Vance AFB

1Picknick

Just past the main gate, at the corner of W Fox Dr and S Cleveland St, the base has set up a nice picknick location complete with benches, shelter for the sun and bins. From this location you can take pictures of T-6As approaching runway 17L (200mm digital) as well as all types taxiing by at very close range (100mm digital). The T-1As use runway 17C and the T-38Cs use runway 17R. There is however a rather high fence and you need a 3-4 step ladder to take pictures over the fence. The USAF however is not fond of any objects, including yourself, near the fence! You further have an excellent view on the ramp and can read off a lot of T-38Cs.

217L

Park the car at the picknick location and walk a few hundred meters along the fence and you can take nice pictures of T-6As coming in to land while banking hard. You will need about 300-400mm (digital) for full frame shots.

317C & 17R

Going up and down this dirttrack might give you some good shots of the approaching T-1As and T-38Cs (approx 200-300mm digital).

4Numbers

When there is no heat haze you have an unobscured view of the ramp. The aircraft are side on and with a large binocular (60x) you can read off the tailnumbers.

5More numbers

Actually the same as spot 4 but a different angle. From both spots you can take good pictures of the T-38Cs taking of (approx 300-400mm digital) in the late afternoon.

635L & 35C

When these runways are in use you take pictures from this road. The T-1As might still be a bit high.

7T-6 ramp

From this dirttrack you have a good view on the T-6 ramp as well as the visitor ramp which is nearest to you. Pictures are also possible, especially T-6As making touch and goes from the 17L side can be graphed with about 300mm (digital).