@ Saipan International Airport split off

[frank kramer]

+1 !

Saipan International Airport is located on the island of Saipan (duh!), part of the Northern Marianes Islands. The island of Guam (where Andersen AFB is located) is further to the south. Incidentally, Google maps is displaying a lot of F-16's -including apparently some AK ones-, a couple of F-15's and F-18's, E-2c's and a Prowler (plus the "normal" B-52's and KC-135's) on the ground at Andersen AFB. Might this be a very recent picture displaying Cope North participants?

[Basman]

Might this be a very recent picture displaying Cope North participants

I saw this aerial view a while ago already, so if you meant to suggest 'as recent as Cope North 2012': it probably isn't.
Planes bottom left at flightline seem like JASDF F-2's to me by the way, judging by the dark grey colour. Cope North 2011 and 2010 also saw Alaskan Agressor F-16's and Japanese F-2's and E-2's participating, so this picture could well be taken during one of those editions.

Damn, this would make a nice family trip...beaches for the family, planes for daddy!

Bas

[raameagle]

Google Earth quotes 18 Feb 2011 as the date.

There are also two Hornets in the NW corner with a DC-10 so they were probably heading to/from an airshow in the Far East.

Looking at GE, it's unlikely that you will be able to relax on the beach and watch the flying at Anderson AFB as there doesn't appear to be one nearby!

Regards

Mark

[frank kramer]

Oh well, Cope North 2011 wasn't bad either judging from that overview! Have to agree with Basman, still looks like the place to be for a family trip... if only it wasn't located in the middle of nowhere..!

[raameagle]

Agreed, it is in the middle of nowhere lol but I'm not convinced you would see much anyway. The east side of the base is next to the sea with no beaches and the west side of the base is surrounded by trees and looking at GE, very little if nowhere to stop and watch the action.

An interesting place all the same and I would like to see the preserved B-52!

Regards
Mark

[Le Addeur noir]

Agreed, it is in the middle of nowhere lol but I'm not convinced you would see much anyway. The east side of the base is next to the sea with no beaches and the west side of the base is surrounded by trees and looking at GE, very little if nowhere to stop and watch the action.

An interesting place all the same and I would like to see the preserved B-52!

Regards
Mark

I am informed by a source in Taiwan spotting is possible here.I would imagine discresion would be in order.

[dutchphantom]

There is a beach at the east side but it is at the bottom of a cliff and the aircraft are too high for any spotting. Spotting on the west side is possible and it is also possible to take photos of landing aircraft. I asked many years ago and they told me that as long as I did not try to climb over the fence it is no problem to take photos of the aircraft landing. However I don't know how it is nowadays.

[Erik_7Xi]

Are there other regular exercises at Andersen AFB besides Cope North? I couldn't find much else?

[Basman]

There is a beach at the east side but it is at the bottom of a cliff and the aircraft are too high for any spotting

Oh but I wouldn't mind dropping my family at some beach or poolside and go spotting for a couple of hours....

Are there other regular exercises at Andersen AFB besides Cope North? I couldn't find much else?

Have a look at the pictures section of the official Andersen AFB page. You can see that they hosted USMC Hornets in October 2011, B-52's in January 2010 and exercise Valiant Shield in September 2010, with among others AK F-16's, F-15's, F-22's, F-18's, E-3's. Furthermore I think they maintain a 'continuous bomber presence mission' with deployed B-52's.

Bas