NAF El Centro, Ca. 12 Mar 2022

[Amatuer]

A small affair after a three year hiatus, this show marked the public debut of the Blue Angels in their Super Hornets. However, their show was marred by them suffering TWO mechanical casualties. A/C #2 went down after engine start and was replaced by #7. A/C #4 then also went Tango Uniform and the tean proceeded to perform a five ship demo. Serials for the Blues and statics listed below:
BLUE ANGELS BueAerNos:
#1 165534
#2 165782
#3 165666
#4 165540
#5 165536
#6 165665
#7 165673 (F)
C-130J 170000 Fat Albert
STATICS
A-10C 81-0962 SEA Camo (flying display)
A-10C 80-0181
F-35B 169920 VMFA(AW)-224
MQ-8C 169487 Pt. Mugu
E-2C 165650 VAW-116
MH-60R 168130 HSM-49
MH-60S 168569 HSC-8
MV-22B 168022 VMM-163
In addition to the numerous aircraft displayed around the base, the following was noted:
SH-60F 164076 marked as HS-10
But the mess trying to leave after the show!!!!
Cheers
John

[jurgen]

A few additions and small correction

BLUE ANGELS BueAerNos:
#1 165534
#2 165782
#3 165666
#4 165540
#5 165536
#6 165665
#7 165673 (F)

-> Another E coded #4 was in a hangar at the static. BA not very friendly to have quick peak for the BuNo.

C-130J 170000 Fat Albert

STATICS
A-10C 81-0962 SEA Camo (flying display)
A-10C 80-0181
->Both coded DM, 181 carried a yellow fin, 357th FS

F-35B 169920 VMFA(AW)-224
->The F-35B belonged to VMFA-225, according to the crew, and was delivered less than two weeks before.
->It did not have a code yet.

MQ-8C 169487 Pt. Mugu
-> Coded 23

E-2C 165650 VAW-116
-> coded NA-600

MH-60R 168130 HSM-49
-> coded TX-27, c/n 70-4824

MH-60S 168569 HSC-8
-> coded NH-610, c/n 70-4383

MV-22B 168022 VMM-163
-> coded YP-02, c/n D0152

Further at the static (nothing checked, straight from the log):
T-28B 138203/203 N372C
T-34A 53-3366/TA-366 N4WL c/n G-127
T-34A 53-4193/CA-293 N12281 c/n G-55

In another hangar at the static
F/A-18F 165913/AD-227 VFA-106

On the flightline close to the static were:
MH-60S 166325/63
MH-60S 168561/67
MH-60S 166321/72
all from HSC-21

A bit further down were the following two T-34Cs of which 937 went to the static after its display and 475 went back in a hangar.
T-34C 160475/475
T-34C 160937/937

Also among thos hanagar were a further two civil display aircraft, a red Boeing Stearman and a grey SNJ coded 17. We did nog wait for them to fly and were not further identified by us.

In addition to the numerous aircraft displayed around the base, the following was noted:
SH-60F 164076 marked as HS-10
But the mess trying to leave after the show!!!!

[d14]

It wasn't just leaving. There was a complete absence of organisation both for parking and getting in to the base - huge queues caused by having far too staff engaged in these activities.