NAF El Centro, CA (KNJK/NJK) 2020 MIL

[SBGrad]

27 Feb

Besides the T-Birds and Blues (each flew 2x)

AD VFA-106 Gladiators/call sign EMPIRE

226/168460
221/
236/166460
240/165880
267/166619
243/165883
214/165799
213/166672
252/169677

Delta Air Lines B-757
N6701/DAL 8966 KNJK-KNKT

SH VMFAT-101 Sharpshooters F-18C
240/
101/164045

SE HMLA-469 Vengeance
55/165251 AH-1Z
51/169248 AH-1Z
01/168944 UH-1Y
02/168951 UH-1Y

180 Airlift Sq MS ANG C-130H
90-1797

Belgian AF
CH-12/71-1808 C-130H

CH-53s at least 3 couldn't get any serials

The VMFA-314 F-35C came on the radio asking for a low approach, but was told that the field was closed for aerobatic practice until 2230Z. Not sure where he ended up.

Pix up in a couple days.

[747woody]

27 Feb

Besides the T-Birds and Blues (each flew 2x)

AD VFA-106 Gladiators/call sign EMPIRE

226/168460
221/
236/166460
240/165880
267/166619
243/165883
214/165799
213/166672
252/169677

You might want to check 226 (was 165934 last week) and 252 (was 169647 last week, and on Wednesday!) - from photos.

On Wednesday one of the CH-53Es was (162)500, a friend reported (164)859 on Tuesday, which was also seen on Friday at the photocall with (164)364 (all seen last week at Imperial).

[The DJ]

FA/18 VFA-106/AD

225 166__6

VFA-106 AD F/A-18F flying today 19/2/20 have been:

225/166456

Gents, can any of you confirm the above?
It seems on return to Oceana 28Feb20 AD225 was photographed as Buno 165931.
A mix up here or did it wore different Buno's on either side? Or a panel swap maybe? Wouldn't be the first.

[747woody]

FA/18 VFA-106/AD

225 166__6

VFA-106 AD F/A-18F flying today 19/2/20 have been:

225/166456

Gents, can any of you confirm the above?
It seems on return to Oceana 28Feb20 AD225 was photographed as Buno 165931.
A mix up here or did it wore different Buno's on either side? Or a panel swap maybe? Wouldn't be the first.

The 16 that I posted were all taken from photos on the dates posted (mostly of the left hand side!)

According to the database AD225 was 165931 last year, but it has 166456 as AD225 in Jan and Feb this year.

[747woody]

FA/18 VFA-106/AD

225 166__6

VFA-106 AD F/A-18F flying today 19/2/20 have been:

225/166456

Gents, can any of you confirm the above?
It seems on return to Oceana 28Feb20 AD225 was photographed as Buno 165931.
A mix up here or did it wore different Buno's on either side? Or a panel swap maybe? Wouldn't be the first.

The 16 that I posted were all taken from photos on the dates posted (mostly of the left hand side!)

According to the database AD225 was 165931 last year, but it has 166456 as AD225 in Jan and Feb this year.

HA! Checked my photos again, I caught it taxying out on the 19th and it had 165931 on the right side. It had a problem and taxied back, and it had 166456 on the left side! (so it's both of them!!)

Edit: a quick Google throws up recent photos of 165931 as AD225, and not so recent shots of 166456 as AD231.

[The DJ]

You can cross off two at once! LOL
Thanks for checking.

[Ergo01]

Was there February 11.
A treacherous place: after rain showers the days before any unpaved road was impossible to drive.
The place close to the taxiway was unreachable.
After entering the field to make pictures of landing aircraft you stood about two inches higher because of the mud beneath the soles of your shoes.
Anyway only activity was of BA and VFA-122 F18E/Fs.
Only positive id I can get from my slides is NJ-233/165783.
Others were: NJ-102, 113, 126, 131, 161, 166, 204, 206, 210, 216
Any offers for missing serials from spotters/photographers that were there around that time?
Thanks, Hans

[The DJ]

To get the ball rolling...
NJ102/166875
NJ113/165919
NJ116/165915
NJ117/165918
NJ123/165929
NJ126/165914
NJ131/166850
NJ132/166842
NJ161/
NJ166/166666
NJ204/
NJ206/166948
NJ210/165907
NJ215/166438
NJ216/165896
NJ223/
NJ233/165783
All BuNo's from photos.

[Dutchmil]

Good evening,

Fifteen T-45s should be arriving at El Centro tomorrow afternoon from NAS Kingsville. Deployed for two weeks of weapons training.
They should be making fuel-stops enroute at El Paso and Phoenix-Mesa gateway.

[Borispole]

A rather unproductive quick early morning visit here 11-Dec-2020 saw the following read off:

161387 CH53E YK-387
ZM407 A400M (departed later in the morning)
On the ramp next to the A400 were 2 RAF Chinooks with their rotors removed, presumably awaiting the next A400 for a ride home.
Answers for the missing Chinook serials on a postcards please.....