NAF El Centro (KNJK) 2023

ImageLogs, tripreports and news from Canada and the USA. Civil and military jointly in one forum.

Forum rules
Image
AndyMarden
Scramble Die-Hard
Scramble Die-Hard
Posts: 625
Joined: 22 Jun 2009, 12:42
Subscriber Scramble: AndyMarden

NAF El Centro (KNJK) 2023

Post by AndyMarden »

Dirty log from Wednesday 25th January.
Detached were:
6 CT-155: 155203, 155204, 155207, 155212, 155213, 155217 (special)
T-45/B: 210, 214, 240, 257, 263, 266, 276, 271, 282, 293, 294, 295, 297, 298 - I was told two more were present. None flew
MH-60S HSC-4/NE: 167867/613, 168536/614, ______/617
EA-18G VAQ-129/NJ: 500, 503, 166938/530, 169210/560, 169135/566, 168934/574, 169141/575, 169140/576, 577
plus the Blue Angels
tally
Scramble Addict
Scramble Addict
Posts: 1185
Joined: 28 Sep 2008, 06:07
Subscriber Scramble: tally

Re: NAF El Centro (KNJK) 2023

Post by tally »

Hi Andy,

At what time did you catch MH-60S .../617?
We also noted CH-53E 162501/YJ-501 from HMH-465. The majority of the day it was parked close to the "stored" T-45's and the Blue Angels. It also flew one circuit on a test flight around 11:30.

Still have to organize my log so will add if possible.

Tally.
patrick dirksen
Scramble Master
Scramble Master
Posts: 3291
Joined: 11 Sep 2002, 00:12
Type of spotter: Mil & ex-mil, zowel nummers als platen!
Subscriber Scramble: patrick dirksen
Location: Eindhoven (en een beetje Epe)

Re: NAF El Centro (KNJK) 2023

Post by patrick dirksen »

These T-45s haven't moved around for some time! We did see the same ones in October (trip log will follow tomorrow), only one of the ones you list we didn't see was 240.
Cheers,

Patrick Dirksen
Tristar Aviation
AndyMarden
Scramble Die-Hard
Scramble Die-Hard
Posts: 625
Joined: 22 Jun 2009, 12:42
Subscriber Scramble: AndyMarden

Re: NAF El Centro (KNJK) 2023

Post by AndyMarden »

Tally,
617 was outside in the afternoon on the other side of the hangar to the CH-53, which I forgot to mention. It was being heavily spannered.
B/240 was being actively worked on under a barn.
Andy
tally
Scramble Addict
Scramble Addict
Posts: 1185
Joined: 28 Sep 2008, 06:07
Subscriber Scramble: tally

Re: NAF El Centro (KNJK) 2023

Post by tally »

AndyMarden wrote: 26 Jan 2023, 07:50
T-45/B: 240, I was told two more were present. None flew

T-45C B-240 was one of two under a sun shed (most western parking spot). The eastern one was B-213. The second missing one was hangered but did go unidentified.

Tally.
westy1967
Posts: 3
Joined: 01 May 2022, 12:00
Subscriber Scramble: jon west

Re: NAF El Centro (KNJK) 2023

Post by westy1967 »

Hi

In September the same jets were there except 240/266/271/276/288. There were two we hadn't photographed however. Looks like they transited the jets for a weapons det over the Chocolate Mts ranges and left them behind. Cheaper to airlift the crews in in a C40 than fly 16 jets to Texas every time.
AndyMarden
Scramble Die-Hard
Scramble Die-Hard
Posts: 625
Joined: 22 Jun 2009, 12:42
Subscriber Scramble: AndyMarden

Re: NAF El Centro (KNJK) 2023

Post by AndyMarden »

They are grounded….
User avatar
SBGrad
Scramble Senior
Scramble Senior
Posts: 411
Joined: 01 Feb 2020, 05:02
Type of spotter: Pix, or it didn't happen...F4
Subscriber Scramble: yeppers
Location: On the beach
Contact:

Re: NAF El Centro (KNJK) 2023

Post by SBGrad »

AndyMarden wrote: 31 Jan 2023, 14:54 They are grounded….
Grounded since the incident last October, only partially returned to flight. The jets in El Centro are probably known to have problems, or they haven't been checked out yet.

https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-nav ... ll-it-end/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/18842924@N03/
747woody
Scramble Senior
Scramble Senior
Posts: 291
Joined: 20 Feb 2011, 23:28
Type of spotter: photographer
Subscriber Scramble: 747woody

Re: NAF El Centro (KNJK) 2023

Post by 747woody »

Flying on 31/1/23:

CT-155:
155203,
155204,
155207,
155212,
155213

EA-18G VAQ-129:
NJ503/169216,
NJ530/166938,
NJ556/166894 (confirmed at Luke a few days later) CAG,
NJ566/169135,
NJ567/168939,
NJ574/168934,
NJ576/169140,
NJ577/169206

F/A-18F VFA-122:
NJ101/165922,
NJ104/165794,
NJ124/165920
(101 and 124 working with the Growlers, 104 gas n go)

F/A-18E BA:
1,
2,
2,
3,
4,
4,
5/165535,
5/165667,
6/165539,

F/A-18F
7/165673,
7/165885

Visitors:

AH-1Z 169255/VT41, 169855/UV42
UH-1Y 168789/-

AH-1Z 169272/SM40, 168419/SM44, 169850/SM48
UH-1Y 168949/SM02

It’s rained recently and the tracks around the base are very muddy (I stayed on the tarmac road).

There look to be 14 T-45s stored on the south side, 13 Bs and one A.

Edit 1: corrected a couple of typos
Edit 2: BuNos added 13/2/23
Edit 3: second BA '2' added
Last edited by 747woody on 22 Feb 2023, 01:14, edited 5 times in total.
User avatar
SBGrad
Scramble Senior
Scramble Senior
Posts: 411
Joined: 01 Feb 2020, 05:02
Type of spotter: Pix, or it didn't happen...F4
Subscriber Scramble: yeppers
Location: On the beach
Contact:

Re: NAF El Centro (KNJK) 2023

Post by SBGrad »

Monday I saw one and yesterday I saw two NJ marked Growlers landing at NAS North Island. Vinson just left the pier this morning, too. Have to see if the whole det comes to Coronado for CQ.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/18842924@N03/
747woody
Scramble Senior
Scramble Senior
Posts: 291
Joined: 20 Feb 2011, 23:28
Type of spotter: photographer
Subscriber Scramble: 747woody

Re: NAF El Centro (KNJK) 2023

Post by 747woody »

Seven Growlers launched in the afternoon, two didn’t come back: 530 and 556 (the CAG 🙄)

The VFA-122 jets were carrying refuelling pods, so guess that’s what they were doing in the afternoon mission.
User avatar
SBGrad
Scramble Senior
Scramble Senior
Posts: 411
Joined: 01 Feb 2020, 05:02
Type of spotter: Pix, or it didn't happen...F4
Subscriber Scramble: yeppers
Location: On the beach
Contact:

Re: NAF El Centro (KNJK) 2023

Post by SBGrad »

747woody wrote: 01 Feb 2023, 19:27 Seven Growlers launched in the afternoon, two didn’t come back: 530 and 556 (the CAG 🙄)
RE: 129-- I was watching the jets thru 10x50s from a quarter mile, and I didn't see the CAG colors. I could clearly make out NJ, too far for side numbers.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/18842924@N03/
747woody
Scramble Senior
Scramble Senior
Posts: 291
Joined: 20 Feb 2011, 23:28
Type of spotter: photographer
Subscriber Scramble: 747woody

Re: NAF El Centro (KNJK) 2023

Post by 747woody »

BuNos added to my original post above
falcx
Scramble Senior
Scramble Senior
Posts: 484
Joined: 20 Mar 2004, 13:00

Re: NAF El Centro (KNJK) 2023

Post by falcx »

747woody wrote: 01 Feb 2023, 16:11 Flying on 31/1/23:

There look to be 14 T-45s stored on the south side, 13 Bs and one A.

Edit 1: corrected a couple of typos
Edit 2: BuNos added 13/2/23
Chris,
Your T-45 with code A was the A-167. I could only read off 1656(09).

Kind Regards,
Charles
747woody
Scramble Senior
Scramble Senior
Posts: 291
Joined: 20 Feb 2011, 23:28
Type of spotter: photographer
Subscriber Scramble: 747woody

Re: NAF El Centro (KNJK) 2023

Post by 747woody »

falcx wrote: 21 Feb 2023, 22:56
747woody wrote: 01 Feb 2023, 16:11 Flying on 31/1/23:

There look to be 14 T-45s stored on the south side, 13 Bs and one A.

Edit 1: corrected a couple of typos
Edit 2: BuNos added 13/2/23
Chris,
Your T-45 with code A was the A-167. I could only read off 1656(09).

Kind Regards,
Charles
Thanks Charles :D
Post Reply

Return to “Spotting Canada & USA”