LOG SW USA Trip day 8 (21-10-2022)

[patrick dirksen]

Hi all,

For those who also did an overflight over AMARG recently and are wondering where the dump with the Afghan MD.530 is, this is at 32 09 28 N, 110 53 12 W.

Our last full day already, but one with a lot of action. At least, that was what we were hoping for. Luke AFB is normally good for a lot of movements, but we weren’t sure whether the F-35 crash at Hill a few days earlier would have impacted F-35 operations here. Either way we made sure we were at the base on time, since we didn’t want to miss anything.

Luke AFB

F-16CM, 944 FW, 69 FS (coded LF): 90-0769*
F-16DM, 56 FW, 309 FS (LF): 90-0793
F-16, 56 FW, 310 FS (LF): 88-0175, 88-0475*, 88-0493, 88-0505, 89-2120, 90-0762*, 90-0778 (spec c/s), 90-0787
F-35A, 56 FW, 61 FS (LF): 10-5009, 11-5040, 12-5048, 12-5055, 14-5096, 15-5161 (“61 FS”, 15-5169
F-35A, 56 FW, 62 FS (LF): 14-5092, 14-5095, 18-5415
F-35A, 56 FW, 63 FS (LF): 20-5629 (delivery flight)
F-35A, 56 FW, 308 FS (LF): 12-5057, 13-5067, 15-5189 (“308 FS”), 18-5419
F-35A, 56 FW, mks not noted (LF): 14-5093, 14-5104
F-35A, 56 FW, 308 FS (RNLAF): F-002, F-005, F-007
F-35A, 56 FW, 308 FS (DanAF) : L-001, L-003, L-005, L-006
F-35A, 56 FW, 62 FS (ItAF): (MM7332)/32-01
F-35A, 56 FW, 62 FS (RNoAF): 5110, 5111, 5146 (spec tail), 5292
F-16C/D, 56 FW, 425 FS (LF, SinAF): 94-0273, 96-5036, 97-0113, 97-0120, 97-0121, 01-6015

15-5125/LF F-35A 944 FW, 52 FS, “52 FS”
15-5139/WA F-35A 57 Wg, 6 WPS
N634AX Mirage F.1CT (ex FAF 274)
N635AX Mirage F.1CR (ex FAF 654)
N637AX Mirage F.1CR (ex FAF 657)
N644AX Mirage F.1CT (ex FAF 280)

Units in the log are based on the markings the aircraft carried, while an * means Have Glass c/s. Also seen were three C-17s that had just taken off from nearby Goodyear airport, with only one showing on ADSB. However with the help of that serial I found a video on YouTube shot at Goodyear of all three taking off there! Apparently three had been stationed there for a short exercise. The numbers are 96-0003, 08-8197 and 10-0216, all three from 62 AW, one of which even was a nice gapfiller for me.
When we arrived it took us some time to find a decent spot, as the situation around the base has changed since our last visits, and not for the better unfortunately. While trying to find a spot, we realised it stayed silent way too long. When finally some F-16s took off, we were almost sure F-35s had been grounded, as these normally are very active as well and start early. However while we were discussing our options, suddenly two F-35s taxied out, and more followed. In the end we didn’t have the greatest score ever here, but still a nice amount could be photographed. And I made two Dutch ones which made me very glad. That’s three US-based ones to go.

Phoenix-Mesa Gateway

99-3558/EN T-6A 80 FTW, 89 FTS
02-3642/EN T-6A 80 FTW, 89 FTS
03-3699/EN T-6A 80 FTW, 89 FTS, spec c/s
04-3729/EN T-6A 80 FTW, 89 FTS
05-3772/EN T-6A 80 FTW, 89 FTS
06-3858/EN T-6A 80 FTW, 89 FTS
65-10445/EN T-38C 80 FTW, 90 FTS
66-4321/EN T-38C 80 FTW, 469 FTS
66-4340/EN T-38C 80 FTW, 469 FTS
66-8365/EN T-38C 80 FTW, 90 FTS
67-14916/XL T-38C 47 FTW, 87 FTS
67-14927/XL T-38C 47 FTW, 87 FTS
67-14937/EN T-38C 80 FTW, 469 FTS
70-1561/XL T-38C 47 FTW, 87 FTS
70-1573/XL T-38C 47 FTW, 87 FTS
(59-1600) QT-38A pr, “82 FTW”

As we would spend the night in Phoenix, we obviously had to take a look here to see whether there would be night- or weekend stoppers. We were not disappointed, with six T-6 near the main civil platform and also some T-38s near the tower. These proved hard to read though, especially while light was starting to fail us. However we managed to photograph the last ones arriving and read off the missing ones next day. All in all not a bad day in the end.

That’s all folks!

Patrick Dirksen
Tristar Aviation