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
