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| Seymour-Johnson Wings Over Wayne Airshow | |||
| Date: 16 May 2015 | |||
| Static: | |||
| 78-0649/FT | A-10C | 75th FS | |
| 85-0059/DY | B-1B | 28th BS | |
| 60-0009/MT | B-52H | 69th BS | “69 BS” |
| 85-0006 | C-5B | 337th AS AFRC | |
| 07-7184 | C-17A | 437th AW | |
| 60-0349 | KC-135R | 77th ARS AFRC | |
| 77-0355/OK | E-3B | 964th ACCS | |
| 88-1684/SJ | F-15E | 333rd FS | “333 FS” |
| 87-0200/SJ | F-15E | 334th FS | “4 FW” |
| 89-0500/SJ | F-15E | 334th FS | “334 FS” |
| 89-0483/SJ | F-15E | 335th FS | |
| 89-0488/SJ | F-15E | 336th FS | “336 FS” |
| 09-4179/FF | F-22A | 94th FS | |
| 11-5033/EG | F-35A | 58th FS | “33 FW” |
| 92-0334/AP | T-1A | 451st FTS | “479 FTG” |
| 05-3775/EN | T-6A | 89th FTS | “80 FTW” |
| 62-3715/TY | T-38A | 2nd FTS | |
| 66-4343/EN | T-38C | 469th FTS | “469 FTS” |
| 164965/WK-05 | F/A-18D | VMFA(AW)224 | |
| 165805/104 | F/A-18F | NSAWC | |
| N223PG | L-39C | ex Russia | |
| NL5420V “44-15660” | P-51D | ex USAAF 44-74202 | |
| N3JC | SNJ-5C | ex USN 51875 | |
| N65491 | T-28B | ex USN 138245 | |
| N7360C | CeU206G | Civil Air Patrol | |
| Reserved Aircraft static: | |||
| 53-1370/FU-370 | F-86H | pres ex USAF | |
| 66-15242 | QUH-1M | pres ex US Army | |
| 64-13767 | UH-1H | pres ex US Army | |
| 65-12958 | OH-6A | pres ex US Army | |
| The static was placed on the Air Force Reserve Command KC-135 ramp towards the middle of the runway. The three preserved Army helicopters are all owned by the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association at Hillsborough (NC). As usual there were no fences around the aircraft, which makes it less interesting for those with their focus on taking pictures. It did however provide a good opportunity to check construction numbers for some of the aircraft. Exceptions were the JSF, Raptor and P-51 Mustang which were placed behind a fence, and which were protected by heavily armed guards. | |||
| West ramp (next to static): | |||
| 76-0126/”SJ” | F-15B | ia as F-15E in 4th FW mks | |
| 76-0133/”SJ” | F-15B | ia as F-15E in 4th FW mks | |
| These two Eagles were painted in green Strike Eagle colours, complete with 4th FW tailcode and unit markings. Both were easily visible from the static area. | |||
| Base HQ: | |||
| “81-0987/FT“ | A-10A | pres ex78-0725 23rd WG | |
| 64-0770/“SJ“ | F-4C | pres 4th TFW mks | |
| 77-0161/“SJ“ | F-15B | pres as F-15E 4th FW mks | |
| 53-1573 | F-100A | pres | |
| 61-0056/“SJ“ | F-105D | pres in 4th TFW mks | |
| These aircraft are located in the area behind the main gate and not visible from outside. Closer to the gate a Spitfire is preserved in memory of the heritage of the 4th Wing during the Second World War. The 4th Fighter Group took over responsibility of the so called Eagle squadrons within the Royal Air Force (71sq, 121sq and 133sq) on 29 September 1942. The pilots of these squadrons were American volunteers prior to the United States entering the conflict, and amongst others participated in the Battle of Britain. Sadly this Spitfire is not the real deal but a plastic mock-up. | |||
| Flightline next to static: | |||
| 92-3898/1 | F-16CM | ADS Thunderbirds | |
| 91-0466/4 | F-16DM | ADS Thunderbirds | |
| Plus four additional F-16CMs, which remained unidentified (codes 2, 3, 5 and 6). The tail numbers of the two listed aircraft were read from the ejection seats. | |||
| Flying: | |||
| 78-0613/FT, 79-0192/FT | A-10C | 75th FS | |
| 91-9143 | C-130H | 328th AS AFRC | |
| 57-1456 | KC-135R | 77th ARS AFRC | |
| 62-3615/TY | T-38A | 2nd FTS | |
| N56478 “BT-78” | BT-13A | ex USAAF 41-22926 | |
| N4447 “AI-111” | Harvard IV | ex RCAF 20450 | |
| NX15799 “AI-113” | Harvard IV | ex RCAF 20326 | |
| N11171 “AI-115” | AT-6B | ex USAAF 41-17422 | |
| N3725G “AII-356” | AT-6D | ex USAAF 42-84905 | |
| N9280C “AI-118” | SNJ-5 | ex USN 112178 | |
| N3242G “AI-313” | SNJ-5 | ex USN 43766 | |
| NL51HYP-51D | NL51HY | ex USAAF 45-11439 | |
| N9109R | T-7 | ex USAAF 43-33403 | |
| F-15E of 336th FS, coded SJ: | |||
| 87-0177, 87-0181, 87-0195, 88-1669, 88-1673, 88-1687, 89-0474, 89-0490 | |||
| All aircraft listed here flew from the 4th FW ramp on the east side of the base. Additional aircraft could be seen on this ramp, but these are listed further on in this report. The Tora Tora demonstration team arrived on Saturday 16 May 2015 in the afternoon and immediately commenced their display. Afterwards they landed and were parked on the 4th FW ramp as well. During the morning four Strike Eagles took to the sky for the opening of the show, while another four participated in the afternoon air power display. Other participants in this display were two A-10C Thunderbolts, one C-130H Hercules and one T-38A Talon. Of course a lot of pyrotechnics were used in the air power display and the low flying Strike Eagles released loads of flares. These flares did set fire to the grass along the runway so at the end of the display all aircraft had to circle the airfield for half an hour before the fire services managed to put out the fires… | |||
| 4th FW ramp (east side): | |||
| 74-0649/SJ | F-4E | pres marked “4th FW“ | |
| 79-0139/FT, 80-0140/FT | A-10C | 75th FS | |
| 63-8154/TY | T-38A | 2nd FTS | |
| F-15E of 333rd FS, coded SJ: | |||
| 86-0186, 87-0185, 87-0188, 87-0190, 87-0191, 89-0472, 89-0478, 89-0485, 90-0228, 90-0229 | |||
| F-15E of 334th FS, coded SJ: | |||
| 87-0178, 87-0193, 87-0205, 88-1686, 88-1691, 88-1704, 89-0481, 89-0499 | |||
| F-15E of 335th FS, coded SJ | |||
| 86-0189, 87-0174, 87-0175, 87-0197, 87-0199, 88-1683, 89-0476, 89-0486, 89-0493 | |||
| F-15E of 336th FS, coded SJ | |||
| 87-0206, 88-1682, 88-1688, 89-0489, 89-0505 plus the eight aircraft listed under the header “flying“. | |||
| Only part of this ramp was visible from the public area. In order to see all aircraft one had to take a peak from the outside. For the record, only two Strike Eagles could be identified from the public area, being 89-0478/SJ and 88-1691/SJ. The access roads outside the base were all closed to the public. The only way to view the ramp was by arriving very early in the morning (6 am), when no police or other security was in place yet outside the base. The roads at that time were already blocked for traffic. But on foot the perimeter fence could still be reached. Due to the sun sheds, about fourteen additional F-15E Strike Eagles remained unidentified. | |||
| East ramp: | |||
| KC-135R 77th ARS AFRC: | |||
| 58-0038, 60-0349, 61-0313, 62-3528, 63-8014 | |||
| In the far east corner of the airfield, behind the 4th FW ramp seen from the static area, a number of KC-135R Stratotankers were parked in dispersals. Also the single KC-135R participating in the flying display was parked here. | |||
| All in all not a bad air show for the number crunchers, that is if you were on time and managed to make your way to the fence to read off the aircraft on the Strike Eagle ramp. As often there were a few late cancellations, including an US Army Chinook and two US Army Apaches. The air show was performed against the light, which again will scare off those looking to take pictures only. It must however also be said that the air power demonstration was quite dynamic compared to other air shows in the United States and well worth the wait until it commenced mid-afternoon. Parking had to take place on the base, in the housing area. From there busses were available for the transit to the static area. This could have been arranged a bit more efficient. The lost time however was made up by a very efficient secutiry check inside one of the hangers which one had to pass through between the bus and the static. Sufficient metal detector gates and staff was available. On top of that the staff seemed to be in a very good mood and things progressed fast and in a very friendly atmosphere. For those wondering where the name of the air show comes from, Seymour Johnson AFB is located in Wayne County, North Carolina. | |||
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