During a recent trip to the U.S. with 4Aviation I visited the Wings Over Solano Airshow on 16 March. This year's edition marked the upcoming farewell of the KC-10 Extender in active duty. Only 12 airframes are still active on Travis and 10 of those could be seen either flying, on static or parked at the hangars area.
The weather was excellent with nice temperatures and blue skies. That said, the sunny conditions also posed a challenge during the flying activities especially during the first few hours.
As is normal at U.S. airshows the aircraft on the static show are not fenced off but instead, cones and ropes are used or nothing at all leaving your view cluttered with families, strollers and people who seem to love counting each individual rivet from close by.
Since Travis is a very big base your step counter is having a field day but in the end it was all worth it.
Now on with the pictures.
A-10C 81-0955 with the Idaho ANG.
A-10_81-0955_USANG by
René Klok, on Flickr
A US Marines AH-1Z Viper with BuNo 169860.
AH-1_169860_USMarines by
René Klok, on Flickr
C-12C 76-0161.
C-12_76-0161_USAF by
René Klok, on Flickr
Will it fit or not?
C-5, C-17 by
René Klok, on Flickr
E-2 169863 based on the Carl Vinson sporting very nice colors.
E-2_169863_USNavy_01 by
René Klok, on Flickr
E-2_169863_USNavy_02 by
René Klok, on Flickr
Growler 168933 from VAQ-132 Scorpions at Whidbey Island.
EA-18G_168933_USNavy by
René Klok, on Flickr
The neighbours from the Fresno ANG had sent two F-15s.
F-15_86-0144_USANG by
René Klok, on Flickr
NASA's N846NA is the oldest active F/A-18B in the US inventory.
F-18_N846NA_NASA by
René Klok, on Flickr
Group conference of Travis birds. The C-5 seems to do the talking.
KC-10, KC-46, C-17, C-5 by
René Klok, on Flickr
At the moment the Travis KC-46 Wing has 6 active tankers of which two are adorned with the latest US fashion of no markings at all. One them was 20-46086 on static (the serial was written on one of the small red clips holding the engine cover in place).
KC-46_20-46086_USAF by
René Klok, on Flickr
P-3 162999 is one of the few left in active duty.
P-3_162999_USNavy by
René Klok, on Flickr
Cal Fire had sent an OV-10, S-70 and this spotless S-2 N441DF.
S-2_N441DF_CalFire by
René Klok, on Flickr
Beale AFB was present with this beautiful T-38 65-10429.
T-38_65-10429_USAF by
René Klok, on Flickr
And they were also represented with U-2S 68-10337 and one of their chase cars.
U-2_68-10337_USAF by
René Klok, on Flickr
UH-1Y 167806 from the US Marines.
UH-1_167806_USMarines by
René Klok, on Flickr
WC-135R 64-14831 is one of the three 'brand new' Nuke Sniffers and was delivered to Offutt last May.
WC-135R_64-14831_USAF by
René Klok, on Flickr
Solo #6 from the Blue Angels passing the old C-5A 70-0451 which is earmarkd for the Travis base museum but sits in the field for a couple of years now because they have no idea how to get within the museum perimeters.
Blue Angels_01 by
René Klok, on Flickr
Some of the well known display figures of the Blue Angels. it was only their 2nd show of the season after their opening performance a week earlier at home base NAF El Centro.
Blue Angels_02 by
René Klok, on Flickr
Blue Angels_03 by
René Klok, on Flickr
Blue Angels_04 by
René Klok, on Flickr
And off course Fat Albert also joined the party.
C-130_Blue Angels_01 by
René Klok, on Flickr
C-130_Blue Angels_02 by
René Klok, on Flickr
A so called parade of heavies was sent into the air (departing from March AFB unfortunately). The KC-46 was 20-46085 and was also unmarked.
C-5_86-0023_USAF by
René Klok, on Flickr
KC-10 en C-5 by
René Klok, on Flickr
KC-46 en C-17 by
René Klok, on Flickr
KC-46_20-46085_USAF by
René Klok, on Flickr
The F-22 Raptor demo with 02-4040 was very impressive but unfortunately some of the high maneuvers got lost in the sun.
F-22_02-4040_USAF_01 by
René Klok, on Flickr
F-22_02-4040_USAF_02 by
René Klok, on Flickr
It was followed by a Heritage flight with P-51 N151BP.
Heritage Flight by
René Klok, on Flickr
KC-10 85-0033 was the representative for the KC-10 farewell flight.
KC-10_85-033_USAF_01 by
René Klok, on Flickr
KC-10_85-0033_USAF_02 by
René Klok, on Flickr
Former Polish AF MiG-17 NX117BR during its demo flight.
MiG-17_NX117BR_02 by
René Klok, on Flickr
MiG-17_NX117BR_01 by
René Klok, on Flickr
T-33 Ace Maker III N133DV.
T-33_N133DV_USAF by
René Klok, on Flickr
Hope you liked this selection.