KNZY/Naval Air Station North Island Jan 2021 MIL

[SBGrad]

12.01.21

VAQ-129 VIKINGS
Boeing EA-18G Growler
507/169207
513/168372
556/166894 CAG
555/166941
577/169206

Flight International RIPTIDE
Lear 35
N80PG
N52FN

US Army
Alenia C-27 Spartan
10-27027 'Desert Two Seven'

They called the tower and announced they had 'jumpers in the air, south of the (San Diego-Coronado Bay) bridge.' From 6 miles away I thought it was a C-130, the usual jump aircraft when the SEALs are jumping into the bay. The plane circled the jumpers until they were all down, and then landed at NASNI, when I saw that it was a C-27. I have no idea if the 13 jumpers were Army or SEALs, and I'm not sure if the drop zone was water or land.

[raameagle]

Nice list, thanks!
NJ556 should be 166894.
Regards
Mark

[SBGrad]

14 January

Federal Aviation Administration
Beech 300
N72/ 'Flight Check 72'

US Navy/VAQ-129 Vikings
EA-18G Growler
NJ-507
NJ-513
NJ-577
NJ-555
NJ-544

They asked for an expedited departure because they said they had to be finished at El Centro by 1300 (probably because the Blues needed the runway).

EDIT 15 Jan --Given that 129 were at El Centro with droptanks and no jamming pods, I think they were there for Fleet Carrier Landing Practice. This morning I was out and noticed that Vinson has all of her radar activated, which means she is going out. That leads me to believe that 129 will be here for a few more days for carrier quals at sea. Fingers crossed that VFA-147 sends a det down as well.

US Marine Corps
MV-22B Osprey
BUNO 168616-- squadron marking unreadable, and I missed who they were on the scanner

US Navy/VRM-30 Titans
CMV-22B Osprey
169440/Rudy 33

Philippine Air Force/220 Airlift Wing
Lockheed C-130H
87-9284/5125 on tail 'Reach 162'

[SBGrad]

15 Jan 2021

US Navy/ VAQ-129 Vikings
EA-18G Growler
NJ-544
NJ-513
NJ-576
NJ-507
NJ-577
NJ-555
Didn't see this next one, but when I was walking home Viking 556 came up on the tower freq asking for permission to take off

US Navy/VRM-30 Titans
CMB-22B Osprey
33/169440 'Rudy Three Three'

US Navy/VFA-125 Rough Raiders
Lockheed-Martin F-35C radio call sign 'Raider'
NJ-422
NJ-424
NJ-434
NJ-442
NJ-425
NJ-441

Flight International 'Riptide'
Lear 35
N52FN 'Riptide Five Two'

USAF/60th AMW 'Evac'
Boeing C-17A
06-6158 'Evac One Five Eight Heavy'

[SBGrad]

20 Jan 2021

The jets were using runway One One today-- I've never seen any aircraft land on it before.

US Navy/VRM-30 Titans
CMB-22B Osprey
33/169440 'Rudy Three Three'

US Navy/VFA-125 Rough Raiders
Lockheed-Martin F-35C radio call sign 'Raider'
NJ-422 declared emergency and came straight in
NJ-424
NJ-434 asked the tower for a low pass to confirm tail hook was NOT down, made low approach, circled around bridge and landed on 2nd pass
NJ-425
NJ-441

US Navy/VFA-14 Tophatters
Boeing F-18E Super Hornet
NG-200 CAG paint, made low approach and landed on 2nd pass
NG-214

[SBGrad]

21 Jan 2021

Dept of Homeland Security 'Troy'
Beech 350
N716A 'Troy Two One'
Nxxxx 'Troy Two Three' saw take off only, couldn't get reg

US Navy/Naval Aviation Depot 'Depot'
post maintenance check flight
no markings other than BUNO
F-18C/ BUNO 165193

VRM-30 Titans 'Rudy'
CMV-22B Osprey
33/BUNO 169440 -- not too pleased when the tower called them up and said they should go into 'helicopter mode' because their landing was being delayed for some F-35s coming back from the boat. Audible sighs were heard more than once.
35/ saw take off only, no BUNO recorded

VAQ-129 Vikings
EA-18G Growler
NJ 507

VFA-125 Raiders
F-35C
NJ 441
NJ 422
NJ 434
NJ 442
NJ 425
NJ 424

VRC-30 Providers 'Password'
Grumman C-2 Greyhound
34/BUNO 162158

Japanese Ground Self Defense Forces
MV-22B Osprey
JG-1704/91704 BUNO 169317


This last one was only seen from a distance (~5miles/8km) but I noticed a large helicopter flying between Naval Amphibious Base Coronado and the Silver Strand Training Complex. Every once in a while Island Tower would talk to them using the call sign 'Army 575.' I got one photo, like I said, from 5 miles away with an 80-200 lens, but there is no question that the bird was a MH-47, the refueling probe was clearly visible. I will be taking a short drive today to try and get some close ups.

Once all of these dets are over and Vinson comes back to the pier I will sort through all the photos and start posting some.

[The DJ]

20 Jan 2021

The jets were using runway One One today-- I've never seen any aircraft land on it before.

Might happen more often as runway 18/36 is closed. Construction is expected to be completed by spring.
Thanks for posting your logs R. Nice to see whats going on at NI.

[SBGrad]

22 Jan 2021

The past few months since 18/36 have been shut down have been great for anybody shooting at Dog Beach. I will be very sad when they reopen and all the cargo aircraft start landing on 36 again.

The USS Vinson is still out and has been very busy, flights all day and into the night for carrier qualifications-- last night they were still coming in at 2200. Today one of the squadrons from her airwing arrived from NAS Whidbey Island, after a gas-n-go at Fallon. 10/10 overcast today with clouds down to 2000', so all of the jets made straight in approaches, no overhead breaks.

VAQ-136 Gauntlets 'Ironclaw'
Boeing EA-18G
NE-500 CAG bird
NE-501 CO/XO bird
NE-503
NE-504
NE-502
NE-506

Most of the birds were carrying 3 ALQ-99 jamming pods and a pair of HARM missiles on the weapons stations.

In the middle of the Growler arrivals we also had

VRM-30 Titans
Bell-Boeing CMV-22B Osprey
BUNO 169442 'Rudy Three Five'

[AndyMarden]

21 Jan 2021
This last one was only seen from a distance (~5miles/8km) but I noticed a large helicopter flying between Naval Amphibious Base Coronado and the Silver Strand Training Complex. Every once in a while Island Tower would talk to them using the call sign 'Army 575.' I got one photo, like I said, from 5 miles away with an 80-200 lens, but there is no question that the bird was a MH-47, the refueling probe was clearly visible. I will be taking a short drive today to try and get some close ups.

On ADSB, MH-47G 05-03757 "R03757" can be seen flying in the local area on the 18/19/21/22 Jan. It had routed down from JBLM WA on 11/12 Jan. It left on 24 Jan, routing north back to JBLM WA, where it arrived on 25 Jan.

[SBGrad]

Yah, well, it turns out the 160th SOAR and their birds were The Ones That Got Away. On the 21st I saw the MH-47 from far away and had a decision to make: stop shooting the endless parade of F-35s and Growlers right in front of me, OR, walk 15 minutes home, grab bigger lenses, drive another 15 minutes then try to find a legal parking space where I could get the -47 in front of the lens at a usable range. I stayed with the sure thing.

Friday and Saturday I went looking for them and never saw them in the air. There were 3xMH-47 and 3xBlackhawks at KSDM/Brown Field. Distance and bad weather precluded seeing any markings whatsoever.

26 Jan at Naval Air Station North Island

US Navy/VR-61
Boeing C-40A Clipper
BUNO 169036 'Convoy 4442'

VAQ-136 Gauntlets 'Ironclaw'
EA-18G Growler
NE-500
NE-501
NE-506
NE-503
NE-502

Rampart Aviation 'Kahuna'
DHC-6 Twin Otter
N403ML
N344CS
multiple shuttle runs for both birds to San Clemente and back

VRM-30 Titans 'Rudy'
Bell-Boeing CMV-22B Osprey
31/BUNO 169438
still no squadron markings on any of the CODspreys, just the side number + BUNO

Homeland Security was in the air flying a Eurocopter with the callsign Troy One Five Niner-- never got close enough for numbers

[SBGrad]

26 Jan
============

VAQ-136 Gauntlets 'Ironclaw'
EA-18G Growler
NE 501
NE 504
NE 506
NE 500
NE 502

VRM-30 Titans 'Rudy'
CMV-22B Osprey
31/ BUNO 169438

27 Jan
=============
M/V Green Cove arrives from Japan to Carrier Pier, NASNI. Loads all the Japanese Ospreys and departs after less than 8 hours in port.


28 Jan
=============

VMFAT-101 Sharpshooters 'Shooter'
McDD F-18C
gas-n-go
SH 146
SH 162 -- tried to launch twice and ended up staying behind by himself
SH 171
SH 165

New York Air Guard 105th AW/Stewart tail flash
C-17A
89-1191 'Polo 55'

US Navy EA-18G
Growler
NL 541-- no squadron markings, normally NL is VAQ-138, but he was using call sign 'Viking 901'

VAQ-129 Vikings
EA-18G Growler
NJ 500
NJ 510

Feb 1
=============
US Navy/ Nav Air markings call sign 'Depot 11'
Grumman E-2D Hawkeye
BUNO 166501-- aerial refueling probe modification/sadly, no usable pix

Feb 3
=============
USNR VR-57 Conquistadóres 'Convoy'
Boeing C-40 Clipper
BUNO 165835 'Convoy 835'

USMC
Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion
BUNO 164860 'Tiger 01' (probably HMH-361)

Dept Homeland Security 'Troy'
Beech 300 Super King Air
N610A

VRC-30 Providers 'Password'
Grumman C-2 Greyhound
34/BUNO 162158

Feb 4
============
VAW-117 Wallbangers
Grumman E-2D Hawkeye
NG 601/ BUNO 169060