Some VX-30 oldies... Point Mugu - 30th August 2010

[Wijgert IJlst]

While on holiday with my girlfriend I passed Point Mugu today, and I managed to snap a few nice shots of some old and fancy VX-30 birds.

Both are just some quick edits witin PS Elements, so might need some extra adjustments...
But it gives you a good idea what on might expect on a short visit to Point Mugu:
NP-3D Orion:

S-3B Viking:

[dinovandoorn]

Stunning second picture Wijgert, they still use some nice birds overthere !

[SquAdmin]

Yeah, Bloodhounds rule... Nice catches Wijgert!

[Bam-Bam]

Great catch. Not much movements,but when there is. It can be very nice.
Last April I had the Viking fresh from the paintshop.

So when you are in the neighberhood, it's absolute a great place to go.

Greatings Marcel Onstenk

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[TAZZ]

Very nice shots.
As far as I know, the NP-3Dwas recently brought to airworthiness, and he is the only one of its kind !

[Key]

Great shots, Wijgert! This simply shows a good original needs little post-processing.
Were they taken from (near) the Missile Park? Thx!


Erik

[Wijgert IJlst]

Thanks guys for all the complements...

@Erik, it is indead the Missile Park where I have shot these birds...

I was on my way to Santa Barbara beach with my girlfriend and spend a few minutes... both came in within a few minutes between eachother and also a USCG Herc departed. The base was very busy, but I did not stay long...
While trying to read the serials of the CA ANG C-130s near a restaurant (on their private parking) between ANG gate and Missile park, the owner got pretty mad and blocked our exit from the parking with his pick-up truck. He asked what I was doing, I explained that I was looking with my binoculairs and writing down the tailnumbers. "You are not allowed to do that, I will call the police", he replied. When the USAF police came, check us out (looked at ID and inside car), asked for my story and was surprised why he always needs to send away people from Holland.
He told us kindly to follow him from this private parking, away from the base and to keep driving, to stay out of futher trouble he added. As we left also the local police arrived, but we where already on our way.
In the meanwhile another CA ANG C-130J had come in, aswell as a unknown (lightgrey) USN/USMC C-130, when we drove away a dualseater F/A-18 was on final. All flying activity within 15 upto 30 minutes I guess.

My advise to all, the parking of the restaurant is pretty near to the CA ANG C-130 ramp, but the owner is not very happy with tailnumber hunters... And you are well in sight of the restaurant and base fence. Perhaps a better option is to park a few yards away on gravelparking/truckstop along the fence, and be quick with reading the aircraft parked on the ramp. Waiting to long an a taxiing C-130 back to the ramp resulted in a blocked exit for me.

[dutchphantom]

Americans are paranoid about this. Even looking at aircraft is not allowed and can get you in trouble. I had a similar experience in Honolulu earlier this year.

[SquAdmin]

It differs per airbase and depends on who you happen to run into (just like in most other countries). Check the Fencecheck forum: there are numerous airbases where you can take pictures from outside without any problems.

[Wijgert IJlst]

there are numerous airbases where you can take pictures from outside without any problems.

This story was about reading serials from a private (? did not see any sign) parking near the fence of the CA ANG C-130J's. Camera well locked away in the trunck, after leaving the Missile Park.

Is that the parking at the strawberry farm?

Oh perhaps it was, judging on the shape of the small building next to the parking I think it was a restaurant, but there was a lot of (farmer) activity around. On Google Earth (Maps) you can see the parking very clear next to what I believe is a restaurant (orange roof tiles) and a green grassy area with some trees. It is just next to (on the left of) San Miguel Produce, which might be the strawberry farm.

But on the North side of that, next to Naval Air Rd, there is a gravel parking, this might be a saver option for some quick serial reading.