OK, let’s continue with the logs (while listening to the football on the radio)!
As mentioned in the log of the day before, some of our group had to get up very early today as we would do a flight over AMARG. We flew with Double Eagle from nearby Ryan Field. Not cheap, but they really do now what we want. There were six of us, and two available aircraft, so we went in turns.
Ryan Field
91-00505 C-26E no mks (OSAC)
N383FM CM.170 std (ex FAF 383)
N5275G U-3A (ex 57-5876)
While my aircraft was waiting for the take off, a Metroliner did a T&G (at least I think it didn’t land). I expected a civilian one, but was pleasantly surprised to see it was a military one instead! The Fouga and U-3 were a nice bonus and were both outside.
We then flew over Pima museum, AMARG and the scrapyards. I am still working on this part of the log, so I will leave that out. Only thing I list here are the operational Hercs we photographed from the air. There were also two FT-coded A-10s on the platform, getting ready to go. If somebody knows which ones these were, please let me know!
Davis-Monthan AFB
65-0967/DM EC-130H 55 Wg
73-1583/DM EC-130H 55 Wg
73-1584/DM EC-130H 55 Wg
73-1587/DM EC-130H 55 Wg (std according to Scramble database)
73-1594/DM EC-130H 55 Wg
73-1595/DM EC-130H 55 Wg
What a sight, these thousands of aircraft in the desert, rows and rows and…. For me it was the third time I did an overflight, but the first time I got to sit in the front seat. I don’t know whether that helped, but I got much better pictures this time than the two previous flights. And also for the third time the sight was spectacular!
One question regarding AMARG, what happened to the Australian EF-18 that is/was here? This was stored in area 24 after its engine fire in 2018, but according to GMAP it disappeared at the end of 2019. I can’t find anything else about it.
When all the flights had returned, we went to nearby Tucson to see whether there would be some action with the local Vipers, before heading to D-M.
Tucson AFB
(94-0262)/262 RC-26B (162 FW, 214 RS)
61-0284 KC-135R 161 ARW, 197 ARS, multiple T&Gs
83-1174/AZ F-16S 162 Wg, 195 FS
83-1180/AZ F-16D 162 Wg, 195 FS
84-1322/AZ F-16D 162 Wg, 195 FS
84-1326/AZ F-16D 162 Wg, 195 FS
85-1509/DC F-16D 113 Wg, 121 FS
85-1514/AZ F-16D 162 Wg, 195 FS
85-1552/FM F-16C 482 FW, 93 FS
86-0043/AC F-16D 177 FW, 119 FS
86-0210/AZ F-16C 162 Wg, 195 FS
86-0211/AT F-16C AATC
86-0212/AT F-16C AATC, “ANG/AFRC Test Center” mks
86-0240/AT F-16C AATC
86-0241/AT F-16C AATC
86-0242/TX F-16C 301 FW, 457 FS
86-0350/AZ F-16C 162 Wg, 195 FS, Have Glass c/s
87-0258 F-16C (162 Wg)
87-0260 F-16C (162 Wg), Have Glass c/s
87-0293/AZ F-16C 162 Wg, 195 FS
87-0299/AZ F-16C 162 Wg, 195 FS
87-0300/AZ F-16C (162 Wg)
87-0343 F-16C (162 Wg), Have Glass c/s
87-0361/AZ F-16CM 162 Wg, 152 FS
87-0367/FM F-16D 482 FW, 93 FS
87-0365/SA F-16D 149 FW, 182 FS
88-0150 F-16D (162 Wg), Have Glass c/s
88-0156/AZ F-16DM 162 Wg, 152 FS
88-0173/AZ F-16D 162 Wg, 152 FS
88-0417/AZ F-16CM 162 Wg, 152 FS, spec tail “Los Vaqueros”
88-0427/AZ F-16CM 162 Wg, 152 FS
88-0469/AZ F-16CM 162 Wg, 152 FS
88-0502/AT F-16CM AATC
88-0520/AZ F-16CM 162 Wg, 152 FS
88-0530/AT F-16CM AATC
89-2002/AZ F-16CM 162 Wg, 152 FS
89-2091/AZ F-16CM 162 Wg, 152 FS, Have Glass c/s
89-2117/AZ F-16CM 162 Wg, 152 FS
89-2123/AZ F-16CM 162 Wg, 152 FS
89-2155/AZ F-16D 162 Wg, 152 FS
89-2156/AZ F-16DM 162 Wg, 152 FS
89-2163/AZ F-16DM 162 Wg, 152 FS
90-0716/AZ F-16CM 162 Wg, 152 FS
90-0720/AZ F-16CM 162 Wg, 152 FS
90-0741/AZ F-16CM 162 Wg, 152 FS
90-0790/AZ F-16DM 162 Wg, 152 FS
(6625) F-16V as 93-0726, 56 FW, 21 FS
(6629) F-16V as 93-0730, 56 FW, 21 FS
(6662) F-16V as 93-0763, 56 FW, 21 FS
(6671) F-16V as 93-0772, 56 FW, 21 FS
(6687) F-16V as 93-0788, 56 FW, 21 FS
(6689) F-16V as 93-0790, 56 FW, 21 FS
(6698) F-16V as 93-0799, 56 FW, 21 FS
(6712) F-16V as 93-0813, 56 FW, 21 FS
(6713) F-16V as 93-0814, 56 FW, 21 FS, spec tail “21 FS”
(6821) F-16V as 93-0842, 56 FW, 21 FS
(6822) F-16V as 93-0843, 56 FW, 21 FS
(116772) (F-5) CF-116 std, fuselage, no mks
When we arrived here, some Vipers were just returning from a mission, so we stayed to photograph them while taxiing in. Conditions were perfect at our spot, and we were even happier when the special tail Taiwanese F-16 also arrived and paraded in front of us. The C-26 was a nice surprise, and with hindsight even more as they have been withdrawn by now I understand. Oh, the ususal suspects near the gate were also seen (A-7, F-16, F-84, F-86, F-100, F-102).
When all arrivals had been photographed, we moved on to D-M, where we were planning to meet up again with the rest of the group.
Davis-Monthan AFB
78-0670/DM A-10C 355 Wg, 354 FS
78-0706/DM A-10C 355 Wg, 354 FS, “355 OG” mks
78-0712/DM A-10C 355 Wg, 354 FS, “355 Wg” mks
79-0120/DP A-10C 944 FW, 47 FS
79-0144/DP A-10C (944 FW, 47 FS)
79-0147/DP A-10C 944 FW, 47 FS
79-0154 A-10C (944 FW, 47 FS)
79-0185/IN A-10C (122 FW, 163 FS)
79-0194/ID A-10C 124 Wg, 190 FS
79-0202 A-10C (355 Wg)
80-0146/DP A-10C (944 FW, 47 FS)
80-0160/DP A-10C 944 FW, 47 FS
80-0171/DP A-10C 944 FW, 47 FS
81-0939/DP A-10C 944 FW, 47 FS
81-0981/DM A-10C 355 Wg, 354 FS
81-0983/DM A-10C 355 Wg, 354 FS
81-0997/DP A-10C 944 FW, 47 FS
82-0646 A-10C (355 Wg)
82-0648/DM A-10C 355 Wg, 354 FS
82-0656/DM A-10C (355 Wg, 354 FS)
168068/QH-068 KC-130J VMGR-234
166526/NG-704 MH-60R (HSM-71), arrival for storage
Well, meeting up with the rest of the group didn’t work out, it turned out we got their location wrong. We ended up next to the highway under the approach, a good spot for all aircraft coming in. When it was lunchtime and flying activity ceased, some of us wanted to go hunting for wrecks and relics in the scrapyards.
yard Aircraft Restoration & Marketing (ARM), Tucson
90-0172 C-27A std (N47612), no mks
90-0173 C-27A std (N2286K), no mks
91-0105 C-27A std, no mks
(80-0542) F-16A dump, fuselage, no mks
(60-0103) T-37B std, no mks
(60-0181/EN) T-37B dump, wreck, AATE0410
61-2504/VN T-37B dump, wreck, tail separate, AATE0328, 71 FTW, 8 FTS
(61-2915/VN) T-37B dump, wreck, AATE0254
(64-13419/VN) T-37B dump, wreck, AATE0308
64-13454/EN T-37B dump, wreck, tail separate, AATE0453, 80 FTW, 89 FTS
(67-14739/EN) T-37B dump, wreck, AATE0481
(67-22245/EN) T-37B dump, wreck, AATE0468
(68-8019/EN) T-37B dump, wreck, AATE0471
68-8073/EN T-37B dump, wreck, tail separate, AATE0477, 80 FTW, 89 FTS
71-1406/RA CT-43A std, N146JS, 12 FTW, 558 FTS mks
12412 VC-117D std, tail only => rest recently sold, NAS Norfolk mks
12441 C-117D std (N105BF), graffiti c/s
50812 C-117D std, NAS Jacksonville mks
(156170) EC-130Q std (N15674), no cockpit, “Power Plants”, 2G014
(156172) EC-130Q std (N42699), “South West Tour ‘90” mks, 2G010
(156173) EC-130Q std (N34277), no cockpit, “Gone with the Wind”, 2G009
(156174) EC-130Q std (N14278), no cockpit, 2G017, no mks
(156175) EC-130Q std (N14279), no cockpit, 2G007, no mks
(156177) EC-130Q std (N54281), no cockpit, 2G008, no mks
( C-130 std, no cockpit , no mks
140998 C-131F std (N5249W), no mks
141003 C-131F std (N14100), no mks
141004 C-131F std, no mks
141006 C-131F std, no mks
(141007) C-131F std, front fuselage only, 1G018
141028/028 C-131F std (N344GS), no mks
(151357)/LL-26 P-3B std, VP-30 mks, AN2P0187 (markings overpainted but visible)
N123KJ C-123K std (ex 54-0659)
N707NA NC-130B std (ex 58-0712)
219 MD.530F dump, wreck, call plate 0219FF
PNC3002 C-27A std, N47892, also carries DOSAW C-3
It took about 15 or 20 minutes I guess, but we managed to talk our way inside at the first scrapyard we went to. I had been “doing” the yards from outside twice in the past, but getting the opportunity to go through one of them was really great! The four of us felt like we were in a toy store. And the biggest surprise came almost at the end, when I discovered a heap of junk in a far corner that turned to have an Afghan MD530 in it! This was in full colours with a sticker of Mesa Helicopters covering the Afghan roundel. And multiple bullet holes proved it had a hard time. I hope I identified all the T-37s in the same pile, but can’t be 100% sure as it was a big mess, we were in a hurry and were also warned for snakes... There was also a tail marked only “80 00” with a red tailband. The F-16 finally was also in this heap.
In 2018 I already extensively covered this yard in my logs, compared to that visit C-130s 64-0503 and 64-0553 (nose only, went to the UK) and HU-16s 131890, 161914 and 141261 have left.
Lots of Hercs without cockpit here, anybody who knows what happened to those? The last unidentified C-130 is probably either 151888 or 159469. That last one is supposed to have been sold to The Netherlands for parts (even registered G-255 according to C-130.net), but possibly never left the USA. Anybody who knows the answer?
While exploring this yard, a few aircraft flying at D-M itself were photographed.
81-0956/- A-10C (355 Wg, 357 FS)
81-0965/DM A-10C 355 Wg, 357 FS
81-0976/- A-10C 355 Wg, 357 FS
(87-0)245/CO F-16C arrival => 86-0345/CO??
The F-16 made multiple T&G’s before it finally landed (at least that was our impression). Heatwaves were rather bad, last three looked like 245 I was told, but that doesn’t add up with the CO tailcode. Possibly 86-0345?
yard Jack's Gov't Surplus Trucks, Tucson
(138469) UH-34G std (also ex SVNAF)
We passed this yard on our way to the scrapyards on the Eastern side and from the car we noticed the upper part of this H-34. Because of time we decided not to ask for access, however afterwards I found out the id of the chopper anyway luckily.
yard Borque Industries, Tucson
1407 HH-52A std, fuselage, USCG Los Angeles mks
1463 HH-52A std, fuselage, no mks
Only a few 100 meters further we passed this yard, with the remaining two HH-52s next to the fence. In 2018 we still got five of the choppers, the other three have moved on apparently.
yard United Aeronautical Corporation, Tucson
154641 TA-4F std, VMA-124 mks
(160247/QP-??) A-4M std, fuselage
(160249/QP-04) A-4M std, fuselage
(160256/QP-00) A-4M std, fuselage
(?)/06 rd TA-4 std, nose
(156489) SH-3D std (N489WR), 9H062
(148814?) UH-34D std
(16502) C.212-100 std, dismantled, coded 02
(16506) C.212-100 std, dismantled, coded 6
(16514) C.212-100 std, dismantled, coded 14
(16515?) C.212-100 std, dismantled, coded 15
(16520) C.212-100 std, dismantled, 20.000 H mks
(16521) C.212-100 std, dismantled, coded 20
(16522) C.212-100 std, dismantled, coded 22
(16523) C.212-100 std, dismantled, coded 23
I also extensively covered this yard after my trip in 2018. This time I will stick to the aircraft that were new for me since 2018 (although I still have to do a thorough check). All Portuguese Casa’s have been positively identified by the unique colourschemes apart from 16515. According to Scramble database 16511 should also be present, apart from 16515, but that colourscheme for sure doesn’t match, so combined with the painted code 15 I am 99% sure it is indeed 16515.
One of the A-4M had both the VMA-124 badge and als MAG-42 det B mks on the rear fuselage, while another one had the badge cut out and also MAG-42 det B on the rear fuselage. The third one had VMA-124 written on the rear fuselage. The unknown TA-4 looks like a former aggressor with its red code with yellow outline. Info on its id would be very welcome.
We also tried to arrange access here, but we didn’t get to speak to the owner of the yard unfortunately, only to his wife who acted as a ‘messenger’ and therefor we weren’t able to use our charms
So just a look and photographs from the outside.The neighbouring K-Tech and Western scrapyards have completely been cleared by the way.
yard Minden Corporation, Tucson
(131456/7T-208) SP-2E std (N88484), fuselage, no tail
Around the corner from UAC is this “last of the Mohicans”. There used to be another Neptune here plus two helicopters, but these have gone, probably meeting their maker.
Looking over the Neptune we could get a glimpse of the back part of HVF scrapyard, where at least nice C-9 fuselage wrecks could be seen. Identified were 159116, 159117, 160047, 160049 and 160050.
Davis-Monthan AFB
79-0144/DP A-10C (944 FW, 47 FS)
79-0147/DP A-10C 944 FW, 47 FS
80-0146/DP A-10C (944 FW, 47 FS)
80-0171/DP A-10C 944 FW, 47 FS
81-0939/DP A-10C 944 FW, 47 FS
81-0997/DP A-10C 944 FW, 47 FS
86-0016 C-5M 60 AMW
09-0108/OT HC-130J 53 Wg, 418 TES
10-5716/DM HC-130J (355 Wg, 79 RQS)
11-5719/DM HC-130J (355 Wg, 79 RQS)
12-5769/DM HC-130J (355 Wg, 79 RQS)
13-5782/DM HC-130J (355 Wg, 79 RQS)
19-5947/DM HC-130J (355 Wg, 79 RQS)
169226/QB-226 KC-130J VMGR-352
N703JP HH-60L USCBP (ex 03-26987)
? HH-60L USCBP
? HH-60L USCBP
96-5036/LF F-16C 56 FW, 425 FS
01-6015/LF F-16C 56 FW, 425 FS
When done with all the scrapyards, we returned to our spot near the highway at D-M, where another batch of A-10s could be photographed with great light. The six C-130s and the C-5 could be read now and the USCBP H-60 had arrived earlier when others of our group were present. The identity of the other two is too much of a long shot I’m afraid, as would be for the two USAF HH-60s on the ramp (one without rotor blades)….?
Just when we were driving away, finally with all three vans together again, two F-16s did an approach. They could be read from the pcitures taken from the driving car, and we were surprised to find out they were Singaporese. Nice, but tomorrow literally the first two Vipers we would see at Luke would be these same two again.
Marana-Silverbell
(66-15255) AH-1F pr (AZ-NG mks)
(70-15143) OH-58A pr
N600NC DHC-4 (ex Ken AF 201)
As we passed here anyway, we made a quick stop. Nothing can be seen at the active US Army part unfortunately apart from the two gate guards.
And that was it for today. We continued towards our hotel near Luke, getting ready for the last operational day of the trip tomorrow.
As always, comments, additions and corrections are welcome.
That’s all folks!
Patrick Dirksen
Tristar Aviation
