LOG: USA TRIP PART 5 (california 1)

[GIPS]

Hi All,

Just back from my first USA trip. What a great place is this!!
It was a hoiliday with my girlfriend combined with some spotting.
We had some nice visits during our trip and unfortunately some were cancelled on the last moment.
Most time we had great weather but also some heavy rain at places you wouldn't expect it.
Serials which are not readed by our selves are placed between brackets ( ) and taken from other logs or databases.
That means the rest is readed by ourselves.

Hope you enjoy part 5 of this LOG:


KNJK NAS EL CENTRO , CA 03-08-09:

(162448)/2 F/A-18A ex USN preserved gate blue angels c/s
(159798)/7 TA-4J ex USN preserved gate blue angels c/s
....../5 A-4 ex USN preserved gate blue angels c/s
(155890)/3 F-4S ex USN preserved gate blue angels c/s
(154476)NJ-00 A-7B ex USN preserved gate

159901/500 A-6E ex USN preserved
160996 A-6E ex USN preserved

153965/YT-11 CH-46E USMC HMMT-164
156425/YT-14 CH-46E USMC HMMT-164
157687/YT-04 CH-46E USMC HMMT-164
157690/YT-13 CH-46E USMC HMMT-164

ZJ132/Q Merlin HC.1 RAF 28 Sq
ZJ137/W Merlin HC.1 RAF 28 Sq


Very rare to see here some RAF birds, they were traing together with the marines.
Unfortunately no jets were seen here.

Spotting here is very simple.

Places were we spotted the based stuff here were:

32°49'05.82''N 115°39'16.39''W


KNZY NAS NORTH ISLAND , CA 04-08-09:


160639/G-866 T-34C USN TAW-4
162247/G-816 T-34C USN TAW-4
162284/G-863 T-34C USN TAW-4
162641/G-761 T-34C USN TAW-4

162178 C-2A USN (VRC-40)
162172/22 C-2A USN VRC-30

164497 E-2C+ USN (VAW-120)

(165745)/SA-00 MH-60S USN HSC-3 "COM SPEC. PAINT"
(166321)/SA-01 MH-60S USN HSC-3
(165762)/SA-04 MH-60S USN HSC-3
..../SA-05 MH-60S USN HSC-3
(165774)/SA-07 MH-60S USN HSC-3
....../SA-10 MH-60S USN HSC-3
....../SA-17 MH-60S USN HSC-3
....../SA-60 MH-60S USN HSC-3
....../SA-63 MH-60S USN HSC-3
....../SA-66 MH-60S USN HSC-3
....../SA-67 MH-60S USN HSC-3

....../NG-4 MH-60S USN HSC-8
....../NG-5 MH-60S USN HSC-8
....../NG-6 MH-60S USN HSC-8
....../NG-7 MH-60S USN HSC-8
....../NG-14 MH-60S USN HSC-8
....../NG-17 MH-60S USN HSC-8
....../NG-23 MH-60S USN HSC-8

164076/RA-15 SH-60F USN HS-10

(166348)/VR-70 (MH-60S) USN HSC-21 "COM. SPEC.PAINT"
(166319)/VR-74 (MH-60S) USN HSC-21

(161554/100) (MH-60S) USN HSL-49 "COM. SPEC PAINT" red tail

166404/TS-404 MH-60R USN HSM-41
... /TS-410 MH-60R USN HSM-41

...../NJ-154 F/A-18 USN VFA-122 NADEP area westside
...../NJ-161 F/A-18 USN VFA-122 NADEP area westside
...../NJ-171 F/A-18 USN VFA-122 NADEP area westside
...../NJ-172 F/A-18 USN VFA-122 NADEP area westside
...../NJ-18.. F/A-18 USN VFA-122 NADEP area westside

...../WK-16 F/A-18 USMC VMFA-224 NADEP area westside

(162856)/42 F/A-18A USN NSAWC NADEP area westside
(164636)/301- F/A-18C USN ????? NADEP area westside
...../BB- F/A-18 USN ????? NADEP area westside spec.paint tail
...../AM- F/A-18 USN ????? NADEP area westside

.../NE-415 F/A-18 USN VFA-34 NADEP area westside

(162483)/YN-03 CH-53T USMC HMW-361 NADEP area westside

(164700)/NE-303 F/A-18C ex USN stored for USS MIDWAY
129565/7K-W F7U-3 ex USN dumped for USS MIDWAY


Spotting here is very very frustating!! You see a lot but couldn't read them!
At the beach you have a perfect view on al landing aircraft, taking pictures is also good.

From the other side of the bay you have a great view over the base,from the national monument.

Also a boat tour from the harbour is very good to read UH-60's but take the NORTH TOUR!!

Take the company just right of the USS MIDWAY

Places were we spotted the based stuff here were:



32°41'01.71''N 117°11'01.60''W beach
32°40'26.73''N 117°14'22.25''W point loma
32°43'01.12''N 117°13'17.30''W shelter island
32°43'00.71''N 117°10'30.48''W carrier museum


KSAN SAN DIEGO IAP , CA 04-08-09:


6016 MH-60J USCG San Diego
6023 MH-60J USCG San Diego
6037 MH-60J USCG San Diego




Spotting here is very simple again!!



Places were we spotted the based stuff here were:


32°43'38.48''N 117°10'48.71''W



KNKX MCAS MIRAMAR , CA 04-08-09:







....../34 F/A-18 ex USMC dump brown c/s
....../ F/A-18 ex USMC dump
(149791/QB-791) KC-130F ex USMC dump




166512/QB-512 KC-130J USMC VMGR-352
166764/QB-764 KC-130J USMC VMGR-352
166765/QB-765 KC-130J USMC VMGR-352 "COM SPEC.PAINT"
167108/QB-108 KC-130J USMC VMGR-352
167984/QB-984 KC-130J USMC VMGR-352
167985/QB-985 KC-130J USMC VMGR-352

163104/SH-12 F/A-18B USMC VMFAT-101 brown camo c/s
......./SH-202 F/A-18 USMC VMFAT-101
162467/SH-216 F/A-18A USMC VMFAT-101
163158/SH-217 F/A-18A USMC VMFAT-101
....../SH-232 F/A-18C USMC VMFAT-101
... /SH-237 F/A-18C USMC VMFAT-101
... /SH-242 F/A-18D USMC VMFAT-101
... /SH-263 F/A-18D USMC VMFAT-101
164026/SH-265 F/A-18D USMC VMFAT-101
164272/SH-274 F/A-18D USMC VMFAT-101
... /SH-275 F/A-18D USMC VMFAT-101

165227/WT-12 F/A-18C USMC VMFA-232
....../WT-14 F/A-18C USMC VMFA-232
164257/WT-15 F/A-18C USMC VMFA-232

165531/DT-02 F/A-18D USMC VMFA-242
164653/DT-03 F/A-18D USMC VMFA-242
164674/DT-05 F/A-18D USMC VMFA-242

.../NG-205 F/A-18C USMC VMFA-323
.../NG-206 F/A-18C USMC VMFA-323

160531/SH-531 T-34C USMC VMFAT-101

..... /YR-15 CH-46E USMC HMM-161
153956/YX-04 CH-46E USMC HMM-166 "as 154956"

166714 UC-35D USMC base flight?

163353 UC-12F USMC base flight?

visit:

...../03 F-5 USMC VMFT-401 brown/ c/s
...../06 F-5 USMC VMFT-401 blue grey c/s
...../07 F-5 USMC VMFT-401 brown/ c/s
...../08 F-5 USMC VMFT-401 blue grey c/s
...../10 F-5 USMC VMFT-401 blue grey c/s
...../11 F-5 USMC VMFT-401 brown/ c/s

165577/WL-02 AV-8B USMC VMA-311

162572/QT-460 AH-1W USMC HMLAT-303

...../AF-403 F/A-18C USMC VFA-204
...../AF-406 F/A-18C USMC VFA-204

59-1511 KC-135R USAF 22th ARW black/white






Spotting here is also very diffucult as it is very very hot here and there are almost no roads close to the airfield.

One great place is on a small hill just after the highway intersection.



Places were we spotted the based stuff here were:



32°52'17.06''N 117°06'59.17''W landing





KLGB LONG BEACH RAP , CA 06-08-09:





96-0002 C-17A USAF 437th AW yellow/blue
03-3121/ED C-17A USAF 412th AW orange

MAA C-17A for Qatar AF grey
MAB C-17A for Qatar AF Qatar Airways colors

(p193) C-17A for USAF on line






Both USAF machines were under heavy maintenance.

Nice to see the Qatar birds here, and very funny that one is in civilian colors.



Places were we spotted the based stuff here were:



33°49'07.96''N 118°09'38.46''W





KSLI LOS ALAMITOS AAF , CA 06-08-09:





(66)0-15251 AH-1F ex USAR preserved
(78)0-23105 AH-1F ex USAR preserved

(66)0-16633 UH-1H ex USAR preserved
????????? UH-1 ex USAR preserved sand camo

(69)0-16159 OH-58A+ USAR A/3-140th Avn CA AG ca flag
(70)0-15147 OH-58A+ USAR A/3-140th Avn CA AG ca flag
(72)0-21193 OH-58A+ USAR A/3-140th Avn CA AG

(79)0-23337 UH-60A USAR B/1-140th Avn CA AG
(80)0-23416 UH-60A USAR B/1-140th Avn CA AG
(80)0-23461 UH-60A USAR B/1-140th Avn CA AG ca flag
(80)0-23502 UH-60A USAR B/1-140th Avn CA AG ca flag
(81)0-23583 UH-60A USAR B/1-140th Avn CA AG ca flag
(82)0-23705 UH-60A USAR B/1-140th Avn CA AG
(82)0-23706 UH-60A USAR B/1-140th Avn CA AG
(83)0-23916 UH-60A USAR B/1-140th Avn CA AG ca flag "833 fire fighting mks"
(84)0-23979 UH-60A USAR B/1-140th Avn CA AG
(87)0-24594 UH-60A USAR B/1-140th Avn CA AG ca flag

(00)0-26865 UH-60L USAR A/1-140th Avn CA AG ca flag "834 fire fighting mks"
(00)0-26871 UH-60L (F) USAR A/1-140th Avn CA AG ca flag "832 fire fighting mks"
(06)0-27064 UH-60L USAR A/1-140th Avn CA AG ca flag

(80)0-23508 UH-60A USAR C/1-168th Med.Co CA AG ca flag red cross

(9)5-00095 C-12R+ USAR C/6-52th Avn

visit:

(78)0-23004 UH-60A USAR (C/3-126th Avn) VT AG






We had a very nice visit over here. The marked UH-60's were used for forest fire fighting and the big coloured serials were painted on the helicopters.

They do this for communication with the firemen on the ground.



Blackhawk 26871 had a large watertank under the romp. They call it the firehawk!



The VT one is problably also from the CA AG but has still it old marks!!

A report from March this year noted the OH-58's as stored but they are still flying



From outside it is almost impossible to spot here.





KRIV MARCH AFB CA, 06-08-09:





04-4138 C-17A USAF 729th AS orange/yellow
05-5139 C-17A USAF 729th AS orange/yellow
05-5141 C-17A USAF 729th AS orange/yellow
05-5143 C-17A USAF 729th AS orange/yellow
05-5145 C-17A USAF 729th AS orange/yellow

57-1459 KC-135R USAF 336th ARS orange/yellow
57-1468 KC-135R USAF 336th ARS orange/yellow
57-2598 KC-135R USAF 336th ARS orange/yellow
58-0052 KC-135R USAF 336th ARS orange/yellow
63-8024 KC-135R USAF 336th ARS orange/yellow

???????? F-16C USAF 194th FS CA ANG "COM 194th FS"






Spotting here is very simple from the museum parking place.



Places were we spotted the based stuff here were:



33°53'12.65''N 117°16'05.43''W





KNTD NAS POINT MOGU , CA 07-08-09:







157259/129 QF-4S ex USN ex VX-30 preserved misille park
158263 F-14A ex USN ex VX-30 preserved misille park
???????? F-86 ex USAF preserved gate

02-1463 C-130J-30 USAF 115th AS CA ANG green
02-1464 C-130J-30 USAF 115th AS CA ANG green
05-1465 C-130J-30 USAF 115th AS CA ANG green
05-1466 C-130J-30 USAF 115th AS CA ANG green

165379/RU-379 C-130T USN VR-55

165814/NG-601 E-2C-2000 USN VAW-112






Here is only one place to spot: Near the missile park. This is across the C-130 ramp



Places were we spotted the based stuff here were:



34°07'56.28''N 119°06'00.74''W







KSLN SALINAS RAP , CA 07-08-09:



CALIFORNIA AIRSHOW:





78-0712/DM A-10C USAF 355th FW white
79-0209/DM A-10C USAF 355th FW white

06-1437 C-130J-30 USAF 143th AS red RI ANG
74-1666 C-130H USAF 317th AG tx flag
91-1238 C-130H USAF 165th AS nmks KY ANG

87-26006/FT HH-60G USAF 66th RQS nmks

73-1150/RA T-43A USAF 562nd FTS black/yellow

05-3765/VN T-6A USAF 32nd FTS yellow

163906/TT-24 SH-60F USN HSL-43

156451/YW-05 CH-46E USMC HMM-165

165673/NJ-106 F/A-18F USN VFA-122

164763 C-130T USN NFDS blue angels

(161967)1 F/A-18A USN NFDS blue angels
(163106)2 F/A-18A USN NFDS blue angels
(163130)3 F/A-18A USN NFDS blue angels
(161959)4 F/A-18A USN NFDS blue angels
(162826)5 F/A-18A USN NFDS blue angels
(163093)6 F/A-18A USN NFDS blue angels
(161723)7 F/A-18B USN NFDS blue angels

85-01607 C-31A USAR USAPT golden knights

warbirds/others:

140514/2S-744 T-28C ex USN private N28XC VT-5 mks
140654/2S-654 T-28C ex USN private N75947 VT-5 mks
138292/2G-888 T-28B ex USN private N28FL VT-3 mks
138306/PA-410 T-28B ex USN private N306WW

21306 T-33A-N ex CAF private N933GC

413334/G4-U P-51D ex USAF private NL7715C

140944/MN-341 T-34B ex USN private N341MN VFA-115 mks




A nice little show, with some more aircraft than expected!!







KNUQ MOFFETT FEDERAL AIRFIELD , CA 08-08-09:



N708NA ER-2S ex NASA preserved

714 ?? NASA

66-0219 MC-130P USAF 130th RQS CA ANG nmks
66-0221 MC-130P USAF 130th RQS CA ANG nmks

(90)-26226/DR HH-60G USAF (305th RQS) nmks



This place is hard to spot, we were lucky the light was OK for the HH-60.
NASA and C-130's are simple to read.

Places were we spotted the based stuff here were:



37°24'35.44''N 122°02'13.14''W





KSUU TRAVIS AFB , CA 08-08-09:



62-4452 CT-39A ex USAF preserved
63-7567 F-4C ex USAF preserved

82-0192 KC-10A USAF 60th AMW black/white
82-0193 KC-10A USAF 60th AMW black/white
83-0075 KC-10A USAF 6th ARS black/red
83-0077 KC-10A USAF 60th AMW black/white
83-0080 KC-10A USAF 60th AMW black/white
84-0187 KC-10A USAF 60th AMW black/white
84-0191 KC-10A USAF 60th AMW black/white
85-0029 KC-10A USAF 60th AMW black/white
86-0033 KC-10A USAF 60th AMW black/white
86-0037 KC-10A USAF 60th AMW black/white
87-0118 KC-10A USAF 60th AMW black/white
87-0119 KC-10A USAF 60th AMW black/white

86-0011 C-5B USAF 60th AMW black/white
86-0015 C-5B USAF 60th AMW black/white
86-0016 C-5B USAF 60th AMW black/white
86-0022 C-5B USAF 60th AMW black/white
87-0032 C-5B USAF 60th AMW black/white
87-0036 C-5B USAF 60th AMW black/white

06-6155 C-17A USAF 60th AMW black/white
06-6156 C-17A USAF 60th AMW black/white
06-6157 C-17A USAF 60th AMW black/white
06-6161 C-17A USAF 60th AMW black/white
06-6164 C-17A USAF 60th AMW black/white

visit:

97-0043 C-17A USAF 729th AS orange/yellow
05-5153/HH C-17A USAF 535th AS yellow

61-0272 KC-135R USAF 74th ARS red/white

68-0223 C-5A USAF 68th AS tx flag
87-0041 C-5B USAF 337th AS blue/white

159118 C-9B USN nmks

62-1859 C-130E USAF 61th AS green
98-5308 WC-130J USAF 53th WRS black/white






Also here we had a nice visit. But from outside it is also very good, but be early again.



Places were we spotted the based stuff here were:



38°14'34.89''N 121°56'51.97''W

38°15'29.74''N 121°54'55.00''W





KSCK STOCKTON METROPOLITAN AP , CA 09-08-09:


(71)0-20623 OH-58A+ USAR A/3-140th AVN CA AG ca flag
(72)0-21453 OH-58A+ USAR A/3-140th AVN CA AG ca flag

(85)-24329 CH-47D USAR B/1-126th AVN CA AG ca flag
(88)-00088 CH-47D USAR B/1-126th AVN CA AG nmks "803 fire fighting mks"
(91)-00244 CH-47D USAR B/1-126th AVN CA AG ca flag
(91)-00247 CH-47D USAR B/1-126th AVN CA AG ca flag "804 fire fighting mks"




This very small army field is very easy to read off. You need some minutes.



Places were we spotted the based stuff here were:



37°53'07.50''N 121°14'29.77''W







KFAT FRESNO-YOSEMITE IAP , CA 09-08-09:



52-6940 T-33A ex USAF preserved gate
473972 P-51D ex USAF preserved gate
59-0146 F-106A ex USAF preserved gate
65-0588 F-4D ex USAF preserved gate
(5)9-1272 F-86A ex USAF preserved gate
(6)0-30642 F-86L ex USAF preserved gate
0-31804 ???? ex USAF preserved gate

94-0263 RC-26B USAF 194th FS CA ANG nmks

86-0214 F-16C USAF 194th FS CA ANG nmks
86-0215 F-16C USAF 194th FS CA ANG nmks
86-0218 F-16C USAF 194th FS CA ANG nmks
86-0220 F-16C USAF 194th FS CA ANG nmks
86-0236 F-16C USAF 194th FS CA ANG nmks
86-0239 F-16C USAF 194th FS CA ANG nmks
86-0256 F-16C USAF 194th FS CA ANG nmks
86-0279 F-16C USAF 194th FS CA ANG nmks
86-0296 F-16C USAF 194th FS CA ANG nmks
87-0299 F-16C USAF 194th FS CA ANG nmks
87-0301 F-16C USAF 194th FS CA ANG nmks "COM 144th FW"
87-0311 F-16C USAF 194th FS CA ANG nmks
87-0315 F-16C USAF 194th FS CA ANG nmks
87-0317 F-16C USAF 194th FS CA ANG nmks
87-0333 F-16C USAF 194th FS CA ANG nmks

ARMY CENTER:

(90)-07016 C-23C USAR 1/185th AVN CA AG nmks

(79)-23294 UH-60A USAR nn nn nmks
(81)-23587 UH-60A USAR nn nn nmks Med.Co
(82-23)739 UH-60A USAR nn nn nmks bare metal



Another nice place, but security was high here. No less than 6 policemam camo to see us, and send us away afterwards.
Spotting is again simple but be quick as they have camera's close to the fence.

Places were we spotted the based stuff here were:

36°45'54.48''N 119°42'22.69''W
36°47'02.54''N 119°43'04.72''W army
36°46'14.47''N 119°42'02.98''W



Also noted close to the base was:



(70)0-15966 AH-1S ex USAR preserved



This cobra is on intersection of E.AIRWAYS BLVD and N.CLOVIS AVE or 36°46'50.45''N 119°42'01.99''W


Till so far part five, part six (final) will follow soon.
Of course all help, corrections or questions are welcome.
Specially with the gaps at North Island and Miramar.
I want to thank everybody who helped me how to spot at the bases I visited, but a special thanks goes to Danny Bonny who gave me a perfect guide for every base!

Happy Spotting in the USA,


Gips and girlfriend

[Melchior Timmers]

combined with some spotting

Yeah, right! you mean spotting combined with some holiday ? Very nice logs Gijs.

Cheers,

[marcel32us]

Thanks for the log (for North Island) I'll see if I can fill some of your gaps, since I took the same boat tour a day later.

Marcel

[marcel32us]

Oh, and a short question. Can you point our where the preserved choppers at Los Alamitos were? I passed that field and can confirm that nothing can be seen from outside, except some choppers at the gate. Couldn't read them though.

TIA,
Marcel

[GIPS]

Hi Marcel,

Nice meeting you at KB!

Just left of the gate were the 23105 and the 16633

See you,

Gijs

[marcel32us]

Thanks, sure was fun at KB. Pity we didn't meet in CA though, Los Alamitos was exactly the same day.