USA May 2013 ‘The
Airshows That Never Were’ Tour Part 2
Kevin
Perry
Continuing from Part 1…
Checking in for American Airlines AA2595 to Dallas DFW, we
boarded CRJ-200ER N902EV of American Eagle/ExpressJet Airlines
for an on-time departure at 0800. However, after trying to
‘re-set’ an engine problem, the pilot announced the aircraft was
going nowhere. Luckily, there was a ‘spare’ company CRJ on the
next stand, and after transferring the luggage, we boarded
N901EV, eventually getting away an hour late at 0900, landing 45
minutes later. Not so bad after all, and after collecting the
rental, another SUV, it was straight off. Todays plan was a big
road trip around Texas to the North of Dallas, mainly to catch
up with a few classic propliners, before ending up back in
Dallas at Addison for tonights hotel. First stop was Fort Worth
Alliance airport, 22 miles to the NW of DFW, for the first of
many visits there.
An excellent airport for
photography, the large ramp is overlooked by a metal fence with
large gaps between the railings, next to a grassed area with
easy parking. Why can’t all airports be like this (not ‘run for
the benefit of spotters’, but not making it difficult for them
either)! Not a busy place, the airport does however receive a
lot of transiting aircraft, including a surprising amount of
military. Not sure why, with NAS Fort Worth just down the road,
but no complaints, with great shots very easy, and no paranoid
security evident. The people who work airside here are obviously
used to people watching from the fence and taking pictures, with
one or two families sat watching from the grass, being a
weekend. Military present today was USAF C-130J-30 01-1462 of
the 115AS/146AW CA ANG ‘Channel Islands’, USAF T-38C 66-4325/EN
of the 469FTS/80FTW ‘Fighting Bulls’ at Sheppard AFB (further to
the NW of Dallas), USAF A-10C 78-0704/MD of the 104FS/175Wg MD
ANG at Baltimore Martin, and two USMC Hornets: F/A-18A+
162409/MA-01 & F/A-18A++
162882/MA-08 of VMFA-112 at nearby NAS
Fort Worth. Apparently the A-10 had ‘a leak’, and was still here
when i made my final visit four days later. I later discovered
there were five more from this unit that had departed this
morning, before my arrival! All were returning home from Nellis
AFB. Also, one civil visitor today was Phenom 100 demonstrator
N390EE from the Embraer facility at Melbourne, FL. This was
making several local flights over a few days here, presumably
demonstrating to potential customers. Needing to head off, on
this busy day, there was no time to wait for the ADB An-124 that
was due in later in the afternoon, from Seattle (which are
regular visitors here).
Next stop then, just 9
miles North up I35W was Northwest Regional airport. This quite
large GA field was mainly on the itinerary for a resident Super
Dak, ex US Navy C-117D (DC-3S) N44GH. Registered to Flight Data
Inc, it is fully intact, though hasn’t moved for a few years
now, with the reg expired in 2011. Arriving from its previous
home at nearby Denton in 2010, it was re-painted into US
Navy-style colours (with ‘RDS’ on the fin) after last operating
in Skyfreighters colours as N306SF, with other history including
a spell as the Blue Angels support aircraft between 1953-1955.
Also present here was the unusual sight of
three fuselages, well
wrapped in covers, with a set of wings nearby. Talking with a
guy at a nearby hangar, he said they were CRJ/Challengers, owned
by a company dealing in spare parts, with plans to bring a lot
more (presumably retired or written off airframes).
Denton is 13 miles
further up the highway, with some more nice older stuff waiting
to be photographed. Alliance Air Charter are based here, with
1968-built Falcon 20C N960AA and 1969-built Falcon 20D
N961AA
present, along with SD-360-300 N973AA. Also present, parked
outside their hangar, was Falcon 20C N911DG, painted all white
with major parts missing, including the top of the fin and the
engines, presumably bought by Alliance for the parts. Another,
obviously more recent arrival, is Falcon 20D N5225G, which
though still looking very smart, could also now be retired as a
parts source. In addition, a few other old biz-jets here were
1977-built Learjet 24F N500ZA and 1971-built HS125-1A N27UM of
Marathon Hawker LLC, along with 1972-built Cessna 421B N2239S,
with the US reg just painted over the old Italian reg I-VESE (ex
Aliadriatica).
From here, it was a
further 33 miles North to Gaineseville, where a very rare
classic propliner is present. More ‘Southern hospitality’ here,
letting me drive across the runway by myself to reach the
parking area of ATL-98 Carvair
N89FA. Registered to South
African Air Lease LLC since 2012, the aircraft is named ‘Fat
Annie Miss 1944’, and is in good condition with frequent engine
runs carried out. The only complete Carvair in the world,
obviously the owners are still trying keep it airworthy, with
the hope of it flying out one day. Various rumours have so far
come to nothing, with it reportedly heading to South Africa in
2012, and before that, going to Brooks Fuel at Fairbanks in
2008. One of 21 Carvairs built, converted from DC-4’s, the ‘Miss
1944 name was also worn back in the 70’s when flying for BAF,
being derived from it being a 1944-built USAF C-54, with a
subsequent history including being registered in Mexico, Panama
and Bolivia. Also present here nearby, is bare metal DC-3C
N941AT without engines, outer wings and rudder. Registered to RF
Diver, it still has a ‘Southern Baptist Convention, Disaster
Relief Texas’ logo, next to a plate with ‘Aircraft Operated By
Air Tejas Inc’, and is named ‘Vera Lynn II’. Unfortunately,
several other old propliners previously here are now gone,
including ex Rhoades C-47A N141JR (recently scrapped at Fort
Worth Meacham), DC-3C N472AF (now at Fairview, TX), DC-3 N87745
(now at Fort Worth Meacham- see later), Convair CV-340 (C-131B)
N145GT (now at Opa Locka- as mentioned in Part 1) and another
unidentified Convair. Bit of a propliner graveyard, now mostly
cleared, though some of these are still airworthy.
Now heading East, next
stop was North Texas Regional airport at Grayson, 37 miles away.
Again, friendly folk at the FBO with easy access, their hangar
contained several old Learjets for sale, with very early
1970-built Learjet 25 N76UM (051), as well as 1980-built Learjet
25D N199BT, and 1978-built Learjet 25D N242GS. Outside another
hangar was 1972-built Gulf 2SP N892TM, which apparently hasn’t
flown ‘in months’, while parked near another hangar was even
older, 1968-built HS125-3A N23CJ, looking in good condition, but
also thought to be grounded. Next to this are two Beech 18’s,
with Beech E18S N18LK also in good condition, and the bare metal
fuselage of Beech D18S N3452B. Some nice old stuff, though after
talking with the guys here, the best thing was locked out of
sight in a secure hangar. Convair C-131B N131CR ‘fitted with
cameras’ is apparently based here! Registered to Airborne
Resources Inc, it has a modified nose cone and carrys a large
pod under the fuselage. Painted in a military-style overall dark
grey, it also has the Skunk Works logo on the fin. Very nice.
Some you win…
Final stop on this busy
day, over one hour away, around 64 miles further East along Hwy
82 was another very rare classic propliner. Parked next to the
road, around 5 miles West of Paris, TX (on Co Rd 33010) next to
the Flying Tigers dirt-strip, is Martin 404 N255S. Last operated
by Pro-Air, and still in their basic, faded colours, it arrived
here around 1993 from Bismarck, ND and is one of the very few
remaining fully intact Martins’ in the world. Although
registered to a Harold Sheppard Jr (Sheppard Trucking), the
owner (and son of the previous owner), Ike Burchinal Jr passed
by while i was there. Having a chat, he told me it was run up
around a year ago, though needs some new engine parts, and is
for sale to a good home. Ideally he would like it to be
preserved in a museum, and doesn’t want it broken up. The last
offer received, was for the engines and other parts, which was
declined. And so, from here, the final long haul today was back
to Dallas, and the hotel near Addison airport, 102 miles to the
SE. A great first day on the road in Texas, the next five days
were going to be a bit more chilled out.
13 miles down the road
is the busiest airport for executive movements in the city,
Dallas Love Field, where the rest of the day was to be spent. As
well as the major executive FBO’s, servicing the many private
jets that use the airport, the other major player is Southwest
Airlines, who have their corporate headquaters as well as
maintenance hangars here. Being a major ‘focus city’, the
airline operates many flights from here, and noticably (during
this trip), mostly with older -300 and -500 series B737’s, so a
good place to catch these before being replaced by next-gen
737’s.
Firstly, a drive along
the East side FBO’s and hangars, followed by a few landing
shots, provided PC-12’s N405U and XA-FFG, Beechjet 400A N314TL,
Gulf 450 N844GF, Gulf 3 N384BB, Hawker 800XP N307RM and Learjet
45 N440FX among the many biz arrivals. While the sun was
overhead around mid-day, i then visited the Frontiers of Flight
museum, in the SE corner of the airfield. Although been here
before, i had only photographed the aircraft outside, so decided
to go in this time. Outside, with the nose inside, is Southwest
B737-300 N300SW ‘The Spirit of Kittyhawk’, which was the very
first B737-300 to enter service. Next to this, also displayed
inside, is the nose section of company B737-200 N102SW, named
‘The Herbert D Kelleher’ after the airlines founder. Re-painted
in the current colours, of course these were never worn when in
service. Next to N300SW outside now, is YF-16B demonstrator
75-0752, the second pre-production F-16, which was previously on
display inside. Also moved outside is 1973-built Learjet 24D
N281FP, though dumped around the back its hardly on display. Of
the highlights inside, very rare Lear Fan 2100
N21LF is one of
only two that survive (the other is in Seattle). Planned to be
produced in Belfast, the aircraft was made of innovative
composite materials, but certification problems with the FAA
lead to its eventual cancellation. Another rare, unusual
aircraft, similarly abandoned before production, was the XQM-93A
manned drone (known as the L-450F in unmanned configuration),
with 72-01287 present, in USAF markings, also only one of two
survivors. Finally, also here is the Apollo 7 Command Module.
Right next to the museum
is the large ‘Associated Air Center’ hangar, which today was
open with two nice aircraft present, sticking out. VIP B767-200
N767MW of Swift Air/MLW Air is based here (last seen at Long
Beach), along with Mexican AF B757-200 TP-01/XC-UJM (getting
some work done). Also from the museum car park, if runway 31R is
used for arrivals, this would be a good photospot in the
morning. Today, all movements were using ‘31L until around
mid-day, with ‘31R just about to be opened as well, with both
runways then in use, for landings from the SE. So, for the
afternoon, first finding a good photospot for arrivals onto
runway 31L, highlights were Southwest B737-700 N713SW ‘SeaWorld
Shamu’ logo jet, 1945-built SNJ-6 Texan N269CB in US Navy
colours (named ‘Anytime’), Southwest B737-700 N439WN named ‘The
Donald G Ogden’ (after retired VP of Flight Ops) and Falcon 900B
N901TX. However, with most arrivals now using ‘31R, i changed
position and found another photospot for this runway, for the
rest of the afternoon, in the great weather. Before this, a
quick shot of resident VIP BAC1-11-419EP
N999BW of Business Jet
Access, while along the Western perimeter fence (more on this
later).
Obviously Sunday PM is
busy with biz, with big-wigs getting back into town for work
Monday morning etc. First highlight was very nice Ameristar
Charters B737-200
N733TW. Based at nearby Addison, this 56
all-first class seat classic B737 is ex Southwest N83SW, and
often chartered by sports teams and music groups etc. This was
followed by based PC-12 N58VS, operating for SeaPort Airlines as
SQH7 from Hot Springs, Cessna 650 N132CE from Houston Hobby, T
Boone Pickens Gulf 550 N522BP, AT&T Falcon 7X N906SB, Flight
Options Cessna 750 N708FL as OPT708 from Tucson, and BAe125-800A
N430BB of Baron & Budd. The first foreigner was Canadian Gulf
150 C-FTXX of Manitoba Ltd of Winnipeg, followed by a couple of
biz-props, with Beech 350 N45GA and Pa-46-500TP N351C, inbound
from Santa Fe, NM. More biz continued, with CL604 N1903G from
Chicago Midway, Challenger 300 N305EM of Exxon Mobil Corp,
Beechjet 400A N43BD, and classic Sabreliner 65
N465BC arriving
from its Memphis base (where it was photographed last Sunday).
The final biz arrivals, shot in ‘golden hour’ were Hawker 800XP
N804BH from Oakland, Merlin III N46SA from Las Vegas (New
Mexico), sweet little Phenom 100 XA-UOB of Eolo Plus SA,
BAe125-1000A N567CL from Jack Brooks Regional, TX, Learjet 45
N917LH of Kodiak Jet, Anchorage, Flight Options Phenom 300
N332FL as OPT332 from Lakefront, New Orleans, and NetJets Cessna
750 N931QS as EJA931 from Monterey, CA. Finally, before leaving,
a couple of shots through the fence were of recently registered
Global Express N356AP. This was registered on 16th April, and is
ex M-RUAT & HB-IKZ, replacing CL604 N356AP (which is now in
India). Also parked here was Learjet 45 XA-SAA (previously
G-LLOD), while of the parked/stored biz-liners on a Northern
perimeter ramp, all white B727-200 N615PA of Aircorp Inc was
photographed, along with B757-200 N757SS of Juliet Romeo
Aviation. This was originally Air Europe’s G-BKRM, and up until
recently both of these carried sports teams logos, with this
having ‘Dallas Stars/Texas Rangers’ and the B727 having ‘New
Jersey Devils’. From here, it was onto the hotel for the final
four nights, near Fort Worth Meacham, just to the West of
Dallas.
Then heading down to NAS
Fort Worth, a quick look around Meacham was made en route. This
is quite a busy GA/biz field, with a couple of museums (to do
later). Also here is the largest aircraft painting company in
the States, Leading Edge, who have a large hangar. A contract
with Boeing to paint new B787’s is carried out here, along with
occasional biz-liners. Hoping for a 787 to arrive or depart over
the three days in the area, wasn’t to be, although they did have
one inside (id not known). Of the biz present, only a couple
were good for a shot, with Cessna 650 N622CS and nice
Do328-300JET N429FJ of Ultimate Jet Charters. Previously
operated by Delta Connection before VIP conversion, it seems to
be based here. Also present was early 1976-built Beech 200
C-GCET with Creewest Air logo and ‘Operated by Air Bravo’.
Actually, after being sold, this was officialy registered as
N124KT on 12th April, for Pollard Aircraft Sales Inc. Finally,
parked on a Southerly ramp, near the fire station, is MD-87
N176AS. Still in ex Austrian Airlines colours (ex OE-LMK), with
engines removed, it was sold in 2005 to Aircraft and Engine
Support LLC, and ended up here, where the reg recently expired
on 31st January.
And so onto NAS Fort
Worth for the first visit here. Resident units are US Navy VR-59
with the C-40A, USMC VMGR-234 with KC-130T’s, VMFA-112 ‘Cowboys’
with F/A-18A’s, USAF 181AS/136AW TX ANG with C-130H’s, and
457FS/301FW AFRC ‘Spads’ flying F-16C/D’s ‘Fort Worth’. Also
based are the US Army Reserve C-12R+ of the 339 MI Co (Military
Intelligence Company), painted all grey. The main interest
though, is the Lockheed Martin Plant 4 factory, with the final
production lines for the F-16 and F-35, meaning all of these are
first flown and tested here, before delivery to domestic units
or overseas customers. Looking into photography here, several
well known photospots around the Southern perimeter were known
about, though i was also aware of reports of a recent clamp down
by security. Previously, using steps against the fence was fine,
but no longer it seems, as i was to find out myself, after a
(friendly) chat with security police. However, landing shots
from the South (onto runway 35), are still possible from either
side, from a couple of photospots away from the fence. Actually,
it was thought that landing shots from the North (onto runway
17), were probably more difficult, with Lake Worth right next to
the runway at this end. However, good photospots on the land on
the opposite side of the lake were later found (after a runway
change), with the best shots actually coming from this end.
So, with runway 35 in
use today, based KC-130T 163310/QH departed and returned later,
as did based F/A-18A 162467/MA-14 and F/A-18A++ 162882/MA-08.
KC-130T 162310/QH (recently used as the Blue Angels support
aircraft) then taxied out for engine runs, followed by departing
based C-40A 165833. Following the return of the Hornets, several
T-38C’s from Sheppard AFB carried out multiple approaches:
64-13239/EN of the 90FTS/80FTW ‘Boxin Bears’, and 66-4350/EN,
67-14849/EN & 69-7073/EN of the 469FTS/80FTW ‘Fighting Bulls’.
In the afternoon, the same two Hornets carried out another local
mission, while unmarked USMC F/A-18A+ 162843 arrived. These were
followed by Lockheed Martin F-16DM 90-0848 test aircraft. Also
serving as a ‘chase plane’ for F-16 and F-35 test flights, it
has the Lockheed Martin logo on the fin, along with a ‘waving’
texas flag. Finally, another Hornet arrival was US Navy F/A-18C
164907/AD-363 of VFA-106 at NAS Oceana. In addition, also noted
was the tail fin of ex USNavy C-9B 164606/RS (ex VR-61 at Whidby
Island), which had been retired to AMARG in 2007. Placed upright
on a grassed area near the main gate, maybe this is to be made
into a ‘proper’ gate guard here?
So, not exactly a
‘thrilling’ first day here, thankfully things were going to get
much better, with a change in runway, and fortune over the next
two days. Finally for today, was another visit to Alliance, to
try and get some night shots, just after sundown. Again, still
no security issues, with nice shots of the Phenom 100
demonstrator N390EE and A-10C 78-0704/MD.
Day 2 at NAS Fort Worth,
with clear blue sky and ‘lightning’ in the area… Going to the
same morning photospot as yesterday, i soon discovered they were
using runway 17, with take off’s towards me. As well as the same
two based VMFA-112 Hornets as yesterday, also launching this
morning were six resident Texas Reserve F-16C’s: 85-1457/TX
(‘457FS’), 85-1468/TX, 86-0216/TX, 86-0219/TX, 86-0242/TX (‘10th
AF’) and 86-0246/TX. Re-locating to the North of the runway, i
was pleased to find a good photospot for the morning recoveries.
As well as the two Hornets and six Vipers, a few more Sheppard
T-38C’s made approaches: 66-8353/EN of the 90FTS, and
65-10359/EN & 67-14849/EN of the 469FTS. Then finally, what i
was really hoping to see here, some ‘new stuff’ test flying.
Presumably missing them take off after re-locating to this end,
brand new Egyptian AF F-16C
9758 was returning, after two
approaches, along with Lockheed Martin F-16DM ‘chase plane’
90-0848. Part of the ‘Peace Vector VII’ FMS program, this Block
52 Viper was wearing the full Egyptian markings (which will
normally be blanked-out for the delivery flight). Nice!
With the usual break for
lunch, the afternoon departures then began, which can’t be seen
easily at this end due to trees. Sounded good though, with a lot
of stuff going out, hopefully to return soon. The first to
return… and the first seen, the first photographed, and how
fitting, the first production aircraft for the UK… F-35B
Lightning II
ZM137. Painted with the RAF fin flash and low-viz
roundels, this first production JSF for the UK (c/n BK-03) first
flew on 1st April, following the two test aircraft (ZM135 &
ZM136, already delivered to Eglin AFB, which will apparently
remain Stateside). Only the one straight-in approach to catch
this first sight of an F-35, i’m sure Marham will be a popular
place in around two years time, when the first aircraft are
delivered to their new home for the RAF and Royal Navy. After
flying now for five weeks, i guess the chase plane is no longer
required, with no F-16 accompanying this test flight. What did
follow though, five minutes later, was another amazing and
unusual looking aircraft, the heavily modified B737-300
N35LX of
Lockheed Martin. Previously Lufthansa’s D-ABXH, the CATB
(Cooperative Avionics Test Bed) or ‘Catbird’ has been modified
to include an F-35 nose cone and a sensor wing on the sides of
the forward fuselage, among other things. After returning home
from a (regular) two-day visit to Eglin AFB on the 1st, todays
flight, ‘Catbird 1’ had departed at 1154, and operated a
racetrack pattern to the SW of Fort Worth, before landing back
at 1505. Also today, the first shots of a based US Army C-12R+,
with 95-00100 returning with a couple of approaches. This was
followed by three resident F-16C’s RTB: 85-1457/TX (‘457FS’),
85-1458/TX & 86-0219/TX, and two based Hornets: F/A-18A
162467/MA-14, F/A-18A++ 162882/MA-08.
Awesome day, that’s more
like it! From here, it was back up to Alliance to see what was
new, in the last hour or two of sunlight. Afternoon shots are
not so good, facing the sun, so first heading to the end of the
runway, a couple caught inbound, were JetSuite Phenom 100 N580JS
as RSP633 from Dallas Executive (just to the SW of Dallas), and
Cessna 750
N75TX of Bell Helicopter Textron (who have a Customer
Center and large hangar here). Also noted was Alliance Air
Charter SD-360-300 N973AA, flying Southbound quite low,
presumably out of their Denton base. From this photospot, a
couple of FedEx B727’s could be seen better at the large FedEx
facility. Noticing they hadn’t moved over several visits here,
now i could see why, they were wfu, with the cockpit windows
sealed up (one being B727-200F N223FE). Further to this and Part
1’s Memphis report, the final FedEx B727 revenue service was
operated on 21st June, with N481FE returning to Memphis as
FDX727 from Indianapolis. Two other domestic flights positioned
in that night, with a couple based in South America, returning
later that week, so that all B727 flights were finished by the
end of June. End of an era.
Finally at Alliance,
waiting for the lights to come on, just after sundown, for some
night shots, Cessna 750 N75TX was photographed again, along with
USAF KC-135R
58-0038 of the AFRC 77ARS/916ARW ‘First In Flight’
(Seymour Johnson AFB).
Another final visit, was
to Meacham this morning, again en route to the NAS. Big surprise
today was the ATK (Alliant Techsystems Inc) MC-27J N359PL, out
of its hangar doing engine runs. Wasn’t aware it lived here!
Registered to Alenia Aermacchi North America Inc, the
demonstrator has been around for a few years (as a ‘regular
C-27J’), though is now painted in a dark camo scheme with
‘MC-27J’ and the spartan logo on the fin. Returning here from
Special Ops base, Duke Field, FL on 18th March after live firing
trials, ATK (who specialize in ‘weaponization’ of special
mission aircrat) are testing the aircraft as an armed
‘multi-mission’ version of the Spartan. As a demonstrator, the
aircraft was later displayed at the Paris Airshow 2013. Also
photographed, were a couple of the biz present, Falcon 20F-5
N18HN of APA Aircraft Staffing LLC (ex HB-VKO) and local Falcon
50 N70BR of Rosair Inc.
Today i had also planned
on visiting the two museums here, the Veterans Memorial Air Park
and the Vintage Flying Museum. Special access is needed at the
latter during the week, which is normally only open Fri-Sun.
Main interest here are a couple of old propliners, with the
museums DC-3 N87745 painted as USAAF 41-6531/T9 ‘Southern Cross’
(with D-Day stripes) parked outside. Also outside, on the grass
to the side of the hangar is the rear fuselage (with inboard
wings and rear cowlings) of Convair 640
N860FW, still in Kitty
Hawk Air Cargo colours. Purchased by Rhoades Aviation in 2000,
presumably for parts, scrapping was started last year and is
soon to be completed on the remaining airframe, with the reg
just cancelled on 9th April. Four other aircraft were present
until recently, but they had gone through the same process and
are now history. Final remains of Convair 640 N3407 and C-47A’s
N141JR, N19721 & N86553 were removed in the last couple of
years. Also currently outside is ex US Navy EA-3B Skywarrior
146453/JV-003, which arrived for restoration from AMARG (code
2A126 still visible) a few months ago. Having operated with VQ-2
at Rota, Spain from 1960 until retirement after Desert Storm in
1991, the ‘Whale’ was later operated by Raytheon at Van Nuys for
weapons testing until 2011. Also awaiting restoration, is USAF
CH-21B ‘Flying Banana’ 53-4324, which was previously displayed
at Cresson, TX.
Moving inside the VFM
hangar, ex Bolivian AF F-86F FAB-658 has been present here since
at least 2006, and still has the full original markings with a
GAC-32 unit badge on the fin, and US reg
N8630 (which expired in
2011) roughly painted on using a spray can. Also inside was
airworthy A-26B Invader N240P of the Commemorative Air Force,
painted in black USAAF markings as 43-7140/R ‘Texas Special’,
B-26K ‘Counter Invader’ N4988N, being restored as USAF
64-17679/IF ‘Special Kay’, B-25N N1042B/44-30823 restored as
USAAF ‘Pacific Prowler’, Beech D18S N197L/KR-411 in US Navy
Dallas JRB-6 markings, and AT-6D N101NZ/NZ1079 in RNZAF
markings.
Close by is the
Veterans Memorial Air Park. New arrival here is ex Blue
Angels F/A-18A 162826/3, which was roaded in from NAS Fort Worth
16th March. Others present include two Phantoms: F-4C
64-0825/AF-201 ex USAF (retired by the 301TFW at Carswell AFB in
1987), now painted in US Navy VF-202 markings, and US Navy QF-4S
153821/107 ex VX-30 ‘Bloodhounds’ at Point Mugu, CA (the last US
Navy/Marines F-4 to fly), two US Navy Skyhawks: A-4C 147715 and
TA-4J 158073/AF-02 ex TW-2 at NAS Kingsville (painted in desert
camo), US Navy ‘Aggressor’ F-5E 741558/red 13 ex VFC-13, USAF
F-105D 60-5385 ex 149TFS/192TFG VA ANG, USAF F-111E 68-0009/UH
ex 77TFS/20TFW at Upper Heyford, and three OV-10A Bronco’s: USMC
OV-10A 155426 and USAF 68-3825. Both of these last flew for the
BLM (Bureau of Land Management) in Fairbanks during the 90’s, as
N97LM & N646 respectively. Finally, full scale OV-10 factory
mock-up NAA-001 is restored as USMC ‘52879’.
From here it was on to
NAS Fort Worth for the rest of the day, for the final visit
here. Again using runway 17, the morning launches were just
returning as i arrived in position. Again, resident units were
in action, with the usual two VMFA-112 Hornets recovering, along
with three Texas Reserve Vipers: F-16C’s
85-1472/TX &
86-0246/TX, and F-16D 85-1571/TX (their only two-seater seen).
These were followed by BAe125-800A N2032 of the US Marshals
Service, obviously quite a surprise to see on approach here.
Thankfully, another busy afternoon was ahead, after the usual
break before things started to return. Again, the resident
Vipers were active, with the following returning: F-16C’s
85-1410/TX, 85-1412/TX, 85-1472/TX & 85-1556/TX, along with
VMFA-112 Hornets: F/A-18A 162467/MA-14 & F/A-18A++ 162882/MA-08,
flying with F/A-18+ 162843. This had arrived on Monday, and has
‘Marines’ on the left side and ‘Navy’ on the right, with no unit
markings or code.
Then a fantastic sight,
Lockheed Martin F-16DM ‘chase plane’ 90-0848 on formation
approach with USAF F-35A
10-5015/EG. This is another JSF for the
58FS/33FW based at Eglin AFB, FL (the first USAF unit to receive
the type), test flying fully painted with unit markings, making
no fewer than four approaches! Finally, a few nice heavier
things to finish off a great few days here. The first based USAF
181AS/136AW TX ANG C-130H seen, with 85-1362 inbound, followed
by another first of type seen and photographed, US Navy P-8A
168429/L of VP-16 at NAS Jacksonville. With a large ‘Patrol
Sixteen, Nothing But Excellence’ unit badge on the right side
nose, the previous ‘LL’ tail code and unit logo (bird) is still
just visible after being removed, with only a single ‘L’
remaining! LL is the code for VP-30 at Jacksonville, the other
P-8A unit there, who it was previously painted up for (VP-16’s
code is LF). 429 is the second production aircraft, with VP-16
now flying the first operational P-8A’s after reaching IOC this
February. Following this was another nice B737, with N35LX of
Lockheed Martin flying again today. ‘Catbird 1’ had departed at
1345 and operated a longer racetrack pattern, to the West of
Fort Worth, before landing back at 1720. Another great day here.
With runway 13R being
used for most take offs and landings, a new photospot was tried,
Parking Garage B. This has very good close views, looking down
on aircraft landed and rotating on ‘13R, though not being sure
about the security situation (with cameras around), i was very
‘discreet’. As for the conditions, sometimes terrible weather
can make for great shots, with the wet creating some dramatic
effects, including for Southwest B737-700
N250WN, deploying the
reverse thrust on the flooded runway. So, as well as the many
Southwest (again, mostly the older -300 and -500 aircraft), biz
photographed over the three hour period here, included Learjet
31A N840SW, Gulf 450 N588AT, Learjet 45 N918DG, Cessna 525
N800NB, Learjet 40 N554HD, Cessna 550 Bravo N100WT, Learjet 40
N77HN, Beech C90 N149CF of CareFlight (air ambulance), AT&T
Falcon 7X N906SB, Beechjet 400A N314TL, Cessna 560XL N411KQ,
Falcon 50EX N928WK and Hawker 800XP N305SC.
Finally, resident VIP
BAC1-11-419EP N999BW of Business Jet Access, is now parked
outside their FBO on the Western perimeter here. Having visited
to photograph the enthusiasts charter in 2011, i had a quick
call in to speak with the lovely Chaney there (who had organized
everything back then). She confirmed that the planned
enthusiasts charters planned for this October, unfortunately had
to be cancelled due to the aircraft being grounded with parts
problems. After last flying last September (FAA check ride for
pilot currency), the aircraft remains for sale, with 10,145
hours TT, for which BJA are trying to maintain airworthiness,
with the hope to fly again by next year. Obviously, the 1-11 is
worth a lot more airworthy, and is not really much use as
spares, if it came to the worst. Its thought only two 1-11’s are
flying in the world now, the Northrop Grumman test aircraft at
Baltimore, who could be the only ones interested in N999BW for
parts, but lets hope it doesn’t come to that.
Finally for this trip,
one last stop, en route to DFW for the flight home, was to the
American Airlines CR Smith museum. On display inside here is
immaculate (inside and out) DC-3-227B
NC21798 ‘Flagship
Knoxville’, which operated for the airline between 1940 and
1948. From here, it was the short distance to the rental return
and on to check in for BA192 to Heathrow. Operated by B747-400
G-CIVX, departure was at 1855, landing 8.30 hours later at 0925L
on the 10th, for a very quick connection onto BA125 to Bahrain.
Operated by B777-200ER G-VIIG, departure was at 1050, landing
6.20 hours later at 1915L. Hope you enjoyed the report…
something very different to follow..!
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