KNZY/NAS North Island April 21/MIL

[SBGrad]

Saw these from the front porch, so 100% sure of squadron and paint, BUNOs may have changed since last time I saw them up close

VX-9 Vampires
EA-18G Growler with large gray vampire bat on gray tail --probably XE 555/BUNO 168771
F-18F Super Hornet CONA paint probably XE250/BUNO 166673

[The DJ]

Both Buno's still the same. Confirmed on ground at NI.

[SBGrad]

Both Lincoln and Vinson left the pier and went out yesterday within a few hours of each other, so I am expecting some number of aircraft to show up for carrier quals.

LHA-7 USS Tripoli also went out yesterday with an empty flight deck, so more fingers crossed for her, as well. Last week Essex was out and had F-35s and Harriers flying off her at the same time, but I missed the Harriers flying in to NASNI (https://www.dvidshub.net/image/6575079/ ... -uss-essex).

6 April edit...and now today, Essex went out, so there are 4 flight decks off the coast right now. So far, there has been no aerial surge to match the naval surge.

[blazesixate]

CVN 70 will be in port: 7Apr
she was out on checks

[SBGrad]

21 April
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NJ VAQ-129 Vikings
Boeing EA-18G Growler
577
544
513

Convoy 4700 Boeing C-40B Clipper, didn't catch any part of serials

VRC-30 Providers 'Password'
Grumman C-2 Greyhound
25/BUNO 162145

22 April
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USAF 1 Special Operations Squadron
Lockheed MC-130J
12-5763

NJ VAQ-129 Vikings
Boeing EA-18G Growler
513
522 (brakes overheated, sat on runway for a while)
577

VRM-30 Titans 'Rudy'
Bell-Boeing CMV-22B Osprey
33/169440

unknown squadron
Bell Boeing MV-22 Osprey
side number 72-- these guys made an unusual approach and came in directly over my head after the shortest downwind leg ever seen at North Island. All I caught was the side number. A different Osprey, from HX-21, side number 70, was flying off of USS Mercy this week, this may have been a playmate.

23 April
--------------------
AD VFA-106 Gladiators 'Empire'
1xx Boeing F-18E Super Hornet
2xx Boeing F-18F Super Hornet
245
137
113
211

VRM-30 Titans 'Rudy'
Bell Boeing CMV-22B Osprey
35/BUNO 169442

NL unknown VAQ
Boeing EA-18G Growler
551
554
552/168262
No squadron markings on fuselage or tail. ONE drop tank had the squadron insignia of Black Ravens.

Flight International 'Riptide'
Lear 36
N52FN //carrying MTR-101 towed target and cable reel system

April 24
-----------------
Sadly, today being a Saturday, the Navy decided to launch and recover all aircraft on 18/36, thus avoiding noise complaints from my neighbors, AND avoiding my camera. So, from 1/2 mile away I watched a couple Growlers, a KC-135, C-40, and 3 Lears, callsign Riptide, fly from the newly resurfaced 18/36.

The ONE aircraft that was allowed to land on Runway 29 was Viking 522, who declared a potential problem with their brakes BEFORE attempting to land. The base rolled the fire trucks; 522 lowered its hook and landed using the short field arresting gear, and promptly asked for a tow back to the T-Line.