NAF El Centro (KNJK) 2023

[AndyMarden]

Dirty log from Wednesday 25th January.
Detached were:
6 CT-155: 155203, 155204, 155207, 155212, 155213, 155217 (special)
T-45/B: 210, 214, 240, 257, 263, 266, 276, 271, 282, 293, 294, 295, 297, 298 - I was told two more were present. None flew
MH-60S HSC-4/NE: 167867/613, 168536/614, ______/617
EA-18G VAQ-129/NJ: 500, 503, 166938/530, 169210/560, 169135/566, 168934/574, 169141/575, 169140/576, 577
plus the Blue Angels

[tally]

Hi Andy,

At what time did you catch MH-60S .../617?
We also noted CH-53E 162501/YJ-501 from HMH-465. The majority of the day it was parked close to the "stored" T-45's and the Blue Angels. It also flew one circuit on a test flight around 11:30.

Still have to organize my log so will add if possible.

Tally.

[patrick dirksen]

These T-45s haven't moved around for some time! We did see the same ones in October (trip log will follow tomorrow), only one of the ones you list we didn't see was 240.

[AndyMarden]

Tally,
617 was outside in the afternoon on the other side of the hangar to the CH-53, which I forgot to mention. It was being heavily spannered.
B/240 was being actively worked on under a barn.
Andy

[tally]

T-45/B: 240, I was told two more were present. None flew

T-45C B-240 was one of two under a sun shed (most western parking spot). The eastern one was B-213. The second missing one was hangered but did go unidentified.

Tally.

[westy1967]

Hi

In September the same jets were there except 240/266/271/276/288. There were two we hadn't photographed however. Looks like they transited the jets for a weapons det over the Chocolate Mts ranges and left them behind. Cheaper to airlift the crews in in a C40 than fly 16 jets to Texas every time.

[AndyMarden]

They are grounded….

[SBGrad]

They are grounded….

Grounded since the incident last October, only partially returned to flight. The jets in El Centro are probably known to have problems, or they haven't been checked out yet.

https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-nav ... ll-it-end/

[747woody]

Flying on 31/1/23:

CT-155:
155203,
155204,
155207,
155212,
155213

EA-18G VAQ-129:
NJ503/169216,
NJ530/166938,
NJ556/166894 (confirmed at Luke a few days later) CAG,
NJ566/169135,
NJ567/168939,
NJ574/168934,
NJ576/169140,
NJ577/169206

F/A-18F VFA-122:
NJ101/165922,
NJ104/165794,
NJ124/165920
(101 and 124 working with the Growlers, 104 gas n go)

F/A-18E BA:
1,
2,
2,
3,
4,
4,
5/165535,
5/165667,
6/165539,

F/A-18F
7/165673,
7/165885

Visitors:

AH-1Z 169255/VT41, 169855/UV42
UH-1Y 168789/-

AH-1Z 169272/SM40, 168419/SM44, 169850/SM48
UH-1Y 168949/SM02

It’s rained recently and the tracks around the base are very muddy (I stayed on the tarmac road).

There look to be 14 T-45s stored on the south side, 13 Bs and one A.

Edit 1: corrected a couple of typos
Edit 2: BuNos added 13/2/23
Edit 3: second BA '2' added

[SBGrad]

Monday I saw one and yesterday I saw two NJ marked Growlers landing at NAS North Island. Vinson just left the pier this morning, too. Have to see if the whole det comes to Coronado for CQ.

[747woody]

Seven Growlers launched in the afternoon, two didn’t come back: 530 and 556 (the CAG )

The VFA-122 jets were carrying refuelling pods, so guess that’s what they were doing in the afternoon mission.

[SBGrad]

Seven Growlers launched in the afternoon, two didn’t come back: 530 and 556 (the CAG )

RE: 129-- I was watching the jets thru 10x50s from a quarter mile, and I didn't see the CAG colors. I could clearly make out NJ, too far for side numbers.

[747woody]

BuNos added to my original post above

[falcx]

Flying on 31/1/23:

There look to be 14 T-45s stored on the south side, 13 Bs and one A.

Edit 1: corrected a couple of typos
Edit 2: BuNos added 13/2/23

Chris,
Your T-45 with code A was the A-167. I could only read off 1656(09).

Kind Regards,
Charles

[747woody]

Flying on 31/1/23:

There look to be 14 T-45s stored on the south side, 13 Bs and one A.

Edit 1: corrected a couple of typos
Edit 2: BuNos added 13/2/23

Chris,
Your T-45 with code A was the A-167. I could only read off 1656(09).

Kind Regards,
Charles

Thanks Charles