LOG: USA TRIP MAY 2023 Part 1 (VA and TX)

[GIPS]

Hi All,

Besides the Airshow at Langley AFB we also visited some base close to it, before flying to Texas for some more spotting. Unfortunately the weather really sucks over there which made the trip not that what I expected in advance.
This included even a real Tornado warning, and not the plane!
Nevertheless we had a great time and did catch all we can.

AMSTERDAM SCHIPHOL , 4-5-2023

Based:
PH-GOV Boeing 737-700 Dutch Governement
G-GCFK DHC-8-102 Dutch Coast Guard
G-FCGE DHC-8-102 Dutch Coast Guard

Visit:
012 C-295M PWL 13.Eltr

The Dutch Government Boeing brought Zelensky for a State visit and F-16 talk to The Netherlands.

NAS OCEANA ,VA 5-5-2023

Preserved:
160401/AJ-213 F-14A ex USN near road

Based:
166654/AD-106 F/A-18E USN VFA-106
(166422)/AD-122 F/A-18E USN VFA-106
(166655)AD-101 F/A-18E USN VFA-106
(166652)AD-114 F/A-18E USN VFA-106
/AD-102 F/A-18E USN VFA-106
/AD-110 F/A-18E USN VFA-106
/AD-116 F/A-18E USN VFA-106
/AD-132 F/A-18E USN VFA-106

165797/AD-211 F/A-18F USN VFA-106
166613/AD-260 F/A-18F USN VFA-106
(166665)/AD-250 F/A-18F USN VFA-106
165912/AD-204 F/A-18F USN VFA-106
165892/AD-245 F/A-18F USN VFA-106
166816/AD-252 F/A-18F USN VFA-106
165880/AD-240 F/A-18F USN VFA-106
/AD-254 F/A-18F USN VFA-106
/AD-262 F/A-18F USN VFA-106
(165934)/AD-226 F/A-18F USN VFA-106
/AD-236 F/A-18F USN VFA-106
(166462)/AD-237 F/A-18F USN VFA-106
(166453)/AD-264 F/A-18F USN VFA-106
(166622)/AD-265 F/A-18F USN VFA-106
166467/AD-247 F/A-18F USN VFA-106 colour badge
(165890)/AD-244 F/A-18F USN VFA-106
(166619)/AD-267 F/A-18F USN VFA-106
(165804)/AD-222 F/A-18F USN VFA-106
(166610)/AD-210 F/A-18F USN VFA-106
/AD-261 F/A-18F USN VFA-106

169641/NH-300 F/A-18E USN VFA-34 CAG
166744/NH-312 F/A-18E USN VFA-34
169642/NH-302 F/A-18E USN VFA-34
169643/NH-303 F/A-18E USN VFA-34
(169646)/NH-301 F/A-18E USN VFA-34
(169644)/NH-304 F/A-18E USN VFA-34

166805/AB-100 F/A-18F USN VFA-11 CAG
(168888)/AB-104 F/A-18F USN VFA-11
166889/AB-105 F/A-18F USN VFA-11
166671/AB-106 F/A-18F USN VFA-11
(169648)/AB-112 F/A-18F USN VFA-11

169735/NH-222 F/A-18E USN VFA-211
168914/NH-207 F/A-18E USN VFA-211
(168908)/NH-206 F/A-18E USN VFA-211
168913/NH-211 F/A-18E USN VFA-211 CAG

(166783)/AB-403 F/A-18E USN VFA-81
(166441)/AB-404 F/A-18E USN VFA-81
(166837)/ AB-407 F/A-18E USN VFA-81
(166831)/ AB-411 F/A-18E USN VFA-81

AC-205 F/A-18E USN VFA-83

(168909)/AC-300 F/A-18E USN VFA-131 CAG
(168918)/AC-301 F/A-18E USN VFA-131

(168910)/AJ-400 F/A-18E USN VFA-87 CAG
(169397)/AJ-403 F/A-18E USN VFA-87
/AJ-404 F/A-18E USN VFA-87
(168469)/AJ-405 F/A-18E USN VFA-87
(168470)/AJ-406 F/A-18E USN VFA-87
(169395)/AJ-410 F/A-18E USN VFA-87
(169396)/AJ-411 F/A-18E USN VFA-87

(165910)/22 F/A-18F USN VFC-12

165830/830 C-40A USN VR-56
166696/696 C-40A USN VR-56

Visit:
63-7993 KC-135R USAF 166th ARS
(09-0640) MC-12W USAF nmks
?? C-130 USAF SOS
(-3-0501) C-295 USAF 427th SOS no serial HEX AE044E
166695/695 C-40A USN VR-58
169568/568 P-8A USN VP-30

After a smooth flight into Washington and a short night in a hotel our first stop was Oceana. Reading modexes is easy in the early morning.
Flying was very low this day with only 25 different Hornets from about 5 units. Last time I had over 100 flying a day. I was told some units just returned from Fallon and prepare for an upcoming deployment. Modex has changed again with some units. VFA-87 becomes AJ-4.. from NH and VFA-211 becomes NH-2…from AB. There was a SOS exercise going with only the C-295W flying. This bird had no serial at all, but must be -3-0501
Any help and confirmations with the missing buno’s is very welcome…

NAS NORFOLK ,VA 5-5-2023

Based:
165649/(AC)-600 E-2C USN VAW-123
165816/AC-603 E-2C USN VAW-123
165813/(AC)-601 E-2C USN VAW-123
165650/AC-604 E-2C USN VAW-123

168592/(AB)-602 E-2D USN VAW-126
168599/(AB)-604 E-2D USN VAW-126
169869/(AB)-605 E-2D USN VAW-126

162150/43 C-2A USN stored
(162164)/57 C-2A USN VRC-40
(162155)/53 C-2A USN VRC-40
(162160)/55 C-2A USN VRC-40
(162161)/42 C-2A USN VRC-40
(162149)/47 C-2A USN VRC-40
(162171)/41 C-2A USN VRC-40

169075/(AG)-604 E-2D USN VAW-121
169077/(AG-603) E-2D USN VAW-121
169083/(AG)-602 E-2D USN VAW-121
169080/(AG-601) E-2D USN VAW-121
169081/(AG-600) E-2D USN VAW-121

169052/AJ-603 E-2D USN VAW-124
(169084)/AJ-600 E-2D USN VAW-124
(169076)/AJ-604 E-2D USN VAW-124
(169483)AJ-602 E-2D USN VAW-124

165823/- E-2C USN VAW-120
166507/656 E-2C USN VAW-120
(1658)14/653 E-2C USN VAW-120
(16582)8/(655) E-2C USN VAW-120
162174/632 C-2A USN VAW-120

169868/643 E-2D USN VAW-120
169071/672 E-2D USN VAW-120
168595/67.. E-2D USN VAW-120
168276/664 E-2D USN VAW-120
162166/(635) C-2A USN VAW-120
162169/…… C-2A USN VAW-120

168577/HW-24 MH-60S USN HSC-26
(167842)/HW-61 MH-60S USN HSC-26
+2 MH-60S USN HSC-26

167855/HU-751 MH-60S USN HSC-2

(167860)/BR-42 MH-60S USN HSC-28


Hangers:
165819/652 E-2C USN VAW-120
/644 E-2C USN VAW-120
/40 C-2A USN VRC-40
/54 C-2A USN VRC-40
(165825)/AC-602 E-2C USN VAW-123
(168600)/(AB)-601 E-2D USN VAW-126
(168749)/(AB)-603 E-2D USN VAW-126

Visit:
6018 MH-60T USN Elizabeth City
166805/AB-100 F/A-18F USN VFA-11 CAG

Norfolk was also flying poor but still good for numbers. Over here they change also past with their buno’s and modexes. A lot of changes compared to my visit from last year.


HAMPTON AIR POWER MUSEUM, VA 5-5-2023

64-18266 XV-6A ex NASA pres "NASA520"
54-2145 F-100D ex USAF pres FDS c/s
69-0372/ZZ RF-4C ex USAF pres
56-0246 F-101F ex USAF pres
52-2129/FV-129 F-89J ex USAF pres
61-0073/ME F-105D ex USAF pres
51-3064/FU-064 F-86L ex USAF pres
52-0374 T-33A ex USAF pres "as 19086"
157500/AC-300 A-7E ex USN pres


A nice tiny museum close to Langley AFB. It was closed at the moment for re-works but all planes are outside.


NEWPORT NEWS IAP, VA 5-5-2023

Based:
N111XD Saab RF-35 Draken ATAC ex RDAF AR-111 stored
N339AX Hunter F.58 ATAC ex Swiss AF J-4060
N328AX Hunter F.58 ATAC ex Swiss AF J-4031
N340AX Hunter F.58 ATAC ex Swiss AF J-4097
1 x L-39C ATAC
Visit:
166376 C-37B USN VR-1

This small airfield is also very close to Langley AFB and home of the ATAC. Not much activity was noted in the weekend.
Sometimes it brings some nice visitors for the weekend, and in this case a nice C-37 of the Navy.

NAS NORFOLK ,VA 6-5-2023

additionals:
168581/HU-762 MH-60S USN HSC-2
165774/HU-706 MH-60S USN HSC-2
166360/HU-727 MH-60S USN HSC-2
HU-701 MH-60S USN HSC-2

162503/AN-435 MH-53E USN HM-12
164765/AN-434 MH-53E USN HM-12
164863/AN-431 MH-53E USN HM-12

164766/TB-05 MH-53E USN HM-15
162510/TB-15 MH-53E USN HM-15 CAG
163055/TB-11 MH-53E USN HM-15
164771/TB-21 MH-53E USN HM-15
(162504)/TB-17 MH-53E USN HM-15 Hanger
/TB-13 MH-53E USN HM-15
/TB-26 MH-53E USN HM-15

Visit:
166695/695 C-40A USN VR-58

A second stop in the early morning to score some extra helicopters. All those outside were noted. It seems a lot of MH-60 were inside during the weekend. Nevertheless some nice extra’s.

RICHMOND IAP, VA 6-5-2023

Based:
84-24015 UH-60A USAR (2-224th AVN / VA ARNG)
84-24022 EH-60A USAR (2-224th AVN / VA ARNG)
87-24581 UH-60A USAR 2-224th AVN / VA ARNG
89-26190 UH-60L USAR 2-224th AVN / VA ARNG
91-26392 UH-60L USAR (2-224th AVN / VA ARNG)
93-26501 UH-60L USAR (2-224th AVN / VA ARNG)
93-26502 UH-60L USAR (2-224th AVN / VA ARNG) red cross
96-26669 UH-60L USAR (2-224th AVN / VA ARNG) red cross
99-26834 UH-60L USAR 2-224th AVN / VA ARNG
99-26835 UH-60L USAR 2-224th AVN / VA ARNG
99-26836 UH-60L USAR 2-224th AVN / VA ARNG
99-26838 UH-60L USAR 2-224th AVN / VA ARNG
99-26844 UH-60L USAR 2-224th AVN / VA ARNG
99-26846 UH-60L USAR 2-224th AVN / VA ARNG
99-26847 UH-60L USAR (2-224th AVN / VA ARNG)
99-26848 UH-60L USAR 2-224th AVN / VA ARNG
99-26849 UH-60L USAR (2-224th AVN / VA ARNG)
01-26893 UH-60L USAR (2-224th AVN / VA ARNG)

N70447/140606/607 T-28C private owned stored

Visit:
167090/B-245 T-45C USN TAW-2


Never seen so many blackhawks over here. Looks like the entire unit was outside. The T-45 was parked at the Jet Center Inc. while the T-28 was at Milionair. Always a good place to stop during the weekends.


RONALD REAGAN WASHINGTON IAP, VA 6-5-2023

6604 MH-65D USCG Atlantic City


The last stop before flying to Texas was this USCG at the former major airport op Washington. Spotting here is a piece of cake, but the score was low.

FORT WORTH ALLIANCE TX, 7-5-2023

Based:
161199/G-304 TC-12B ex USN stored ex N146AW

Visit:
66-4365/RA T-38C USAF 560th FTS
66-4347/EN T-38C USAF 469th FTS
67-14846/EN T-38C USAF 469th FTS
70-1562/VN T-38C USAF 25th FTS
65-10335/VN T-38C USAF 25th FTS spec c/s
92-0340/RA T-1A USAF 99th FTS
63-8879 KC-135R USAF 6th ARW
62-3517 KC-135R USAF nmks

After a 3 hour flight into Dallas and picking up our rental van, this was our first stop. Always fun to visit this please, you never know what you are going to get. Looks like the tankers were flying local from this place. To bad the weather was not that what you expected from TX, grey, cloudy and light rain.


TSTC WACO RAP, TX 7-5-2023

O/H:
90-1792 C-130H USAF ANG
91-1232 C-130H USAF nmks
92-3023 C-130H USAF AFRC
92-3287 C-130H USAF AFRC
94-0206 C-130H USAF 142nd AS / DE ANG
94-6701 C-130H USAF ANG
96-1006 C-130H USAF 109th AS / MN ANG
85-0004 C-5M USAF 436th AW
95-0046/CB T-1A USAF stored
09-0661 MC-12W USAF nmks
09-0681 MC-12W USAF nmks
N350PT Beech 350 USSOCOM
N350EB Beech 350 USSOCOM
N6450L Beech 350 USSOCOM
N336MM Beech 350 USSOCOM
N6366S Beech 350 USSOCOM
N579NA G.550 L3HARRIS for?
6 x Mirage F-1 ex RJAF

Visit:
165313/AX-313 C-130T USN VR-53
166764/QH-764 KC-130J USMC VMGR-234

Next stop was Waco TSTC. Many variety over here with maintenance and updates done by L3Harris.
Besides that you will always find some nice visitors here over the weekend. Big surprise were the 6 former Jordanian Mirages, which are still unknown.

AUSTIN-BERGSTROM IAP, TX 7-5-2023

Visit:
16-5851 C-130J-30 USAF 181st AS / TX ANG
17-5867 C-130J-30 USAF 181st AS / TX ANG
19-5927 C-130J-30 USAF 181st AS / TX ANG
19-5936 C-130J-30 USAF 181st AS / TX ANG

Unfortunately the army ramp was empty, but quite normal in the weekend. Also no visitors at the Jet Center.
Nice surprise were the 4 x Hercules from Fort Worth which are TDY here for some kind of exercise and flying from the cargo site.

CORPUS CHRISTI IAP , TX 7-5-2023:

Based:
N385F/385 CM-170R ex FAF Private owned

Visit:
05-3781/VN T-6A USAF 33rd FTS
04-3728/VN T-6A USAF 8th FTS spec c/s

Last stop of the day was the civil airport of Corpus Christi. The sun was already down but 2 visitors were seen on the ramp. This place is also favourite for weekend visitors as NAS Corpus Christi is closed normally most of the weekend. At 23:00 local even 6 x T-6B were on the approach, but finally land and the naval air station.

NAS CORPUS CHRISTI , TX 8-5-2023

Based:
160841/G-471 T-44C USN TAW-4
160844/G-444 T-44C USN TAW-4
160846/G-446 T-44C USN TAW-4
160851/G-451 T-44C USN TAW-4
160854/G-454 T-44C USN TAW-4
160855/G-455 T-44C USN TAW-4
160856/G-456 T-44C USN TAW-4
160969/G-430 T-44C USN TAW-4
160973/G-423 T-44C USN TAW-4
160974/G-404 T-44C USN TAW-4
160982/G-422 T-44C USN TAW-4
161066/G-466 T-44C USN TAW-4
161068/G-434 T-44C USN TAW-4
161069/G-436 T-44C USN TAW-4

166015/G-015 T-6B USN TAW-4
166018/G-018 T-6B USN TAW-4
166026/G-026 T-6B USN TAW-4
166032/G-032 T-6B USN TAW-4
166035/G-035 T-6B USN TAW-4
166044/G-044 T-6B USN TAW-4
166050/G-050 T-6B USN TAW-4
166052/G-052 T-6B USN TAW-4
166057/G-057 T-6B USN TAW-4
166068/G-068 T-6B USN TAW-4
166088/G-088 T-6B USN TAW-4
166097/G-097 T-6B USN TAW-4
166099/G-099 T-6B USN TAW-4
166112/G-112 T-6B USN TAW-4
166120/G-120 T-6B USN TAW-4
166126/G-126 T-6B USN TAW-4
166132/G-132 T-6B USN TAW-4
166134/G-134 T-6B USN TAW-4
166146/G-146 T-6B USN TAW-4
166147/G-147 T-6B USN TAW-4
166150/G-150 T-6B USN TAW-4
166176/G-176 T-6B USN TAW-4
166186/G-186 T-6B USN TAW-4
166192/G-192 T-6B USN TAW-4
166231/G-231 T-6B USN TAW-4
166234/G-234 T-6B USN TAW-4
166241/G-241 T-6B USN TAW-4
166244/G-244 T-6B USN TAW-4

Visit:
(168651/EM-51) MV-22B USMC VMM-261
/EM-.. MV-22B USMC VMM-261
94-0047/SW F-16C USAF 20th FW spec c/s


NAS Corpus Christi was one of our main goals on the first place as there should be an Open Day in the weekend. To bad this was only an Airshow above the bay. With a nice visit planned on the Monday at the nearby Kingsville the original plans were kept alive.
Weather was not good again, very grey, windy and a strange fog coming from the ocean. Flying was not that good as we hoped but still nice.
Some participant of the show were flying from here, but we missed the Blue Angels.

NAS KINGSVILLE, TX 9-5-2023

Preserved:
161976/6 F/A-18A ex USN gate FDS c/s
165631/B-000 T-45C ex USN gate
154338/B-200 TA-4J ex USN gate
155978/NK-411 TA-4J ex USN gate
158586/B-305 T-2C ex USN gate

Sheds and Flying:
163599/B-232 T-45C USN TAW-2
163602/B-202 T-45C USN TAW-2
163605/B-205 T-45C USN TAW-2
163607/B-207 T-45C USN TAW-2
163608/B-208 T-45C USN TAW-2
163613/B-213 T-45C USN TAW-2
163614/B-214 T-45C USN TAW-2
163618/B-218 T-45C USN TAW-2
163626/B-226 T-45C USN TAW-2
163631/B-231 T-45C USN TAW-2
163643/B-243 T-45C USN TAW-2
163646/B-246 T-45C USN TAW-2
165057/B-229 T-45C USN TAW-2
165058/B-239 T-45C USN TAW-2
165063/B-263 T-45C USN TAW-2
165065/B-265 T-45C USN TAW-2
165068/B-268 T-45C USN TAW-2
165072/B-275 T-45C USN TAW-2
165462/B-211 T-45C USN TAW-2
165493/A-150 T-45C USN TAW-2
165631/B-284 T-45C USN TAW-2
165637/B-283 T-45C USN TAW-2
165640/B-286 T-45C USN TAW-2
165641/B-287 T-45C USN TAW-2
167073/B-293 T-45C USN TAW-2
167075/B-295 T-45C USN TAW-2
(167078)/B-298 T-45C USN TAW-2
167082/B-210 T-45C USN TAW-2
167084/B-216 T-45C USN TAW-2
167086/B-235 T-45C USN TAW-2
167088/B-240 T-45C USN TAW-2
167090/B-245 T-45C USN TAW-2
167093/B-250 T-45C USN TAW-2
167097/B-258 T-45C USN TAW-2
167102/B-266 T-45C USN TAW-2
167104/B-270 T-45C USN TAW-2

VT-21/22 Hanger:
163628/B-228 T-45C USN TAW-2
163633/B-233 T-45C USN TAW-2
(163655)/B-255 T-45C USN TAW-2
165073/B-273 T-45C USN TAW-2
165635/B-222 T-45C USN TAW-2 CAG
167079/B-299 T-45C USN TAW-2

Fase Hanger:
163625/B-225 T-45C USN TAW-2
(163654)/B-254 T-45C USN TAW-2
165061/B-261 T-45C USN TAW-2
167085/B-234 T-45C USN TAW-2

Paint Hanger:
165071/B-271 T-45C USN TAW-2

Depot Hanger:
163601/B-227 T-45C USN TAW-2
163615/B-215 T-45C USN TAW-2
163617/B-217 T-45C USN TAW-2
163630/B-230 T-45C USN TAW-2
163638/B-238 T-45C USN TAW-2
163641/B-241 T-45C USN TAW-2
163644/F-601 T-45C USN VT-86 CAG
165062/F-614 T-45C USN VT-86
165485/A-142 T-45C USN TAW-1
165498/A-155 T-45C USN TAW-1
165634/B-280 T-45C USN TAW-2
167099/(B-221) T-45C USN TAW-2 CAG
16364(9)/F-610 T-45C USN VT-86
F-608 T-45C USN VT-86

Outside Depot:
165603/- T-45C USN no tail
167105/B-272 T-45C USN TAW-2

SLEP Hanger:
163619/B-219 T-45C USN TAW-2
163620/B-220 T-45C USN TAW-2
163647/B-247 T-45C USN TAW-2

Today we a great base visit at NAS Kingsville. All the T-45C’s on base were seen, with a score of 66 trainers we were very happy. Even the weather was sunny this afternoon. We also noted an update being done in one of the hangers. All T-45’s will get new intakes, from straight to oblique. At the end the gate guards were visited and we called it a day.

CORPUS CHRISTI IAP , TX 8-5-2023

Based:
N385F/385 CM-170R ex FAF Private owned
160274/771 T-34C ex USN Private owned

2306 HC-144B USCG Corpus Christi
(2317) HC-144B USCG Corpus Christi
6577 MH-65D USCG Corpus Christi

Visit:
166122/G-122 T-6B USN TAW-4

On our way to the San Antonio area we visited the civil part of Corpus again. Good for us the Coast Guard was active, but they don’t like spotters, and we were asked to leave.The T-34 looks quite good and seems to be part of a school.

Martindale AHP, TX 8-5-2023

70-16478 UH-1H ex USAR pres


Last stop of the day was this small army NG field.
All ramps were clean so only the gate guard was noted.

Till so far part one, the second one will follow shortly.


Like always, corrections/questions and updates are very welcome!

Happy Spotting in the USA, with a big thanks to 4 aviation to make this trip possible.

Gijs

[Parfitt]

Thanks

[CVW19752015]

Some comments, Gijs, after quickly running through your report:

At Oceana (and all based on other April/May sightings), F/A-18F BuNo 168888 is still with VFA-32, so not VFA-11/AB-104, while AB-105 is BuNo 166669 not 166889. VFA-34/NH-312 is 169744, not 166744, while VFA-83's F/A-18E AC-205 is BuNo 166819. VFA-87 switched from CVW-11/NH to CVW-8/AJ in January 2022, while VFA-211 went from CVW-1/AB to CVW-11/NH in November 2022.

At Norfolk, VAW-124's AJ-602 is BuNo 169082. Concerning VAW-123's E-2C AC-604, the aircraft was at Fallon in recent weeks with just '650' on the starboard stabiliser (no photos of the port side), however the BuNo was/should still be 166506. See here: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=61 ... 2932169718

Cheers

Mike
www.carrierairwings.com

[Gulfbiz6]

''TSTC WACO RAP, TX 7-5-2023
N579NA G.550 L3HARRIS for?''

This is most probably N579GA (5579).
Destined to be a new EC-37B for the USAF.

Also, in 2022 noted at Waco: N591GA (5591)

An overview of the military G550 status can be found at my website
www.gulfbiz.nl

[Victory103]

Gijs,
On the way down from Waco, TX, no chance to stop for Ft. Hood AAF or Robert Gray AAF for Army/RNLAF rotary/fixed wing action?

On part 2, traveling up Highway 281 from San Antonio one would pass Burnet, TX with a small preserved area next to the Commemorative Air Force hangar and recently acquired C-47.