LOG SW USA trip day 2 (15-10-2022)

[patrick dirksen]

Hi all,

The first “real” day of the trip, starting immediately with the first air show. We arrived here very early and managed to get access before the gates opened, which certainly helped with photographing the static. The weather was rather crappy though, but as we would have faced the sun, had it shone, it wasn’t too bad after all.

Central Coast Airfest, Santa Maria

static
08-5715 C-130J 317 AW, c/n 5715
89-2120/LF F-16CM 310 FS
90-0778/LF F-16D (310 FS) spec c/s, “Operation Southern Watch – MiG killer”
13-5071/LF F-35A 62 FS
95-3007/EN T-6A 459 FTS, spec c/s, “Spirit over Tacoma”, c/n PT11
07-3897/97-D T-6A 89 FTS, spec heritage c/s, “Devil Cat”, c/n PT456
65-10429/BB T-38A 1 RS, “9 RW”
162163/22 C-2A VRC-30
(161365)/00 F/A-18A pr, nose, USN FWS c/s
165802/NJ-100 F/A-18F VFA-122, commander c/s
160478/NJ-0478 T-34C VFA-122, c/n GL-35
160531/NJ-0531 T-34C VFA-122, c/n GL-88
49-3158/LTA-158 T-6G N158JZ, no mks, “Miss Humboldt Hunny”
49-3376 T-6G N49NA, no kms (also ex Sp AF E.16-84)
(40-1717)/89 PT-13B N52740, no mks
“34-0722” Aeronca 7FC N8525E, USCG c/s, civil only
N2869D P-51D (ex 44-84390)
N832CS EC.135P2+ Calstar, c/n 1050
N3010W Pa.28-181

flightline in front of crowd
05-5139 C-17A 327 AS
18-5418/LF F-35A 62 FS
18-5452/HL F-35A 34 FS
18-5453/HL F-35A 4 FS
165926/NJ-122 F/A-18F VFA-122
165928/NJ-125 F/A-18F VFA-122
169925/CE-07 F-35B VMFA-225
169926/CE-08 F-35B VMFA225
169632/NE-400 F-35C VFA-147
(44-30423) B-25J N3675G, no mks, “Photo Fanny”
(44-23314)/162 P-38J N138AM, 432 FS c/s, “Skido - Louise”
44-26981/981 P-38L NL7723C, “Honey Bunny”, 7985 on nose
42-29150/K4-S P-47D NX47DM, 511 FS mks, “Dottie Mae”
“44-15660/C5-A” P-51D NL5420V, 364 FS mks, (real id 44-74202), “Swamp Fox”
“44-72861/607” P-51D N5441V, 462 FS mks, (real id 45-11582), “Dolly – Spam Can”
“44-13334/G4-U” P-51D NL7715C, 365 FS mks, (real id 44-84961, comp. with 44-73053), “Wee Willy II”
“49-3319/TA-319” SNJ-6 N349JB, real id USN 112247 (read on plate)
(42-4071) AT-6C N7055H, “Freetop Flyer” (also ex Mex AF EAN-744)
(17799)/K F4U-1A VF-32 N83782, marked as F4U-4B
(121707)/V-56 F8F-2 NL3025, unknown mks, c/n 739A, type G-58A
28536/89 SBD-5 NX670AM, no mks (also ex NZ5062)
(91264)/46 TBM-3 N7835C, unknown mks
N54822 BT-13B (ex 42-90054)
NC18906 Lockheed 12A(ex RAF LA621 and UC-40D 42-38349)
- (MiG-17F) Lim-5R NX117BR, no mks, USSR c/s (real id Pol AF 1529)
NC35547 J-3C-65
C-GZGT Rutan Long-Ez

far side
“51-2834/FU-834” F-86F (NX186AM), 335 FIS mks, (real id 52-5012 and Arg AF C-127)
1051 MiG-15bis NX87CN, no mks, N.Kor AF c/s (real id China AF 83277)
N131CG EC-130Q (ex BuNo 161495)
N32KP JetWaco
N133EH Bo.105CBS-4 Red Bull
N423KC Edge 540 Red Bull

For me this show was a mere bonus, and I didn’t expect too much of it, but it turned out to be a great day. Photo opportunities were great, there was a very good selection of both operational stuff and warbirds, and the atmosphere was very relaxed. The civil stuff is included for completeness sake. If somebody can help me with the unit markings or c/s the P-38 and the TBM-3 have, I would be much obliged. See here for their colours:
P-38 NL7723C: https://tvrphoto.files.wordpress.com/20 ... 8_6402.jpg
TBM-3 N7835C: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File ... 026%29.jpg

Santa Maria Museum of Flight

147825/012 A-4L pr, VA-163 mks
153868/NF-203 F-4S pr, VF-151 kms
“60459” L-5 pr, N63393, as OY-1, real id 42-98218 (based on c/n 459) or 42-99668 (based on registered c/n 1909)??
“53 rd” L-29 pr (N443KT, ex Bul AF 53)

The museum was closed by the time we left the show and got here, but these four are outside. The Stinson is a problem, any help with the id would be welcome.
When done here we had to drive a while so we would be close to Edwards for our airshow visit there tomorrow, but we made a few quick stops.

In garden, Antilope

“56-9330/FT-330” T-33A pr (ex KLu M-49)

As this one was almost on route and has a Dutch history, we simply had to stop here. It is in a front garden and although it was dark by now it was easily seen.

The Hangar, Lancaster

(N842NA) F/A-18A pr, NASA c/s (ex 161214)

This one is preserved on a pole in front of a stadium with a bar with the appropriate name The Hangar.

Joe Davis Heritage Airpark, Palmdale Plant 42

57-0038 B-52F pr, no mks
44-78019 C-46D pr (N32229), ATC mks
65-0696 F-4D pr (N402AV), no mks
84-1228 F-16C pr, desert c/s, “The Salty Dog”
54-2299 F-100D pr, Thunderbirds c/s
58-0324 F-101F pr, no mks
57-0915 F-104C pr, no mks
62-4416/WW F-105G pr, 35 TFW mks
63-8182/LB T-38A pr, 64 FTW mks
145067 YA-4C pr, no mks
154449/XE-449 A-7B pr, VX-5 mks
164350/103 F-14D pr, VF-31 mks
N41FS Sabre 5 pr (ex RCAF 23231) => EDIT: typo, this is N91FS
N814NA C-140 pr, NASA c/s
N807LM X-55A pr, civil prototype

Because we arrived here rather late and had to leave very early again next morning, we only had the opportunity to look at this museum from outside the fence and in the dark. That certainly doesn’t do it justice as this is a great collection.
I never noted T-33 51-4533, but I think this is still present, can somebody confirm or deny this? => EDIT: this has been confirmed as still present.
Gone for sure is F-5E 741529/06, I later learned this is inside a shed under restoration.

And “next door” at the gate of Palmdale Plant 42 are the following three beauties:
60-6924 A-12 pr, no mks
61-7973 SR-71A pr, no mks
56-6721 U-2D pr, no mks

Very satisfied with this first full day we finally arrived in our hotel for some well deserved sleep. Tomorrow shold be the highlight of the trip with the open day at Edwards.

As always, additions, corrections and comments are very welcome.

That’s all folks!

Patrick Dirksen
Tristar Aviation

[The DJ]

Patrick, we visited the day after and there was also an F-5N on static, 761585/AF15.
Did you forget to log it, or was it not there on Saturday?

Also on the far side was CH-47D N948CH (90-00202), but maybe not visible from the static?

[patrick dirksen]

Hi Dj,

No, no F-5 on the static on Saturday. Unfortunately.
Regarding the Chinook, we didn't go to the other side, nad I really can't remember I saw a Chinook from the static side. But I'll check my photographs. Do you remember where it was parked?

[Betman]

Hi Dj,

No, no F-5 on the static on Saturday. Unfortunately.
Regarding the Chinook, we didn't go to the other side, nad I really can't remember I saw a Chinook from the static side. But I'll check my photographs. Do you remember where it was parked?

I can confirm the Chinook. It was parked closed to the Coulson C-130

[The DJ]

Do you remember where it was parked?

Was sitting at one of these spots 34.890981° -120.458923°.

[patrick dirksen]

I checked all my pictures, but can't find the Chinook. I think it was hidden behind the plastic greenhouses when looking from the static. I DID see a white with green Bell 47/TH-13 on the far side though. Anybody for that one?

[roger4]

The Chinook was visible from the static on Sunday, between the DC10 tanker and the Coulson C-130.

Also on the far side was Twin Bonanza N207AF in the colours of the Swiss Air Force, although this particular airframe was not one of their three
A-711, '12 or '13!

[The DJ]

Can't remember seeing a B47/TH13 on the far side.
We did see the civil 'Swiss AF' Twin Bonanza though.

[patrick dirksen]

I found out that English Air is based at Santa Maria, who operate 5 Bell 47s. All of these are civil only examples, their only ex-mil OH-13 (N12220/58-1503) was sold a few years ago. So no bother