Hemet-Ryan California CalFire Air Attack Base 14.4.25

[XWP29]

Going back to April Rob organised a visit to CalFire at Hemet-Ryan Air Attack Base in California. The station personnel made us feel very welcome, and provided an informative tour with some great photo opportunities, many thanks to them for their time and hospitality. The crews both in the air and on the ground are often in harms way and they have our greatest respect for the job they do.

As we waited for the allotted time we had coffee in Bambi's hangar 1 Cafe, which is well worth a visit. We had two shocks from an earthquake while in the cafe, felt almost like the vibration of an F-15 taking off on full burners.

Hemet Ryan Airport by XWP29, on Flickr

1. IMGL3312 by XWP29, on Flickr

2. North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco 310 construction number 305-11 N429DF.. by XWP29, on Flickr

3. North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco 310 construction number 305-11 N429DF by XWP29, on Flickr

4.North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco 310 construction number 305-11 N429DF.. by XWP29, on Flickr

5.North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco 310 construction number 305-11 N429DF.. by XWP29, on Flickr

6.North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco 310 construction number 305-11 N429DF.. by XWP29, on Flickr


7.Cal Fire International Motors Fire Tender HT695 by XWP29, on Flickr

8.North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco 310 construction number 305-11 N429DF by XWP29, on Flickr

9.Grumman S-2 Trackers at Hemet Ryan by XWP29, on Flickr

10.Grumman S-2 Tracker N437DF 73 CAL FIRE Hemet Ryan by XWP29, on Flickr

11.Grumman S-2 Tracker H435DF at Cal Fire Air Attack Base by XWP29, on Flickr

12.2019 Sikorsky S-70i Firehawk / United Rotorcraft conversion S/N 704046 (Civil Registration N484DF) (-/1000) (Ex-Copter 404) by XWP29, on Flickr

13.2019 Sikorsky S-70i Firehawk / United Rotorcraft conversion S/N 704046 (Civil Registration N484DF) (-/1000) (Ex-Copter 404) by XWP29, on Flickr

14.2019 Sikorsky S-70i Firehawk / United Rotorcraft conversion S/N 704046 (Civil Registration N484DF) (-/1000) (Ex-Copter 404) by XWP29, on Flickr

15.IMGL3408 by XWP29, on Flickr

16.USN 1973 Northrop F-5E Tiger II C/N R.1039 VFC-13 Aggressor by XWP29, on Flickr

17.Tracker gate guard at Hemet Ryan Airfield Cal Fire Dept by XWP29, on Flickr

18.IMGL3318 by XWP29, on Flickr


Bambi with Maj. Ed Lakenheath the III our mascot.

19.Untitled by XWP29, on Flickr

20.Hemet Ryan Airport by XWP29, on Flickr

21.iPhone Earthquake warning Hemet-Ryan Airfield 14.4.2025 by XWP29, on Flickr

Thanks for looking

[Paulo(mk2)]

Fantastic shots!

[Blackcat1]

Great set of photos , the Bronco looks cool

[Mustang531]

Great shots and really interesting selection, thanks for sharing these with us.

[paddyboy]

Hi Nick

That has to be the smartest scheme I’ve ever seen on a Bronco

Thanks for posting

Paddy

[roughcutter]

Great post I visted Ryan in 1997, it's a really lovely airfield. Good to see little has changed there.

[matt e]

Nice set especially #6 and 10

[Stratocruiser]

Oh, I say ..... right on the money there mate
Thanks for sharing your superbly captured gems

[XWP29]

Thanks for the positive comments all.

[roughcutter]

With Nick's very kind permission I've added a few scans of my own, to give a flavour of the place 30 years ago, taken from a Globemaster US trip on October 97. All shot on Fujichrome Sensia with a battered old Pentax K1000.
Ryan 0202 by Mark Lewis, on Flickr

Ryan 0303 by Mark Lewis, on Flickr

Ryan 0404 by Mark Lewis, on Flickr

Ryan 602 by Mark Lewis, on Flickr

Ryan 703 by Mark Lewis, on Flickr

Ryan 901 by Mark Lewis, on Flickr

Ryan 1002 by Mark Lewis, on Flickr

Ryan 1103 by Mark Lewis, on Flickr

Ryan 1204 by Mark Lewis, on Flickr

Ryan 1301 by Mark Lewis, on Flickr

Ryan 1503 by Mark Lewis, on Flickr

Ryan 1604 by Mark Lewis, on Flickr

Ryan 1701 by Mark Lewis, on Flickr

Ryan 1802 by Mark Lewis, on Flickr

Ryan 1903 by Mark Lewis, on Flickr

Ryan 2004 by Mark Lewis, on Flickr

Ryan 2101 by Mark Lewis, on Flickr

Ryan 2202 by Mark Lewis, on Flickr

Ryan 2303 by Mark Lewis, on Flickr

It was a late Sunday afternoon when we visited Ryan Field, hence the darkness of the images. In fact nightfall happens so quickly in California, it was virtually pitch black within the hour of us leaving this lovely airfield.
Cheers ML

[Knife 04]

Great set Nick from a(nother) great day out there. The guys there made us feel so welcome and gave a really good tour! They do a special job!

Bambi's - brilliant place with some really good coffee and again made us feel so welcome (nice to experience my first 'quake with the locals )

I am sure there was a rattler in the garden around that Tracker Gate Guard - despite all the signs wherever we went that was the only time I think I heard one

Really nice set of additions Mark - great to see it hasn't changed that much over the years

[LTFT5]

Great post Nick
Thoroughly enjoyed the description and the shots.
All the best
Andy