So, after two days in Greece for a certain 'last chance' event, it was straight over to the States for a week, mainly for another 'last chance'.
Flying via JFK to Pensacola, most services go via Charlotte, where the option of a full day here was taken, being another worthwhile place on the bucket list.
Resident here, at the Charlotte ANGB, are the 156thAS/145thAW flying the C-130H fitted with the MAFFS (Modular Airborne FireFighting System). Introduced in 1985, this mission has its dangers, as seen two years ago when an aircraft was lost with all onboard while firefighting in Colorado. Unfortunately a visit with the unit wasn't possible, but a couple of shots managed included their gate guard C-130E 61-2367 (marked as '59-528/CG') and a pair of C-130H-3's parked on their ramp, 92-1453/8 and 93-1459/9...
On to the Carolinas Aviation Museum here, probably more well known for their 'civil' exhibits, including the 'We're going in the Hudson' US Airways A320, Eastern DC-7, Piedmont DC-3 and the last Delta DC-9 to fly, unfortunately Gulf 2 con number 1 is kept locked away in a hangar elsewhere on the airfield for now, due to space limitations at the museum site. Of the mil stuff here, outside on display is the very historic EC-130E 62-1857 'Republic 5', a survivor of Operation 'Eagle Claw', the failed mission in Iran to rescue the US diplomats held hostage following the Islamic revolution in April 1980...
Also outside, alongside anonymous F-101F 56-0243, is YF-102A Delta Dagger 53-1788, the second of ten 'Deuce' prototypes, marked as 'FC-788' of the 157thFIS/169thFIG SC ANG, previously on display at McEntire and Florence, SC...
Inside the museum, the lighting is a pain, similar to the NMUSAF. The dim 'dramatic' effect needing a tripod really. Shots included the Vietnam & Gulf War vet CH-46E 153389/EG-16, restored into green USMC HMM-263 'Gopher Broke' markings. Retired after a hard landing in Iraq in 2004, it was rebuilt using the rear fuselage of 153335 and painted into the Vietnam-era CH-46D scheme...
Also inside is AV-8B 161397, the second prototype built for USMC testing. This was also on the US civil register as NX1167D for Naval Air System Command (expired in 2011), has a 'McD/BAe V/STOL Technlogy Demonstrator' badge on the nose, and is marked as '5,530 Flight Hrs'...
Back outside, at the museums old hangar and ramp nearby, a sad looking Dakota languishes. C-47B N12907 is painted in USAAF markings with D-Day stripes as 43-49926/D8-Z. Flown by the RCAF in combat in Burma, it was later operated out of here by Saber Cargo Airlines, who's titles are still visible through the faded paint. Its flying days ended after a right gear collapse on landing here in 2000, being later donated to the museum in 2004, who 'hope to display it one day'...
Finally, a very nice bonus was brand new unmarked US Navy MH-60S 168571, which was caught departing. Reported to be operated by HSC-6 'Screaming Indians' at NAS North Island, the code NH-611 is allocated but not yet worn...
Next up... Pensacola
