We arrived at LAX on the Saturday and our car was upgraded for free, to a rather large 7 seater, this trip started well. Time for a few wrecks and relics around L.A. Sunday was spent at museums and on the way down the coast towards San Diego, we called into the always accommodating Californian Fire Dept. at Hemet Ryan Field. A couple of nice Siller helicopters were sitting on the airfield and we were given permission to take a couple of snaps.
N3173U SH-3A Sea King Siller by Jason Grant, on Flickr
N4035S S-64E Skycrane Siller by Jason Grant, on FlickrAnd the local team.
N431DF 78 S-2F3AT Turbo Tracker CDF by Jason Grant, on Flickr
N489DF UH-1H Iroquois CDF by Jason Grant, on FlickrSo Monday started with a quick look at MCAS Miramar before heading into San Diego for the harbour tour. Unfortunately, the tour was fully booked so we headed straight to NAF El Centro for what would be three days of non stop action.
162141 37 C-2A Greyhound VRC-30 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
163638 B-238 T-45C Goshawk TW-2 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
165610 A-168 T-45C Goshawk VT-7 TW-1 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
165481 A-138 T-45C Goshawk VT-9 TW-1 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
160506 NJ-06 T-34C Turbo Mentor VFA-122 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
3-227th Aviation Regiment Blackhawks by Jason Grant, on Flickr
163768 4 Blue Angels by Jason Grant, on Flickr
162480 YK-480 CH-53E Sea Stallion HMH-466 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
164783 YJ-783 CH-53E Sea Stallion HMH-465 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
167103 A-195 T-45C Goshawk VT-9 TW-1 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
162141 37 C-2A Greyhound VRC-30 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
163619 B-219 T-45C TW-2 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
15-20823 UH-60M Blackhawk 3-227th Aviation Regiment a by Jason Grant, on Flickr
167088 B-240 T-45C Goshawk TW-2 by Jason Grant, on FlickrAs the sun went down, we tried Imperial Regional airport for some Osprey and chopper action, we were not to be disappointed. Monday night was quiet but Tuesday and Wednesday night were busy, at one point 4 Ospreys were lining up for fuel with choppers waiting behind. I have spent many years taking pictures of military aircraft at night but the shots below are some of the most difficult to date. No lights (pilots wearing NVGs), manual focus (unless it locked onto a runway light) shooting through a wire fence and with the usual vibrations, I would not look at any of these pictures until I got home because I know they can look very different on the back of the camera. I will say how pleased I am with the results. I loved my time at Imperial and can't wait to go back, a trip highlight for me.
Imperial Regional Airport by Jason Grant, on Flickr
168016 YW-00 MV-22B VMM-165 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
168678 06 MV-22B VMM-362 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
162480 YK-480 CH-53E HMH-466 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
CH-53E Sea Stallion by Jason Grant, on Flickr
167919 YT-09 MV-22B VMM-164 Knightriders by Jason Grant, on Flickr
167919 YT-09 MV-22B Osprey VMM-164 Knightriders by Jason Grant, on Flickr
168016 YW-00 MV-22B VMM-165 White Knights by Jason Grant, on Flickr
166362 VR-61 MH-60S HSC-21 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
168010 PF-00 MV-22B VMM-364 Purple Foxes by Jason Grant, on FlickrThis is my favourite shot of the trip.
162483 YF-483 CH-53E Sea Stallion HMH-462 by Jason Grant, on FlickrSo Thursday morning, we headed to MCAS Yuma. I have had the good fortune to visit MCAS Yuma on a few occasions in the past, inside the base is spectacular but outside has always been a disappointment for me. Usual landing on the wrong runway or just a slow day for the amount of aircraft they have based there, this day was to be the exception. 4 different Harrier squadrons flying all day (and night), including two East Coast squadrons, as well as the base F-35s, AH-1Zs', UH-1Ys, MV-22Bs and a couple of visiting T-45s.
165381 WP-11 AV-8B VWA-223 Bulldogs by Jason Grant, on Flickr
165592 WP-06 AV-8B VMA-223 Bulldogs by Jason Grant, on Flickr
164551 WP-00 AV-8B Harrier VMA-223 Bulldogs by Jason Grant, on Flickr
164152 KD-30 AV-8B Harrier VMAT-203 Hawks by Jason Grant, on Flickr
163196 KD-06 TAV-8B Harrier VMAT-203 Hawks by Jason Grant, on Flickr
163207 KD-02 TAV-8B Harrier VMAT-203 Hawks by Jason Grant, on Flickr
165577 WE-52 AV-8B VMA-214 Blacksheep by Jason Grant, on Flickr
169620 CF-00 F-35B VMFA-211 Wake Island Avengers by Jason Grant, on Flickr
165312 WP-07 AV-8B Harrier VMA-223 Bulldogs by Jason Grant, on Flickr
163631 B-231 T-45C Goshawk TW-2 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
169088 SE-44 AH-1Z Viper by Jason Grant, on Flickr
169286 UH-1Y Venom by Jason Grant, on Flickr
165311 WL-311 AV-8B Harrier VMA-311 Tomcats by Jason Grant, on Flickr
VMFA-122 Flying Leathernecks F-35B Lightning by Jason Grant, on Flickr
166726 MV-03 MV-22B Osprey VMX-01 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
164551 WP-00 AV-8B Harrier VMA-223 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
SE-48 & SE-51 AH-1Z Vipers by Jason Grant, on Flickr
163877 KD-23 AV-8B VMAT-203 Hawks by Jason Grant, on Flickr
163207 KD-02 TAV-8B Harrier VMAT-203 by Jason Grant, on FlickrFriday morning, we drove to Luke AFB. We had heard about the Canadian Hornet deployment.
93-0828 LF F-16B 21st FS by Jason Grant, on Flickr
188938 CF-188B F-18B 425 sqn RCAF by Jason Grant, on Flickr
188933 CF-188B FA-18B 433 sqn RCAF by Jason Grant, on Flickr
94-0282 F-16D 425th FS RSAF by Jason Grant, on Flickr
90-0765 & 89-2158 310th Fighter Squadron by Jason Grant, on Flickr
5110 RNoAF F-35A 62nd FS by Jason Grant, on Flickr
MM7332 32-01 F-35A 62nd FS by Jason Grant, on Flickr
14-5103 56 OG F-35A 62nd FS by Jason Grant, on Flickr
F-008 RNLAF F-35A 308th FS by Jason Grant, on Flickr
A35-004 RAAF F-35A 61st FS by Jason Grant, on Flickr
A35-007 RAAF F-35A 61st FS by Jason Grant, on Flickr
84-1327 F-16D 309th FS by Jason Grant, on Flickr
188760 CF-188A F/A-18A 433sqn RCAF by Jason Grant, on Flickr
Luke AFB by Jason Grant, on FlickrSaturday was spent mainly at Phoenix Mesa Gateway airport.
05-6208 RA 559 FTS T-6A by Jason Grant, on Flickr
13-08442 CH-47F Chinook US Army by Jason Grant, on Flickr
165352 NY-352 KC-130T VMGR-452 by Jason Grant, on FlickrAnd before anyone mentions it, I have erased a couple of high vis cones from this image because they were annoying me.
67-14840 XL T-38C Talon 87 FTS Laughlin AFB by Jason Grant, on FlickrSunday was the drive to Las Vegas for Red Flag 20-1. We stopped off at the Hoover Dam on the way, it's well worth a look over the side if you are passing. Las Vegas was suffering from a cold front. 30mph winds and a temperature of only 6 degrees C, a quick stop at Walmart for some warm clothes (-3 at night). The wind did have an impact on the flying on the Monday, and on Tuesday, Cheyenne Road was used for recoveries (frustrating). We left late Wednesday morning to drive back to LAX for the flight home.
89-2048 WA Wraith F-16CM 64th AGRS by Jason Grant, on Flickr
87-0267 WA F-16C 64th AGRS by Jason Grant, on Flickr
14-5102 HL F-35A 34th FS by Jason Grant, on Flickr
89-2048 WA Wraith F-16CM 64th AGRS by Jason Grant, on Flickr
168264 NL-554 E/A-18G Growler VAQ-131 Lancers by Jason Grant, on Flickr
04-4073 FF F-22A 27th FS by Jason Grant, on Flickr
10-5716 DM HC-130J 79th RQS by Jason Grant, on Flickr
86-0118 EL B-1B 37th BS by Jason Grant, on Flickr
85-1418 WA F-16C 64th AGRS by Jason Grant, on Flickr
86-0291 WA F-16C 64th AGRS by Jason Grant, on Flickr
78-0671 WA A-10C USAFWS 66th WPS by Jason Grant, on Flickr
87-0225 AC F-16C 119th FS by Jason Grant, on Flickr
86-0333 AC F-16C 119th FS New Jersey ANG by Jason Grant, on Flickr
A44-201 F/A-18F 1sqn RAAF by Jason Grant, on Flickr
A44-210 F/A-18F 1sqn RAAF by Jason Grant, on Flickr
A30-001 E-7A 2sqn RAAF by Jason Grant, on FlickrThanks for looking and thanks to Mark Forest, Stuart Skelton and Paul Newbold for making the trip as much fun as it was. If anyone is interested, Paul Newbold is producing a trip log on MSF.
. but that means leaving out harriers the F-16 moon shot... the Goshawk, F-18 combo 
