Req: USA West Coast

[GoldenPlane]

Hi Guys,

Next week it will be finally my first trip to the west coast. As I am allowed to drive in a rental car now, I will do as many (MIL airports) around en between Las Vegas > Tucson > San Diego > San Fransisco.

As the main reason will be numbers, I will ask you guys what are the best airports to see some interesting stuff, or things that are easy to read off (like Stockton Metropolitan). Is that one still active?

Futher, anyone in for the Green Flag 18-10 participants, and dates for an WTI at Yuma?

Thanks in advance!

Jordy

[Malcolm]

Hi Guys,

Next week it will be finally my first trip to the west coast. As I am allowed to drive in a rental car now, I will do as many (MIL airports) around en between Las Vegas > Tucson > San Diego > San Fransisco.

As the main reason will be numbers, I will ask you guys what are the best airports to see some interesting stuff, or things that are easy to read off (like Stockton Metropolitan). Is that one still active?

Futher, anyone in for the Green Flag 18-10 participants, and dates for an WTI at Yuma?

Thanks in advance!

Jordy

How long are you going for? There are some long drives in that routing - every leg is more than 400 miles (650km) and San Diego to San Fran is 500+ miles (800km). It's not like the UK /Europe where you can hop between bases in an hour or two - you're looking at 6-8 hours drive between places.

Decide on your main targets - I'd chose to spend a weekday at each of Nellis, Luke, Tucson/DM, Yuma and perhaps El Centro if there is something going on. Navy bases in California are hard work. You can't see anything at Leemore or Camp Pendleton, and you are likely to get moved on at Mirimar. North Island is ok-ish, but the views are distant and you'll need good optics to get BuNos. Edwards is a waste of time unless you can get on, but Mojave can be good. A stay in the Mojave Motel 6 is something you'll remember for years, providing the trains don't actually crash through the bedroom walls at 3 in the morning .

On the way up from San Diego I'd do something like March AFB, Pt Mugu, Fresno ANG, Castle AFB, Mather AFB, Sacremento ALC. All of these are very low key though - some are closed with just preserved stuff or Museums and none of them will get you the quantity of numbers that the active bases will. There are a more museums that can fill weekends and evenings if that's your bag, but Ca isn't what it once was (George, Norton, March, El Toro, Van Nuys, Castle, Mather all closed).

[GoldenPlane]

Thanks for your answer! My trip will take 3 weeks, so that must be enough time I guess.

I will have a look on the museums!

[Pjross]

Hi, I'd echo what Malcolm has mentioned. Distances are a big consideration but you should manage this in a three week period. If you're headed in the direction of Vegas (Nellis) an excursion could be via Rainbow Canyon ( Death Valley area) where low flying takes place on some weekdays. Once you're there it is not as remote as people would think but is quite a drive. On the off-chance that you are headed north towards Reno, Top Gun at NAS Fallon can be worth a look. Depending upon the direction of approach, you can achieve some good images.
Nellis and Luke are almost 'no brainers' with a good level of activity and very easy to view.
Let me know if I can be of any further help...
Cheers

[GoldenPlane]

As I am will be working at Luke AFB this month, I was curious if someone could help with some spots for the following airfields, to fill in some spare time. All for reading the platforms!

Davis Monthan
Marana Pinal Airpark (USAR part only)
Papago Phoenix
Falcon Field (AH-64 facility)

Thanks in advance!

Jordy

[sschofield]

As I am will be working at Luke AFB this month, I was curious if someone could help with some spots for the following airfields, to fill in some spare time. All for reading the platforms!

Davis Monthan
Marana Pinal Airpark (USAR part only)
Papago Phoenix
Falcon Field (AH-64 facility)

Thanks in advance!

Jordy

Jordy,

I can only give you info based on my last visit to all of those, many, MANY years ago! (1996!)

DM - Active ramps are difficult to view, we managed distant views of the A-10s from the North side (this was before the sun sheds were built), and read off a couple of H-60s. Herk ramps can be read from the scrapyard side of the base. And of course there is the fence along Kolb Road/Irvington Road, where with a little patience you can read a good few hundred! Take sunscreen!

Pinal - No views to the ArNG area from outside. Only way is to get on base (we did, after a lot of phone calls from a public payphone (remember them?) in a service area, we eventually got put through to the CO at the base who was bemused by what we wanted, but agreed to it! We got full hangar access and were allowed to read everything off from the edge of the ramp! About 70 logged! Otherwise it can be tagged onto a DM overflight.

Papagao - Was easy when we did it, we went to the main gate around 7pm and asked if we could walk the fence (outside, sadly!) to read the helicopters. The guard was fine with that. About 6 Blackhawks logged

Falcon Field - Limited views from public roads, but difficult to stop. We found a spot on an industrial park but security were on us within 5 minutes and made us leave (luckily we had already poled off the 7 Egyptian Apaches they were keen for us not to see, plus 5 or 6 US Army ones!)

Not great info, and I have no idea what is still relevant, but it gives you an idea. Do you have time for a trip into the desert to Nellis?

[Malcolm]

As I am will be working at Luke AFB this month, I was curious if someone could help with some spots for the following airfields, to fill in some spare time. All for reading the platforms!

Davis Monthan
Marana Pinal Airpark (USAR part only)
Papago Phoenix
Falcon Field (AH-64 facility)

Thanks in advance!

Jordy

Stuart's answer is basically correct IMO. DM is Ok for the Boneyard stuff, but for the active stuff you just have to sit and wait for them to fly - particularly the A-10's. If they don't fly, then you'll probably only get a few C-130's from outside.

Red Flag 25-1 should kick off at Nellis later this month (haven't seen dates yet but probably last week of Jan) and this is definitely worth a day (at least) at the Speedway. Arrival day is sometimes a weekend, so perhaps can be fitted in with your work schedule. 4-5 hour drive each way though. MCAS Yuma also worth a day - it's a lot closer at about 2 hours each way.

[GoldenPlane]

Thanks for your answers! Will try to go to take a look at Nellis.

Papago is still easy to read off. Around 10 UH-60’s and 1 USAR Mi-17 were read!

Jordy

[slogen51]

Thanks for your answers! Will try to go to take a look at Nellis.

Papago is still easy to read off. Around 10 UH-60’s and 1 USAR Mi-17 were read!

Jordy

Apologies for quoting the post directly above mine but I thought you wouldn't otherwise see my question

Can you say where you go to read stuff off at Papago? Do you have to walk along the fence. Two of us briefly visited Papago back in August and apart from the gate guards at what looks like a new gate we didn't see anything else despite driving around the Heliport.

[GoldenPlane]

Thanks for your answers! Will try to go to take a look at Nellis.

Papago is still easy to read off. Around 10 UH-60’s and 1 USAR Mi-17 were read!

Jordy

Apologies for quoting the post directly above mine but I thought you wouldn't otherwise see my question

Can you say where you go to read stuff off at Papago? Do you have to walk along the fence. Two of us briefly visited Papago back in August and apart from the gate guards at what looks like a new gate we didn't see anything else despite driving around the Heliport.

It is really easy, parked my car at the gas station and walked to this spot along the fence. (33.4656462, -111.9672328)

Also got at the following point were I could read off (only) the Mi-17.

(33.4646843, -111.9538935)

Jordy

[slogen51]

Excellent thanks

Will hopefully have better luck on Thursday 23/1!