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NAS Fallon and West Coast Touring Help
Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2023 2:04 pm
by Aircmdr
Afternoon all,
Some of you may have seen a previous post of mine but in case you haven't, Me and a small group are touring the west coast in September and suggestions have come up about Beale, Travis and Fallon, are they bases easy to view or have we got no chance? Just looking for some help as we start planning our route around the west, Any other tips also are greatly appreciated
Below is a list of all bases and Airports on our list so far, any other recommendations also welcomed.
1 .LAX
2. North Island
3. Midway (Carrier and Harbour Tour)
4. MCAS Mirimar (Airshow)
5. San Diego Intl
6. El Centro
7. Yuma
8. Tuscon
9. Ryan
10. Davies Monthan
11. Pima
12. Marana
13. Pinal
14. Coolidge
15. Chandler
16. Phoenix
16. Goodyear
17. Luke
18. Williams Gateway / Mesa
19. Kingman
20. Boulder City
21. Henderson
22. Mccarren/ Harry Reid
23. Vegas North
24. Nellis
25. Mojave
26. Victorville
27. Palmdale
28. Point Mugu
29. Chino
30. March AFB
Cheers
Re: NAS Fallon and West Coast Touring Help
Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2023 2:58 pm
by Malcolm
Fallon is a looooonnnnnnnnggggg drive from your route - probably a long boring 8-10 hr drive from Las Vegas. You probably won't see much at Beale except KC-135's. Personally I'd say not worth the effort unless you know for sure there is something at Fallon to go see. If you do go north of Vegas/LA then Fresno is en-route, as are the bases at Reno, McClellan, Mather and Moffet. Leemore is rubbish from outside so I wouldn't bother with it.
It's possible to do Miramar Show in the morning, and then do the Harbour cruise in the afternoon/evening - just check what time the last tour is. Miramar often turf out some of the based stuff to other fields - last year it was Brown Field (7xF-18's) and March (9 x F-35's).
At DM you can't see the active A-10's or some of the C-130's from outside. Depends how much time you have whether it's worth sitting there and waiting. Also note that it's the end of the US fiscal year, and often units have run out of money for the year and are on reduced flying. DM has been dead the last few Septembers I've been there. Walking the AMARG fence is easy, although you'll only get stuff that is in the areas close to the fence.
I'd probably add Palm Springs in somewhere - good museum, some warbirds, and sometimes active with USMC choppers at the weekend. It's about 1h30 drive from March.
Re: NAS Fallon and West Coast Touring Help
Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2023 3:06 pm
by Aircmdr
Malcolm wrote: ↑Thu Aug 03, 2023 2:58 pm
Fallon is a looooonnnnnnnnggggg drive from your route - probably a long boring 8-10 hr drive from Las Vegas. You probably won't see much at Beale except KC-135's. Personally I'd say not worth the effort unless you know for sure there is something at Fallon to go see. If you do go north of Vegas/LA then Fresno is en-route, as are the bases at Reno, McClellan, Mather and Moffet. Leemore is rubbish from outside so I wouldn't bother with it.
It's possible to do Miramar Show in the morning, and then do the Harbour cruise in the afternoon/evening - just check what time the last tour is. Miramar often turf out some of the based stuff to other fields - last year it was Brown Field (7xF-18's) and March (9 x F-35's).
At DM you can't see the active A-10's or some of the C-130's from outside. Depends how much time you have whether it's worth sitting there and waiting. Also note that it's the end of the US fiscal year, and often units have run out of money for the year and are on reduced flying. DM has been dead the last few Septembers I've been there. Walking the AMARG fence is easy, although you'll only get stuff that is in the areas close to the fence.
I'd probably add Palm Springs in somewhere - good museum, some warbirds, and sometimes active with USMC choppers at the weekend. It's about 1h30 drive from March.
Malcom you are a legend, some really good info there for us to think about, We may have the possibility of a tour at Fallon so that is only reason we are thinking of going, if we are unable to get one we wont be going that far north, we are out there from the 21st until the 5th so planning on doing DM on our second weekend with a flyover on a Saturday or Sunday(Less Flying at DM). We are currently just deciding whether to head north first and do Vegas first or clean Tuscon and Phoenix then head North, Guys im going with are pretty experienced, most been out numerous times but been a while since they last went.
Re: NAS Fallon and West Coast Touring Help
Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2023 3:16 pm
by Aircmdr
Bit more info for you guys sending in Suggestions, Tips and Recommendations;
1. Trip duration - 2 Weeks from 21st Sept - 5th Oct
2. 3 of the 4 of the group log frames but we all take pictures. Its my first trip to US to Spot, Other group members been numerous times but not recently
3. Military aircraft is priority, some civil and biz when we can and have the time.
4. Everything with wheels and wings or propellers we want to see (No airfields just GA/Light Aircraft)
5. We are planning to do Mirimar Airshow on the Saturday the 23rd and AMARG the following weekend with an overflight involved.
6. Fallon will only be a candidate on the trip IF we get a base tour
Cheers again
Re: NAS Fallon and West Coast Touring Help
Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2023 5:06 pm
by Malcolm
I'll be doing Miramar on Fri 22nd. It's usually a bit more relaxed than on the Saturday, and a lot less busy. You can stay till the end to make sure you get any late arrivals, or bail about 3pm and get down to the harbour for the tour. Be prepared for very tough security for non US residents as well (passports, fingerprints, inside leg measurements last year!). It's not brilliant for flying photos because you're northside, and there aren't many barriers around the static so photos on the Saturday will be tricky.
If you've got a spare weekday in/around San Diego then Imperial Beach NAS is worth a crack. You'll have to sit and wait for stuff (nothing based there) but it is used a lot as a relief landing field for the SH/MH-60's operating out of North Island.
The usual loop is something like LA -> March -> San Diego -> El Centro -> Yuma -> Tucson/DM -> Phoenix/Luke -> Vegas/Nellis -> LA (or the reverse), although obviously there are variations. Some of those legs are 4+ hours drive.
Whilst it's not cast in stone, AIUI ANG duty weekends are usually the first weekend of the month. Get it wrong and Tuscon (and Fresno) will be less active. Don't know what will happen this year since the the 1st falls on a Sunday.
My current plan (for the bits that overlap with you) is
Thursday 21st - Yuma, El Centro
Friday 22nd - Miramar, North Island Boat Cruise
Saturday 23rd - Brown Field, March, Fresno, Castle AFB Museum
Sunday 24th - Mather Air Show, McCleland Museum, Travis, Moffet
Monday 25th - Pt Mugu then LAX->LHR home that evening.
Re: NAS Fallon and West Coast Touring Help
Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2023 5:26 pm
by Alf
Buckeye is very close to Luke, as is Papago
Re: NAS Fallon and West Coast Touring Help
Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2023 5:37 pm
by Neil D
Aircmdr wrote: ↑Thu Aug 03, 2023 3:16 pm
Bit more info for you guys sending in Suggestions, Tips and Recommendations
6. Fallon will only be a candidate on the trip IF we get a base tour
Zip, the PAO retired last June and visits have ended. The Base Commander didn't want them happening so unlikely to get approval. If that changes could you let us know?
Neil
Re: NAS Fallon and West Coast Touring Help
Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2023 7:48 pm
by Aircmdr
Malcolm wrote: ↑Thu Aug 03, 2023 5:06 pm
I'll be doing Miramar on Fri 22nd. It's usually a bit more relaxed than on the Saturday, and a lot less busy. You can stay till the end to make sure you get any late arrivals, or bail about 3pm and get down to the harbour for the tour. Be prepared for very tough security for non US residents as well (passports, fingerprints, inside leg measurements last year!). It's not brilliant for flying photos because you're northside, and there aren't many barriers around the static so photos on the Saturday will be tricky.
If you've got a spare weekday in/around San Diego then Imperial Beach NAS is worth a crack. You'll have to sit and wait for stuff (nothing based there) but it is used a lot as a relief landing field for the SH/MH-60's operating out of North Island.
The usual loop is something like LA -> March -> San Diego -> El Centro -> Yuma -> Tucson/DM -> Phoenix/Luke -> Vegas/Nellis -> LA (or the reverse), although obviously there are variations. Some of those legs are 4+ hours drive.
Whilst it's not cast in stone, AIUI ANG duty weekends are usually the first weekend of the month. Get it wrong and Tuscon (and Fresno) will be less active. Don't know what will happen this year since the the 1st falls on a Sunday.
My current plan (for the bits that overlap with you) is
Thursday 21st - Yuma, El Centro
Friday 22nd - Miramar, North Island Boat Cruise
Saturday 23rd - Brown Field, March, Fresno, Castle AFB Museum
Sunday 24th - Mather Air Show, McCleland Museum, Travis, Moffet
Monday 25th - Pt Mugu then LAX->LHR home that evening.
Thanks again for the info Malcolm.
Re: NAS Fallon and West Coast Touring Help
Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2023 7:49 pm
by Aircmdr
Neil D wrote: ↑Thu Aug 03, 2023 5:37 pm
Aircmdr wrote: ↑Thu Aug 03, 2023 3:16 pm
Bit more info for you guys sending in Suggestions, Tips and Recommendations
6. Fallon will only be a candidate on the trip IF we get a base tour
Zip, the PAO retired last June and visits have ended. The Base Commander didn't want them happening so unlikely to get approval. If that changes could you let us know?
Neil
That is really unfortunate, We are sending emails soon to a few places so any positive info I will put on this thread
Re: NAS Fallon and West Coast Touring Help
Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2023 1:21 pm
by Jason Grant
Re NAS Lemoore, check out the Aviator Memorial on Google Earth, a great place to watch jets and check out my Fallon folder, the flying shots were taken outside the base (2010) but like the others have said, I wouldn't drive there without the guarantee of a base visit.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jasoninta ... 7367626356
Re: NAS Fallon and West Coast Touring Help
Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2023 7:36 pm
by paulk
Beale AFB :- spent a good 4-5 hours outside in Oct 2022, got a TU-2S in the circuit and 3 T-38s landing, once the heat haze died down we read off the ramp( if numbers are your thing)
Re: NAS Fallon and West Coast Touring Help
Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2023 4:22 pm
by Pjross
Just adding some further comments to those from Jason. Lemore is quite a way and they can be quite sensitive if photographing from the Aviator Memorial.
Re: NAS Fallon and West Coast Touring Help
Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2023 4:40 pm
by NorvilleRogers
paulk wrote: ↑Sun Aug 06, 2023 7:36 pm
Beale AFB :- spent a good 4-5 hours outside in Oct 2022, got a TU-2S in the circuit and 3 T-38s landing, once the heat haze died down we read off the ramp( if numbers are your thing)
Could you provide the best location to read the ramp at Beale? Many thanks.
Re: NAS Fallon and West Coast Touring Help
Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2023 9:50 am
by Jason Grant
Pjross wrote: ↑Tue Aug 08, 2023 4:22 pm
Just adding some further comments to those from Jason. Lemore is quite a way and they can be quite sensitive if photographing from the Aviator Memorial.
That's a fair point. With heightened security at the moment, be very careful at any military installations. Never point your camera at any buildings and stay the far side of the road when photographing from the roadside.
Re: NAS Fallon and West Coast Touring Help
Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2023 9:30 pm
by raameagle
I'm sure that Paulk will answer that question but you do need a very good scope!
NorvilleRogers wrote: ↑Tue Aug 08, 2023 4:40 pm
paulk wrote: ↑Sun Aug 06, 2023 7:36 pm
Beale AFB :- spent a good 4-5 hours outside in Oct 2022, got a TU-2S in the circuit and 3 T-38s landing, once the heat haze died down we read off the ramp( if numbers are your thing)
Could you provide the best location to read the ramp at Beale? Many thanks.
Re: NAS Fallon and West Coast Touring Help
Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2023 4:17 pm
by Aircmdr
Cheers all again much appreciated information, anything north close to San Fran will be covered only if we get a base tour of Fallon, if not they’ll be skipped but we will come to it when we get replies later this week
Re: NAS Fallon and West Coast Touring Help
Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2023 10:19 pm
by raameagle
I suggest that you start planning your tour minus the San Fran area then…
Aircmdr wrote: ↑Thu Aug 10, 2023 4:17 pm
Cheers all again much appreciated information, anything north close to San Fran will be covered only if we get a base tour of Fallon, if not they’ll be skipped but we will come to it when we get replies later this week
Re: NAS Fallon and West Coast Touring Help
Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2023 11:54 am
by Aircmdr
raameagle wrote: ↑Fri Aug 11, 2023 10:19 pm
I suggest that you start planning your tour minus the San Fran area then…
Aircmdr wrote: ↑Thu Aug 10, 2023 4:17 pm
Cheers all again much appreciated information, anything north close to San Fran will be covered only if we get a base tour of Fallon, if not they’ll be skipped but we will come to it when we get replies later this week
Yeah we have a route already planned now incase
Re: NAS Fallon and West Coast Touring Help
Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2023 12:47 am
by Pjross
Just for info, Point Mugu appears to be quite busy at the moment and has had some unusual traffic over the past few weeks including F117, NASA WB57, Whidbey Island F18 Growlers and China Lake F18!
Cheers
Re: NAS Fallon and West Coast Touring Help
Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2023 12:02 pm
by Aircmdr
Pjross wrote: ↑Thu Aug 17, 2023 12:47 am
Just for info, Point Mugu appears to be quite busy at the moment and has had some unusual traffic over the past few weeks including F117, NASA WB57, Whidbey Island F18 Growlers and China Lake F18!
Cheers
Cheers mate, point Mugu is on our list of places to visit hopefully see some of these unusual frames
