Luke AFB (KLUF) 2023 MIL

[CJ]

Luke should see some movements on Sunday Feb 12 as (at least) 4 aircraft will operate from here in order to overfly the Super Bowl stadium at Glendale. Aircraft mentioned:
2 x VFA122 F/A-18F
1 x VFA147 F-35C
1 x VAQ129 EA-18G
Source: https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-mil ... -the-navy/

[747woody]

Further to the above, the following just turned up:

EXPERT 41:

F/A-18F 166849/NJ131 VFA-122
F-35C 169802/NE403 VFA-97
F-35C 169302/NE405 VFA-147

EXPERT 51:

F/A-18F 166666/NJ166 VFA-122
F/A-18F 166621/NJ136 VFA-122

(SHornet BuNos read off the back of the camera, so subject to confirmation)

Edit: F-35C squadrons amended.

[raameagle]

NJ166 is 166666 Chris. The rest are correct.
Regards
Mark

EXPERT 41:

F/A-18F 166849/NJ131 VFA-122
F-35C 169802/NE 403 VFA-147
F-35C 169302/NE405 VFA-147

EXPERT 51:

F/A-18F 165666/NJ166 VFA-122
F/A-18F 166621/NJ136 VFA-122

just turned up.

(SHornet BuNos read off the back of the camera, so subject to confirmation)

[747woody]

NJ166 is 166666 Chris. The rest are correct.

Amended, thanks Mark

[747woody]

Further to the above,

VIKING 11 just turned up as well.

EA-18G 166894/NJ556 VAQ-129 CAG (ish!)
EA-18G 166895/NJ525 VAQ-129 CAG

[747woody]

CONGO 65 UV-18B 77-0465/AF98 in an all over green scheme is the next one in.

Departed around 1440.

[SBGrad]

Luke AFB social media has pix of a VFA-97 Warhawks F-35C (NE 403) as one of the flyover birds. All the press releases list VFA-147 as the supplier of the F-35C. I just hope we get a close up on Sunday so we can see who actually flies.

https://twitter.com/LukeAFB/status/1623112080718204928

[747woody]

Another visitor this afternoon was C-40A 165832.

[747woody]

Luke AFB social media has pix of a VFA-97 Warhawks F-35C (NE 403) as one of the flyover birds. All the press releases list VFA-147 as the supplier of the F-35C. I just hope we get a close up on Sunday so we can see who actually flies.

https://twitter.com/LukeAFB/status/1623112080718204928

Just checked my photos again, and amended my original post.

NE403 carries VFA-97 markings, NE405 carries VFA-147 markings!

[marcosommacal]

Hi,

Can we expect any training sortie from the navy tomorrow?

Many thanks
Marco

[CVW19752015]

Re the VFA-97/147 discussion, promo shots of the crews show one of the pilots with a VFA-97 patch so it's not just a case of VFA-147 borrowing a jet from them. Maybe both will fly to make it fair!

Cheers

Mike
www.carrierairwings.com

[CVW19752015]

Re the VFA-97/147 discussion, promo shots of the crews show one of the pilots with a VFA-97 patch so it's not just a case of VFA-147 borrowing a jet from them. Maybe both will fly to make it fair!

Cheers

Mike
www.carrierairwings.com

...and just looking at the full aircrew line-up, the two VFA-147 pilots present are both men, therefore won't be flying in the flypast if the Navy are sticking with their 'all women' plan

Cheers

Mike
www.carrierairwings.com

[747woody]

When they arrived EXPERT41,42 and VIKING12 were flown by female pilots (or at least the voices on the radio were female).

[SBGrad]

I am SURE they will stick to the 'all women' plan. Now, whether the spare aircraft will also be crewed with women is another thing. The -147 crew has to be bummed. They got all the early press, now they are the back-ups.

Bonus points to VAQ-129 for bringing a color bird. Hhmmm, have to see if some/any/all of the birds come back through NASNI on the way home... -129 stopped on the way to AZ, guess -122 and the F-35s flew direct from Lemoore.

[CVW19752015]

When they arrived EXPERT41,42 and VIKING12 were flown by female pilots (or at least the voices on the radio were female).

Backseaters of F/A-18Fs and EA-18Gs tend to work the radios in frontline squadrons, not sure about FRS procedure but might be the same

Cheers

Mike