Spotting possibilities Colorado, Wyoming, S-D, Montana, Utah

[PH-BRAD]

Hello,

I'll be in Colorado, Wyoming, South-Dakota, Montana and Utah this summer.
Does anyone has experience in "mil"-spotting in those states, Hill AFB and Ellsworth AFB especially got my intrest.
Other tips are welcome too (I'm also into civil aviation), like museums etc.
Because it's a non-spotting holiday which museum is the best to go to?

So, if you have any information please reply of PM me!

Thanks in advance!

[ehusmann]

My experience in those states is limited to Sioux Falls, SD with a base visit 13 years ago, so not much personal advise I can give you. However, if you are looking at museums and stuff, the most obvious one is of course Hill itself (location), but I would also check out Greybull, WY, Malmstrom, MT and Colorado Spring, CO. If of course these are along your route.

Erwin

[ZAP16]

at http://www.aviationmuseum.eu can you find museums of these states.
Ellsworth AFB have a museum just outside this base.

[PH-BRAD]

Thanks for your quick replies!

[68-0037UH]

Hill AFB from the outside is not advisable. You're just too far away from the action, unless F-16 bellyshots are the things you're looking for. The museum is excellent, don't forget the storage area behind the buildings....

It did some touring in Montana 2 years ago and just a few tips

Great Falls Int offers excellent possibilities, had a base tour, but landing shots can be made and near the civil terminal/ customs shots on the taxiway can be made. The F-15s will leave within 2 months however. Don't forget the gate guards. Traffic is slow...

Malmstrom has a small museum and three old lizard UH-1s flying around. You might want to try your luck with the PAO. In Great Falls a F-102 is preserved in the lions park.

Helena regional (MT) has some relics plus an UH-1 on a pole
Dutton (MT) north of Great Falls has an F-104D in front of a veteranes home...

Happy hunting

[PH-BRAD]

Thanks for your very helpful reply!

[PH-BRAD]

The tips were very helpful so far. I was googling for information of one of the last destinations we'll visit, Grand Junction airport. I saw many military aircraft on airfighters.com taken at Grand Junction on diffrent dates, so, is there also an ANG of AF squadron based? Or is it just reguarly visitid by USAF planes?

T.I.A.

[Ergo01]

In Pierre, the capital of SD is a museum with an A-7 along a back road.
The Ellsworth Museum is close to the base gate, and close to one of the approach ends. It contains interesting specimens. A base tour starts frorm there. Very interesting because you get to visit a missile silo. You won't get to the flight line however, not even close.
On the other side outside base there is a gravel road parallel to the runway. From there you can read B-1s with strong binoculars. We did see not much flying activity btw.
At Cheyenne on the civil side you can follow all civil and military movements.
Be aware the military ánd civil authorities may be itchy, but not too much because for many US citiziens fencechecking is very normal.

[PH-BRAD]

Thanks for your reply, altough I already visited SD, WY and most of Montana, only Utah and Colorado will be visited by me this year.