-47G ex USAR stored
The Singapore CH-47F was a very nice surprise over here, it came from the factory in Philadelphia recently for some testing at the site.
The ex SOAR MH-47G’s were quite impressive and standing very close to the fence awaiting for their destiny.
DOVER TOWN ,DE 30-4-2022
(51)-17431/TR-431 T-33A ex USAF pres
72-21550 UH-1V ex USAR pres
DOVER AFB, DE 30-04-2022
Based:
85-0001 C-5M USAF 436th AW
85-0007 C-5M USAF 436th AW
87-0040 C-5M USAF 436th AW
87-0045 C-5M USAF 436th AW
01-0186 C-17A USAF 436th AW
01-0191 C-17A USAF 436th AW
06-6165 C-17A USAF 436th AW
07-7173 C-17A USAF 436th AW
07-7174 C-17A USAF 436th AW
07-7175 C-17A USAF 436th AW
07-7177 C-17A USAF 436th AW
Visit:
09-9206 C-17A USAF 437th AW
79-0433 KC-10A USAF 305th AMW
85-0009 C-5M USAF 433rd AW
The KC-10A arrived on the 26th of April and is going to be preserved in the Museum.
We didn’t noted the rest of the Museum as I was here before.
ANNAPOLIS, US NAVY ACADEMY, MD 30-04-2022
(139968)/AJ-301 A-4A ex USN pres/gate marked as 2176
(162591)/NJ-453 F-14A ex USN pres/gate
(163395)/AB-00 EA-6B ex USN pres/gate
(148275)/NK F-4A ex USN pres/gate
RICHMOND, DEFENSE SUPPLY CENTER, VA 30-04-2022
71-0283/FF YF-15A ex USAF pres/gate
163119/MB-212 F/A-18A ex USMC pres/gate
159853 F-14A ex USN pres/gate
(66)-16851 UH-1H ex USAR pres
No sign of any UH-72 over here, probably parked all inside for the weekends.
The Museum with the SR-71 in front is gone.
NEWPORT NEWS IAP, VA 30-04-2022
N402AX Kfir C.2 ATC ex IDF 822
N406AX Kfir C.2 ATC ex IDF 825
N401AX Kfir C.2 ATC ex IDF 806
N325AX Hunter F.58 ATAC ex Swiss AF J-4095
N339AX Hunter F.58 ATAC ex Swiss AF J-4060
N346AX Hunter T.68 ATAC ex Swiss AF J-4208
N326AX Hunter F.58 ATAC ex Swiss AF J-4080
N344AX Hunter F.58 ATAC ex Swiss AF J-4062
N111XD Saab RF-35 Draken ATAC ex RDAF AR-111
NAS NORFOLK , VA 30-04-2022
152923/AA-501 A-6E ex USN pres/gate
159445/AA-103 F-14A ex USN pres/gate
150541/AC-602 E-2B ex USN pres/gate
(149026/033) SH-2F ex USN pres/gate
(151953/BR-39) HH-46D ex USN pres/gate
(158692/NW-601) RW-53D ex USN pres/gate
(148042/HU-728) UH-3H ex USN pres/gate
157180/NW-200 HH-1K ex USN pres/gate
What a great place with so much variety! Unfortunately very low flying in the weekends.
The circumstances were just perfect, so we managed to read a lot, even the small buno’s of the helicopters.
Over here the folded wings and tails are a pain in the ass, so any help with the missing numbers is very welcome.
134950/AD-106 F-6A ex USN pres/gate
158662/AE-401 A-7E ex USN pres/gate
(162454)/AC-300 F/A-18A ex USN pres/gate
151186/AF-12 A-4E ex USN pres/gate
151579/BA-501 KA-6D ex USN pres/gate
166794/AC-300 F/A-18F ex USN pres/gate
164604/AA-401 F-14D ex USN pres/gate
148261/AB-200 F-4A ex USN pres/gate as 152295
149150/NP-211 F-8E ex USN pres/gate
141864/1 F-11A ex USN pres/gate NFDS c/s
123612/301 F9F-2 ex USN pres/gate
127639/AJ-100 F2H-4 ex USN pres/gate
136008/210 FJ-3M ex USN pres/gate
160943/AD-06 T-34C ex USN pres
(160401) F-14A ex USN pres
Visit 02-05:
08-0036 CV-22B USAF 20th SOS
10-0056 CV-22B USAF 20th SOS
12-0065 CV-22B USAF 20th SOS
14-0073 CV-22B USAF 20th SOS
09-5613 MC-130J USAF 9th SOS
NAS OCEANA was our first base visit of the trip. What a place! We did our best to collect all, but it is hard with that many flying OPS.
During our visit VFA-11, VFA-34, VFA-81 and VFA-211 were on deck op the CVN-75 for their cruise. Besides that VFA-106 was at NAS Key West and VFA-103 and VFA-105 were at NAS Fallon.
Not the Jack Pot but still a very good score, with the Cannon AFB special OPS as a nice bonus.
NAF FENTRESS , VA 01-05-2022
160420/AC-201 E-2C ex USN i/a
(160776) F/A-18A ex USN i/a
ELIZABETH CITY CGAS , NC 01-05-2022
2136 HU-25A ex USCG pres/gate
7247 HU-16E ex USCG pres/gate
1384 HH-52A ex USCG pres/gate
Based:
2001 HC-130J USCG Elizabeth City
2012 HC-130J USCG Elizabeth City
2702 HC-27J USCG Elizabeth City
Overhaul:
2714 HC-27J USCG Sacramento
2318 HC-144A USCG Miami
1703 HC-130H USCG nn
1720 HC-130H USCG Clearwater
2013 HC-130J USCG Elizabeth City
15-46011 KC-46A USAF 77th ARS
17-46024 KC-46A USAF 77th ARS
18-46055 KC-46A USAF 77th ARS
18-46056 KC-46A USAF 77th ARS
19-46065 KC-46A USAF 77th ARS
Visit:
85-0003 C-5M USAF 436th AW
(96-6042) CN-235M-100 USAF 427th SOS
Again a perfect place for Spotting with the sun in your back most of the day. We were lucky with most of the units at home.
Looks like most of the planes are going to lose their tail bands and they are used to fly from a pool.
(66-15352) AH-1F ex USAR stored private
(67-15520) AH-1F ex USAR stored private
79-23211 AH-1F ex USAR stored private
Because of runway repairs at McEntire the 157th FS is based over here and parked very close to the fence.
They will stay till the end of October this year. The stored helicopters are with “Celebrate Freedom Foundation” = CFF.
Big thunders storms and hail as big as tennis balls stopped flying at Shaw AFB early. After the sun came back reading was a piece of cake, but flying didn’t started.
Most planes where at home, but unable to read them all because of their angel and heat hazes. To bad my last were at Lajes on their way home from the sandpit.
They moved the North Gate recently, so from this spot you also have a good view on the ramp mostly used by the Gamblers.
Till so far part one, hope you liked it.
Part two will follow soon.
Like always, please feel free for any questions, comments, corrections or additions.
Happy Spotting in the USA.
Gijs ten Velde
Fred Peursem
Last edited by GIPS on 26 May 2022, 22:26, edited 2 times in total.
"GIPS"
GIJS TEN VELDE
GRAS REIZEN
GRAS TRAVEL DEPARTEMENT
COLLEGE PARK ,MD 28-4-2022
??? UH-1 ex USAR pres >>> should be 66-0781
NAS NORFOLK , VA 30-04-2022 Visit: 166506/NH-600 E-2C USN VAW-115
NAS OCEANA , VA 01 + 02-05-2022 Based on ramps: 166431/AJ-110 F/A-18E USN VFA-37 166598/AJ-111 F/A-18E USN VFA-37 166775/AC-207 F/A-18E USN VFA-83 162472(?)/01 F/A-18C ex USN stored CAG red tail
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Canon EOS 20D + Canon BG-E2
Canon EF-S 18-55/3.5-5.6
Canon EF 28-105/3.5-4.5 II USM
Canon EF 100-400/4.5-5.6 L IS ultrasonic
GIPS wrote: ↑25 May 2022, 11:33 NAF FENTRESS , VA 01-05-2022
(160776) F/A-18A ex USN i/a
Should be YF-18A c/n A002
nice catch....
Arno Cornelissen
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Canon EOS 20D + Canon BG-E2
Canon EF-S 18-55/3.5-5.6
Canon EF 28-105/3.5-4.5 II USM
Canon EF 100-400/4.5-5.6 L IS ultrasonic