NAS North Island (KNZY/NZY) 2022

[Nikonrobert]

Can you recheck NA-506 please? 169209 maybe? - 169209 is Correct
Also a typo, NG-501 is 168254. Also correct

[CVW19752015]

Thanks for the regular updates, SBGrad...one question - can you confirm VRM-30's bird coded as "DC-20". All Pacific Fleet (Navy and USMC) units should wear codes in the NA-ZZ range, plus 'DC' belongs to VMFA-122.

Thanks

Mike

[The DJ]

DC20/169445 --> https://flic.kr/p/2nACfAo
SB50/169447 --> https://flic.kr/p/2o3Db5G

33/169440 might have the DC modex too, I noted last month it wears the same scheme as '20'.

[SBGrad]

DC20/169445 --> https://flic.kr/p/2nACfAo
SB50/169447 --> https://flic.kr/p/2o3Db5G

33/169440 might have the DC modex too, I noted last month it wears the same scheme as '20'.

Rudy 33 does NOT have a 2 letter code on her tail, I just caught her this afternoon. In fact, it doesn't even show 'VRM-30' on her fuselage.

Thanks for the regular updates, SBGrad...one question - can you confirm VRM-30's bird coded as "DC-20". All Pacific Fleet (Navy and USMC) units should wear codes in the NA-ZZ range, plus 'DC' belongs to VMFA-122.

Believe me, I would LOVE to talk with some people from the 2 CODsprey squadrons. Color tails on just a few birds, even though every C-2 has a color tail?

...and what's up with the DC & SB codes? #1 COD aircraft rarely have 2 letter ID codes. I do have a photo or 2 of some Greyhounds with an airwing ID, although the aircraft ID matches the carrier airwing ID. In most cases, the C-2s don't have air wing IDs, and certainly none carry a squadron 2 letter ID. #2, as noted DC and SB do not match the rest of the framework for Pacific coast naval aviation!

I have no clue what's going on. I was really hoping to see one or more CMV-22s at the Miramar air show so I could ask what is happening, but no such luck.

If the Scramble overlords have any connections with North Island PAOs, I hereby volunteer to go talk to them.

[The DJ]

DC20/169445 --> https://flic.kr/p/2nACfAo
SB50/169447 --> https://flic.kr/p/2o3Db5G

33/169440 might have the DC modex too, I noted last month it wears the same scheme as '20'.

Rudy 33 does NOT have a 2 letter code on her tail, I just caught her this afternoon. In fact, it doesn't even show 'VRM-30' on her fuselage.

Ah, thanks. I wasn't sure as i viewed from Point Loma and couldn't even read the small Buno, let alone see a letter code.

[SBGrad]

Thanks for the log.
Can you recheck NA-506 please? 169209 maybe?
Also a typo, NG-501 is 168254.

My bad for trying to extract BUNOs while chimping off the back of the camera. All the numbers get rechecked when the photos go thru post processing. When the current flock of jets go home, I'll dump the memory cards and get to work.

Meanwhile, the jets have NOT gone home, so on with the show...


USS Lincoln...at sea!
USS Nimitz...at sea! (left Saturday)
USS Vinson...at sea! (left Sunday)
USS Tripoli...at sea! (left Monday, 3 Ospreys on deck)


5 Dec

With one noted exception, all aircraft photographed in the air, on final for 29. Time on beach: ~1300-1530

US Navy VAQ-129 Vikings
Boeing EA-18G Growler
NJ 520
NJ 577
NJ 504

US Navy VRM-30 Titans 'Rudy'
Bell-Boeing CMV-22B Osprey
nn/9454 //Rudy 24 on scanner, no MODEX or Sq ID painted on bird
71/9456 //Modex but no sq ID on fuselage, Rudy 71 on scanner
33/9440 //color tail, Modex but no sq ID on fuselage, 71 and 33 came in together for a very cool section landing

Boeing E-6B Mercury seen departing 18, no ID other than 'E6 Heavy' from Island Tower

US Navy VRC-30 Providers 'Password'
Grumman C-2A Greyhound
20 //broke on the numbers over 36, landed on 29
22

Rampart Aviation 'Kahuna'
DHC-6 Twin Otter
N344CS //Kahuna 44
N368SS //Kahuna 68

US Navy VRM-50 Sun Hawks 'Scorch'
Bell Boeing CMV-22B Osprey
54/9455 //Modex on nose and tail, Sq ID on fuselage

Indian Navy
Sikorsky MH-60R
IN 752 //missed the call sign they were using

CA air Natl Guard 130 RQS
Lockheed HC-130J Combat King II
CA/14-5864

[The DJ]

So far as I am aware, I've seen no sightings of 169441 and 169450 at North Island during October.
Mike

169450 was hiding inside... --> https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7477069/ ... fety-award

[SBGrad]

7 Dec

USS Vinson-- returned to NASNI ~100pm
USS Portland LPD 27-- left at sunset for Artemis recovery mission (splashdown Sunday off San Diego)

All aircraft photographed on final for 29

USN VAQ-129 Vikings
Boeing EA-18G Growler
NJ 520
NJ 512 //390 ECS USAF under wild boar on tail
NJ 560
NJ 576

USN VRC-30 Providers 'Password'
Grumman C-2A Greyhound
22 //Password 22

Rampart Aviation 'Kahuna'
DHC-6 Twin Otter
N304ML
N368SS
N344CS

Bell-Boeing CMV-22B Osprey
nn/9457 //Osprey 10 on scanner, probably a delivery flight

USNR VR-53 Capital Express
Lockheed KC-130T Hercules
AX/BUNO 165315 //Convoy 3058

[SBGrad]

13-14 Dec

As per usual, all aircraft photo'd coming in on Runway 29 except as noted at bottom

US Navy Fleet Readiness Center SW
Grumman E-2D Advanced Hawkeye
Buno 168594//Depot 11 air refueling probe installed-- not sure if FRC or factory did that

McDD F-18D legacy Hornet
Buno 164040

US Navy VRM-30 Titans 'Rudy'
Bell Boeing CMV-22B Osprey
71/Buno 169456 //Rudy 71
70/Buno 169450 //Rudy 70
nn/Buno 169454 //Rudy 24 on scanner

US Navy VRM-50 Sun Hawks 'Scorch'
Bell Boeing CMV-22B Osprey
53/ Buno 169451 //Scorch 53

US Navy VRC-30 Providers 'Password'
Grumman C-2A Greyhound
22
20

US Navy VFA-125 Rough Raiders 'Raider'
Lockheed Martin F-35C
NJ 431 /Buno 169162

US Navy Reserve VR-62 Nomads
Lockheed KC-130T Super Hercules
JW 5378 /Buno 165378

US Air Force 79 RQS
Lockheed HC-130J Combat King II
DM 5769 /12-5769 //King 98

+ the usual assortment of Kahuna Twin Otters & countless H-60s too dirty/faded to read ##s

The Ones That Got Away-- take offs from Runway 18, nn observed
~6xF-18 //not sure of model; whether it's a legacy, Super or Growler, Island Tower calls them all 'hornets'
2xT-38 //looking at tracking sites when I got home, they were NASA T-38s (N904NA & N924NA), obviously in town for return of USS Portland with Orion spacecraft

[The DJ]

USS Tripoli...at sea! (left Monday, 3 Ospreys on deck)

Thanks to DVIDS these were ET03/168224, ET08/168223 & ET10/168221. Normally based in Japan, so perhaps all ex-depot?

[SBGrad]

USS Tripoli...at sea! (left Monday, 3 Ospreys on deck)

Thanks to DVIDS these were ET03/168224, ET08/168223 & ET10/168221. Normally based in Japan, so perhaps all ex-depot?

Not sure. The Tripoli did 2 unusual things:

1 ) came back from deployment with birds on the roof -- normally they all fly away before the ship gets in the channel, and

2) they actually went back out barely a week after they returned from deployment, usually they get at least a couple weeks tied up after 6 months at sea. I guess the on going Steel Knight exercise took precedence over their time off.

In any event, it was a short trip for LHA7, she came back on the 9th with only 1 of the 3 Ospreys.

[The DJ]

USS Tripoli...at sea! (left Monday, 3 Ospreys on deck)

Thanks to DVIDS these were ET03/168224, ET08/168223 & ET10/168221. Normally based in Japan, so perhaps all ex-depot?

Not sure. The Tripoli did 2 unusual things:

1 ) came back from deployment with birds on the roof -- normally they all fly away before the ship gets in the channel, and

2) they actually went back out barely a week after they returned from deployment, usually they get at least a couple weeks tied up after 6 months at sea. I guess the on going Steel Knight exercise took precedence over their time off.

In any event, it was a short trip for LHA7, she came back on the 9th with only 1 of the 3 Ospreys.

ET03 & ET10 were seen in TX on the 9th and headed east. Possibly going to FRC or transfer to another unit, so not back to JP.