Today, Sunday 5 February, started FCLP (Field Carrier Landing Practice) at Key West.
The FCLP will continue through Wednesday, Monday they are training at sea with aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush off the coast of the Florida keys.
The weather is terrible today, heavy showers, occasionally dry.
The student aviators brought at least 20-25 Goshawks with them, I managed to log 10 whilst doing circuits.
T-45C TW-1
(165598)/A 1-TW-101 special markings
(165081)/A-102
(165082)/A-103
(165085)/A-106
(165479)/A-136
T-45C TW-2
167100/B-322 special markings
CF-188 CAF 410sq
188785
The Canadian Airbus departed in the morning, but was back on the ramp in the afternoon. Still visible was one C-130H model, which turned out to be Canadian. According to the Radio Activity section, three Canadian transport aircraft were playing around in the south of the USA. Most probably the two Hercules aircraft seen on Sunday were both Canadian.
Noted arriving at 17.00 hrs were two Black Hawk helicopters, both with a refuelling device attached. They left again half an hour later.
Tuesday, 7 February 2012.
Today the Navy pilots decided to use runway 07 for take-off and landing. This one is not ok to read off the small Bureau numbers. I managed to log some codes only, but did not stay very long as heat waves started to block decent reading.
Last Sunday and Monday they used runway 13, which is far more convenient.
VFA-106 (all waiting for take-off, but returned to the ramp after some 15 minutes)
(166467)/AD-206 F/A-18F
(166978)/AD-253 F/A-18F
(166974)/AD-256 F/A-18F
(163770)/AD-316 F/A-18C
(163105)/AD-347 F/A-18A+
C-20B 99th AS
60206
CC-150 CAF 437sq
15005
At 10.15 hrs a USN Sea Hawk took off, but remained unidentified.
16.00 – 17.30 hrs, unfortunately runway 07 in use T-45C TW-1
(165598)/A 1-TW-101 special markings
(165083)/A-104
(165088)/A-109 special markings
(165089)/A-110
(165467)/A-124
(165475)/A-132
(165494)/A-151
(165498)/A-155
(165606)/A-164
MH-47 unit unknown
code 11 and code 12, serials not readable
These special forces Chinooks took off at 16.22 hrs and headed northwest.
Today, I finally managed to see two of the gate guards, the F-4N (153019) and the EA-6A (148618). Visible from the south side (runway 31), was the dump, which contained an A-3 Skywarrior, an EA-6A, a TA-4J and an unknown helicopter. This one looked like an SH-3 Sea King.
Please fill in the blanks (Hornet AD-302 and the two special forces Chinooks).
Regards,
Hans van Herk
Last edited by Hans van Herk on 12 Feb 2012, 15:28, edited 1 time in total.
Friday 10 February 2012.
Sunny, but again eastern wind and (unfortunately) runway 07 in use.
As we drove by, a C-2A Greyhound was seen leaving. We were heading for Miami again, so I did not stop at the spotters place.
Regards,
Hans van Herk
I changed the days of the previous updates, as they were not exactly corresponding with the dates -))
