After a long time of COVID we finally were able to find some time for 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.
SAVANNAH IAP, GA 04-05-2022
48-0471/FS-741 F-84D ex USAF pres/gate
51-5891 F-86L pres/gate
Based:
93-1561 C-130H USAF 158th AS
94-6708 C-130H USAF 158th AS
Gulfstream:
(0001) G.550 PWL o/h
A9C-BAH G.650 Bahrain Gov o/h
TC-CBK G.550 Turkish Gov o/h
N540GA G.550 for RAAF on line
One of our main targets was this big excersise of the ANG called Sentry Savannah. A long time the dates where unknown but finally it turned out perfect in our schedule.
Very nice surprise was the F-117. Two missions a day were flown, the morning wave starting at 09:00 and the afternoon wave at 15:00.
SAVANNAH TOWN, GA 04-05-2022
64-0815/GA F-4C ex USAF pres
(50-0062) B-47B ex USAF pres
46 Red MiG-17 ex BulgAF pres
MCAS BEAUFORT, SC 04-05-2022
163157/VE-200 F/A-18A ex USMC pres/gate
146963/DC-2 F-8C ex USMC pres/gate
152270/DW-201 F-4N ex USMC pres/gate
(141376)/DR-3 FJ-3M ex USMC pres/gate
Visit:
N325AX Hunter F.58 ATAC ex Swiss AF J-4095
N326AX Hunter F.58 ATAC ex Swiss AF J-4080
N346AX Hunter T.68 ATAC ex Swiss AF J-4208
As it was my first time at Beaufort I had no idea what to expect. Flying was very good for the afternoon and was still going on as we left around 16:00.
Spotting over here was very hot, humid and lot’s of mosquito’s.
CHARLESTON AFB, SC 04-05-2022
Based:
88-0266 C-17A USAF 437th AW
89-1192 C-17A USAF 437th AW
95-0002 C-17A USAF 437th AW
95-0102 C-17A USAF 437th AW
95-0107 C-17A USAF 437th AW
96-0002 C-17A USAF 437th AW
96-0007 C-17A USAF 437th AW
97-0041 C-17A USAF 437th AW
97-0046 C-17A USAF 437th AW
98-0054 C-17A USAF 437th AW
00-0534 C-17A USAF 437th AW
01-0193 C-17A USAF 437th AW
03-3124 C-17A USAF 437th AW
07-7178 C-17A USAF 437th AW
07-7180 C-17A USAF 437th AW
07-7181 C-17A USAF 437th AW
07-7182 C-17A USAF 437th AW
07-7183 C-17A USAF 437th AW
07-7184 C-17A USAF 437th AW
07-7188 C-17A USAF 437th AW
08-8190 C-17A USAF 437th AW
08-8204 C-17A USAF 437th AW
09-9206 C-17A USAF 437th AW
09-9208 C-17A USAF 437th AW
09-9212 C-17A USAF 437th AW
10-0215 C-17A USAF 437th AW
10-0221 C-17A USAF 437th AW
10-0223 C-17A USAF 437th AW
Visit:
07-7177 C-17A USAF 436th AW
05-0932 C-40C USAF 73rd AS
(08-5686) C-130J-30 USAF 39th AS
Charleston is always good for the numbers, compare it with Ramstein.
No visitors at the FBO and the wrong runway in use for taking pictures. We moved on after a short stop for a long drive to Alabama.
MONTGOMERY RAP, AL 05-05-2022
66-7745/AL F-4D ex USAF pres/gate
78-0042/AL F-16A ex USAF pres/gate
52-7249 T-33A ex USAF pres/gate
Our main goal was to take pictures of the red tails. This looked good as flying started at 8:15. Unfortunately the ”good” taxiway was closed.
At 10:15 still no fighters returned as we had to go on for our next visit. To bad!
NAS MERIDIAN, MS 05-05-2022
(147522)/A-900 T-2A ex USN pres/gate
159727/A-100 T-2C ex USN pres
158526/A-100 TA-4J ex USN pres
The base visit to NAS Meridian was just perfect. All was possible or made possible. 18 planes were on TDY at NAF El Centro, but besides that all was seen.
All the T-45’s wear Marines and VT-9 on one side and Navy and VT-7 on the other side. So no specific planes belonging to a Squadron.
MERIDIAN KEY FIELD RAP, MS 05-05-2022
Based:
57-1486 KC-135R USAF 153rd ARS
59-1448 KC-135R USAF 153rd ARS
Columbus AFB was our next base visit, what a great place!! I don’t think I have to tell why….
Over 200 planes and a take off or landing every single minute makes it just the perfect place to be as a Spotter.
We were told this base has the most flying sorties off the whole US. With over 300 sorties a day.
To make it perfect we had some nice visitors as well.
GOLDEN TRIANGEL RAP, MS 06-05-2022
97-3017/XL T-6A USAF 85th FTS
Normally a lot of CB planes can been seen, but this time only rare T-6 from Laughlin AFB.
MERIDIAN KEY FIELD RAP, MS 07-05-2022
Based:
57-1486 KC-135R USAF 153rd ARS
58-0079 KC-135R USAF 153rd ARS
58-0120 KC-135R USAF 153rd ARS
59-1448 KC-135R USAF 153rd ARS
63-7992 KC-135R USAF 153rd ARS
(53-5109)/TR-109 T-33A ex USAF pres marked as 0-54109
TUSCALOOSA TOWN, AL 07-05-2022
159261/AD-401 A-7E ex USN pres
66-16907 UH-1H ex USAR pres
BIRMINGHAM RAP, AL 07-05-2022
63-7745/BH RF-4C ex USAF pres/gate
(52-7409) RF-84F ex USAF pres/gate marked as 11279
44-35732/BC-732 A-26C ex USAF pres/gate
69-18479 CH-54B ex USAR pres/gate
67-16243 OH-6B ex USAR pres/gate
66-16086 UH-1H ex USAR pres/gate
Based:
57-1453 KC-135R USAF 106th ARS spec mks
57-1473 KC-135R USAF 106th ARS
58-0042 KC-135R USAF 106th ARS
61-0318 KC-135R USAF 106th ARS
Museum:
62-3723 T-38A ex USAF pres
(56-3555) T-37B ex USAF pres
60-6937 A-12 ex USAF pres marked 77835
67-0069/MO F-111A ex USAF pres
56-0929 F-104C ex USAF pres
(56-2352) TF-102A ex USAF pres
(51-1487) F-84F ex USAF pres
162608 F-14A ex USN pres
151338/AD-100 T-39D ex USN pres
159165/F-811 T-2C ex USN pres
68-18464 CH-54B ex USAR pres
54-1753 F-100C ex USAF pres
136560/NS-60 TS-2A ex USN pres
140659 T-28C ex USN pres
63-8365/RU F-105F ex USAF pres marked 63-0301
56-0273 NF-101B ex USAF pres
(51699054) MiG-21UM ex Russia AF pres
Birmingham was our last stop on the East coast. From here we took our flight to Las Vegas.
Till so far part two, hope you liked it.
Part 3 will follow shortly.
Like always, please feel free for any questions, comments, corrections or additions.
Happy Spotting in the USA.
Gijs ten Velde
Fred Peursem
"GIPS"
GIJS TEN VELDE
GRAS REIZEN
GRAS TRAVEL DEPARTEMENT
Great logs. Looks like you saw quite a lot. Any additional information on where some good places are around Columbus AFB? I hope to be in that area in a few weeks. Thanks
f84thunder wrote: ↑28 May 2022, 15:29
Great logs. Looks like you saw quite a lot. Any additional information on where some good places are around Columbus AFB? I hope to be in that area in a few weeks. Thanks
Good spot to see all the flying is:
33°39'34.36"N 88°27'07.31"W
"GIPS"
GIJS TEN VELDE
GRAS REIZEN
GRAS TRAVEL DEPARTEMENT
I was there back in 2019 and looking was not a problem, but as I was taking pictures I had to go. This was at 08.00 in the morning, police and a (very nice and polite) lady from osi were there within 15min. Even my approved on base photovisit did not mather: "you are approved for on base, not for this place".
I've been a couple of times. I'd suggest you try a bit further north, which is on the approach but less likely to get hassled. I did have a chat with the farmer both times, but he was fine. You can't quite manage photos for aircraft arriving on all three runways simultaneously though