US trip (photo) westcoast day 1 Palmdale (quick visit)

[stipjes]

Today me (and TvB) got back from a great week with loads of Sunshine, airplanes and miles. Normally I try to post pics every day during a trip but since we drove almost 4000 miles and a third friend unfortunately had to cancel we where exhausted most of the times when we arrived in a motel (late). Luckely we got a German car ! It only costed 200 Euro (10 days) and the rides where comfortable, but in an orange Beetle Turbo you do not go unnoticed....
The goal of the trip was (the rather small) Red Flag, Davis Monthan and El Centro Air Show, Yuma and Fallon. Mainly because of the good weather and the relaxed TvB we enjoyed every day. This was my first trip with my "new" D800E and 200-400 lens . For a change I will start this report with the last day. Yesterday we had to catch the plane at 15.00 so there was time for China Lake (we slept at Ridgecrest on our way from Fallon) for some spotting, Mojave for checking some W&R and the preps for the Los Angeles Country Airshow @ Lancaster.
When entering LA we got in a traffic jam. Thanks to my rapidly improvised alternative we and almost missed our flight....

At Mojave a AFMC C-12 was flying circuits. Did not know AFMC had C-12's.



No idea what this one is used for but is looks nice....

When we arrived at Lancaster we did not expect much and wanted to execute a hit and run but when we saw the NASA aircraft we took more time .





No idea if this is something for my DB... USAF serial 09-0001 ?

I dont do things that cannot seat a pilot but I guess it is nice for this report.




Tomorrow Fallon!
Hope you like them.

[Stratofreighter]

No idea if this is something for my DB... USAF serial 09-0001 ?
http://i.imgur.com/urR1Jcy.jpg

Not sure whether the Scaled Composites ARES "Mudfighter" / https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scaled_Composites_ARES
ever got an FY serial assigned, but it was an interesting project nevertheless!

http://www.scaled.com/projects/ares


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zG9LlHcX8lg

If you do not like Burt Rutan talking , then after 0.40 skip to 1.15 , then to 2.55 , 4.30 , 7.10 , 9.05 .

Think of it as a "lightweight A-10 Thunderbolt Warthog". Slower, but certainly more agile close to the ground...

It was a proper movie star!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aces:_Iro ... Production

[raameagle]

What did you see at China Lake please?

Regards

Mark

[stipjes]

Thanks Strato, I might put it in my DB....

What did you see at China Lake please?

We woke up in very early in the morning and found height for some stored and preserved aircraft. The units where not flying yet, just an Embraer in take off, but spotting is easily possible, I did not now that.

Last thursday we visted Fallon. The weather was great and there was quite some flying with the local units and F/A-18's from other units. The afternoon we spent in the approach. A few miles from the Airfield something was burning in the fields, the smoke gave a nice dramatic scene.

















































Around 17.00 we left for a long drive south.

[Canberra TT.18]

Hello Patrick,

A nice trip again I see.

And some great photos and aircraft.
I like the F-21 Kfir and the Tigers offcourse.

Bye,
Pieter

[Bennie]

Thanks Strato, I might put it in my DB....

What did you see at China Lake please?

We woke up in very early in the morning and found hight for some stored and preserved aircraft. The units where not flying yet, just an Embrair in take of, but spotting is easily possible, I did not now that.
.

The bird is called Embraer... Thought you'd been to Brasil!
And the action that gets a bird in the sky is called take off...

Nice images by the way!!!

[stipjes]

You forgot height (was hight) . Must be the jetleg, autocorrect, todays loss of PSV and my girlfriend that wants attention. Thanks for the corrections. Tomorrow I Will do better Ben .

[pilotman6012]

Hi Patrick, N882TP is used at Mojave by the National Test Pilot School,the only Civilian Test pilot school in the US,,they either have them on hand or on lease for exactly what it says Pilot Training for Test Pilots,they also have a couple of MIG-21,T-38,L-39,if the others go too slow, A-109,UH-1,EC-145,C-182T,Beech C90,they also can lease a C-130 among others,they have a contract with Flight Research Inc.As for the C-12,that is one of four used by the 418Th Flts at Edwards Afb,in this case 76-0161.

[CJ van der Ende]

Lekker hoor Stipjes!!!! Your pics are too bright for my screen!! You must have an a mazing new camera dude.

Best regards,

CJ.

www.cjvanderende.com

[stipjes]

N882TP is used at Mojave by the National Test Pilot School,the only Civilian Test pilot school in the US,,they either have them on hand or on lease for exactly what it says Pilot Training for Test Pilots

Mmmmm, Thanks Pilotman. I never saw it there. It would not enter my DB as civil NTPS but since it is ex mil it will . And for CJ, it must be my new lens
And now in (hopefully) the queens English.
On the 16th we woke up early, this day was ment to be the only transit day on our way to Fallon. I wanted to drive via Rainbow Canyon but TvB was using his sence and thought the 400 miles extra (from Phoenix to Fallon via Rainbow) was a bit too much. I think he was right.
The "based" Mi.24 was outside again like last year (http://forum.scramble.nl/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=112135) being prepared for the FWIT.

A S-2 visited the place, no idea wat he was doing here, maybe maintenance.

After a few hours we entered the Vegas Area. We skipped Nelson for the T-28's but decided to try out luck @ Henderson, there was nothing there but I think this Sabreliner is a nice catch for civies (not me).

I did not expect too much from Nellis. The RF 16-2 was finished and I thought all participating planes where gone. TvB really wanted to visit and I was happy we did. The locals flew, a C-17 arrived and 10 AK F-16's where present! My first ones . It seems that every morning and afternoon about 8 fly. We caught seven during out 1 hour stay (84-244,86-268,86-320,86-295,86-314 "354FW",86-335 "354OG",86-305 (anyone for the other serials).







8 Draken Skyhawks where also present (like during RF) and flew with the agressors.



The SN Marines Helos didn't leave eather yet.



After Nellis we went north for the 5 hour drive to Fallon. We got stopped just one time by Police.
Tomorrow day 8, Luke AFB .

[Jovel]

Those AK's are great. Nice report.

[stipjes]

Those AK's are great. Nice report.

Thanks, before we left for our transit to Fallon we visited Tucson and Luke. At Tucson we hoped to see the Iraqi but in the first 90 minutes only the other locals flew. Luckely we photographed the Iraqi already in 2015 so we left to Luke soon after.










Around 13.00 we arrived @ Luke. There was a lot of activity. The RAAF F-35 and C-32 where the highlights. Flying continued way after sunset. When we left 8 F-35's taxied out and about 12 F-16's where still airborne.

[EOR1]

I did not expect too much from Nellis. The RF 16-2 was finished and I thought all participating planes where gone. TvB really wanted to visit and I was happy we did. The locals flew, a C-17 arrived and 10 AK F-16's where present! My first ones . It seems that every morning and afternoon about 8 fly. We caught seven during out 1 hour stay (84-244,86-268,86-320,86-295,86-314 "354FW",86-335 "354OG",86-305 (anyone for the other serials).

3 of the others are 86-0263, 86-0286, and 86-0301. 84-1244 is a Nellis aggressor, not an AK.

[Oscar01]

Nice sunset pictures!!!

[Stefan]

Nice report again Pat!