FighterControl

Hi gents,

Here's my selection of photos from Osan AB from the first day of this month. I recently purchased Canon 100-400L II and Osan was the first airfield to test my new gear. Stayed about 4 hours and was able to get 15+ locals flying with some guests from Japan as well. It could've been better with couple of C-5 or 17 inbound but with that I had zero luck!

Some more details; There are two active USAFK bases including Osan and Kunsan, however with Kunsan being impossible to reach without car and have no afternoon locations, Osan remains as the sole USAF base here with rather photogenic conditions. Traffics can be very repetitive with same frames flying multiple sorties a day, still PACAF F-16s are rarely to be seen in the UK, so I bet these could be quite enjoyable.

Other than F-16s we have A-10 and U-2, but then U-2 is a very tricky target as they depart early in the morning and arrive by dusk, which makes photography practically impossible.

Long story short it was a fine winter's day with some nice actions going on.

First up USMC KC-130J (VMGR-152) from MCAS Iwakuni



BuNo. 167927//Lockheed Martin KC-130J Hercules - SUMO 42 on ILS 27R surveillance approach, on Flickr

Second I had MCAS UC-35D from Futenma



BuNo. 166712//Cessna Citation V (UC-35D) MAGIC 12 on ILS 27R for full-stop, on Flickr

After these I had some interesting local movements, including A-10, U-2 and Vipers.



AF 78-0716 & 79-0134//Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II - performing dual approaches onto 27R, on Flickr



AF 79-0134//Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II, on Flickr

Then I was treated with the 25FS commander's jet



AF 78-0696//Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II, on Flickr



AF 81-0979 & 80-0283//Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II - performing dual approaches onto 27R, on Flickr

Now here comes the interesting one...They don't fly too often these days so I was pretty happy to have this one landing in a delicious light!



AF 80-1079//Lockheed Martin U-2S Dragon Lady, on Flickr

I had a mass launch of 9 Vipers around 3pm; They all returned right before sunset.



AF 90-0779//Lockheed Martin F-16DM (Block 40) Fighting Falcon, on Flickr

This one declared emergency upon arrival. You'll notice the panel covering M61A1 is barely hanging on the fuselage.



AF 89-2139//Lockheed Martin F-16CM (Block 40) Fighting Falcon, on Flickr



AF 89-2133//Lockheed Martin F-16CM (Block 40) Fighting Falcon, on Flickr



AF 88-0547//Lockheed Martin F-16CM (Block 40) Fighting Falcon, on Flickr

Only handful of Vipers are currently with the 36FS Mustangs original tail, which I favor it to the current one.



AF 88-0531//Lockheed Martin F-16CM (Block 40) Fighting Falcon, on Flickr



Four in one!//Lockheed Martin F-16CM (Block 40) Fighting Falcon, on Flickr



AF 90-0775//Lockheed Martin F-16CM (Block 40) Fighting Falcon, on Flickr



AF 89-2033//Lockheed Martin F-16CM (Block 40) Fighting Falcon, on Flickr



AF 88-0544//Lockheed Martin F-16CM (Block 40) Fighting Falcon, on Flickr



AF 88-0538//Lockheed Martin F-16CM (Block 40) Fighting Falcon, on Flickr

Hope you enjoyed them and thanks for looking.

Jamie

Very nice set.

Really nice pictures - your new lens certainly is worth the investment!

Grand shots. Those A10s are Beauties!

Super post, it’s unusual to see photos from this region, the U2 is a cracker

Great photos in lovely light. Really like the A10's but the U2.......!

Great images Jamie,
Great light especially on those A10 shots
All the best
Andy

super set,especially the 2 ship a-10`s and u2

Very nice indeed, I think we'd all be happy with that traffic.

Hi Jamie

Superb set

Those lovely 'Hogs

Thanks for posting

Paddyboy

Cracking quality images

Always great to see those Hogs

Cracking shots! Glorious light and a variety of types I’d be very happy to see in a day. The A-10s are especially nice. Fingers crossed for similar weather when you visit Lakenheath.

Superb set there Jamie well done mate

Dougie

Very nice set Jamie, loving those A10's but the U2 has the edge. Thanks for sharing

Bluesteel wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 21, 2018 1:26 pm

Very nice set.

Cheers mate glad you liked them!

awacsfan wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 21, 2018 2:55 pm

Really nice pictures - your new lens certainly is worth the investment!

It really is, almost feel like that I should’ve gotten it earlier! I was very impressed with the crispness of the image this lens could produce. Perhaps the most valuable expense I’ve made in this year so far.

Blackcat1 wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 21, 2018 3:57 pm

Grand shots. Those A10s are Beauties!

Indeed they are, love seeing them doing some touch-n-gos. Shame they’ll soon be replaced with the F-35. (Although I think I love F-35 as well)

dragonchaser wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 21, 2018 4:06 pm

Super post, it’s unusual to see photos from this region, the U2 is a cracker

Very valid point there. My posts certainly add up some exotic feeling at this forum doesn’t it. Glad you enjoyed seeing them and next time I’ll upload some F-4 shots as well.

PeteF wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 21, 2018 4:09 pm

Great photos in lovely light. Really like the A10's but the U2.......!

Thanks mate, I’ve been looking out for the occasions where U-2s would make some daytime flights and my wish seemed to be worked out! Really cool to have the piece of US ‘spying’ history here at Osan.

LTFT5 wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 21, 2018 6:35 pm

Great images Jamie,
Great light especially on those A10 shots
All the best
Andy

Cheers Andy! I love the crispness of the winter light, I don’t think there’s any better than season for winter for photography, it’s that nice!

matt e wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 21, 2018 7:39 pm

super set,especially the 2 ship a-10`s and u2

Thanks mate, you can never turn down U-2 and A-10s! These two are too nice to be done so.

alanp wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 21, 2018 7:45 pm

Very nice indeed, I think we'd all be happy with that traffic.

Cheers mate, perhaps with some surprise guests like C-5 and C-17 I’d love it even more.

paddyboy wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 22, 2018 4:36 am

Hi Jamie

Superb set

Those lovely 'Hogs

Thanks for posting

Paddyboy

Cheers Patrick, kind words as per!

The Phantom wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 22, 2018 7:01 am

Cracking quality images

Always great to see those Hogs

Glad you liked my images, it’s indeed a pleasure to see these Hogs flying. Shame we’ll see them being replaced with F-35 in coming few years.

DanBeeden wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 22, 2018 9:51 am

Cracking shots! Glorious light and a variety of types I’d be very happy to see in a day. The A-10s are especially nice. Fingers crossed for similar weather when you visit Lakenheath.

Thanks so much for your well-wishes! A-10 is a flying beast and I really enjoy seeing them flying. I really wish I could have some fine and clear winter days on my visit to Lakenheath and Mildenhall next January with touch of great traffic as well. It’d be glorious!

prefontaine72 wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 22, 2018 1:47 pm

Superb set there Jamie well done mate

Dougie

Thanks mate, glad you liked these!

jpickers56 wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 22, 2018 3:30 pm

Very nice set Jamie, loving those A10's but the U2 has the edge. Thanks for sharing

Thanks so much! I can’t deny that U-2 is a cooler looking plane than A-10 is, but they both look amazing indeed.

Cracking set but those Hogs I certainly have a soft spot for them.

Al

onemac wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 23, 2018 12:43 pm

Cracking set but those Hogs I certainly have a soft spot for them.

Al

Cheers mate! Hogs are deffo one of my favorites as well, it’s amazing how quiet they are compared to A-10 and U-2!

Lovely A-10 pix