This was the last day of our trip. We would be flying home from Phoenix in the evening, but as there are some interesting airports in the area, we didn’t have time to get bored….
Phoenix-Sky Harbour
18-1942 C-37B no mks (89 AW, 99 AS)
57-1419 KC-135R 161 ARW, 197 ARS
59-1500 KC-135R 126 ARW, 108 ARS
60-0336 KC-135T 6 ARW, 91 ARS
61-0284 KC-135R 161 ARW, 197 ARS
61-0317 KC-135R 161 ARW, 197 ARS
62-3500 KC-135R 161 ARW, 197 ARS
62-3516 KC-135R 161 ARW, 197 ARS
62-3531 KC-135R 121 ARW, 166 ARS
62-3550 KC-135R 161 ARW, 197 ARS
170272/QB-272 KC-130J VMGR-352
Our first stop was at the international airport to read off the tankers. The visiting Gulf and Herc were a nice bonus. We then moved on to the airfield we ended at yesterday, Phoenix-Mesa Gateway. Here all T-6s and T-38s we saw the day before were still present. Yesterday we had learned some of the T-38s would be flying three missions today, and when we arrived here, indeed some were already returning from their first flight. We were lucky we were allowed to stand at a construction site near the tower where there was no fence between us and the aircraft, however just as the last aircraft returned we were sent away by some official after all. As that didn’t leave any good photo spots for the next wave during take off, we decided to drive to Falcon Field. I had already suggested we would visit the collection there, and the sight of a flying B-17 on ADSB luckily convinced the rest as well.
Commemorative Air Force, Mesa-Falcon Field
44-83514/F-U B-17G N9323Z, 457 BG, 750 BS mks
43-35972/18 B-25J N125AZ, “Maid in the Shade”, 319 BG, 437 BS mks
(44-35601)/202 B-26C NL202R, 397 BG, 599 BS mks
“44-4511” C-45 N145AZ (ex 51-11678), no mks
42-23518/30-F C-47A N147AZ
(45-11391)/00 P-51D NL51MV, “Nervous Energy V”, 325 FG mks
126731/SM-10 AF-2S (N9993Z), VS-27 mks
153016/NE-211 F-4N pr, VF-21 mks
(07936)/964 N2S-3 N47964, no mks
90725/25 SNJ-5 N3246G, no mks
53914/8 TMB-3E (N7029C), VT-17 mks
64-13986 UH-1B pr, 282 Aslt Hel Co mks
54-1416 UH-19D (N6735), datablock says UH-19B 55-14243, no mks
(42-52938?)/18 TG-3A (N75320), no mks
“7474” Aeronca 7EC N7436B, ex civil only, as L-16
507 MiG-21PF pr, no mks
2249 MiG-15bis pr, no mks, ex PLAAF 711? Or 83177, c/n 4115 ??
Seen on the airfield:
? T-6 (N945C??)
484 EMB.312F (N484MT) => or 464 ?
7690 AT-6B N3158W, no mks, ex SAAF
Glad we went here! I only got one hour, so I really had to hurry, but it was worth it! The two T-6 took off just when we arrived, one I could read off from my picture but the second came right over our heads. The colourscheme is light blueish grey fuselage, yellow wings with just a star-and-bars underneath, yellow rudder with something red on it, red engine cowling and US Navy titles under the rudder, somebody for the id?
Because of the mentioned lack of time I only took a very quick look at the Tucano on the opposite side when we arrived, and never got to doing a good check afterwards. Both 464 and 484 live here if I’m right, is that correct?
When time was up we had to hurry back to Phoenix, as we wanted to be on time for the returning T-38s of the second wave.
Phoenix-Mesa Gateway
64-13208/XL T-38C 47 FTW, 87 FTS
65-10416/XL T-38C 47 FTW, 87 FTS
N118TG C-130A (ex 57-0512)
We were nicely in time for their return, and got two extra ones as well that had spent the day at another airfield before coming to Phoenix. When all had returned our van made a quick stop at the Chandler-Gilbert Community College, which is housed in the hangar at number 5733.
60-3498 T-39A GIA, no mks, AMARG code TG077
Although it was a Saturday, a few people were around. Although they all denied having a Sabreliner in their hangar, they had no problem with me having a look, and there I indeed found the T-39. So my information was better than their own
If the school is closed, it is possible to see the Sabreliner through a window on the street side by the way.
We thought this would be the last aircraft of the trip, but when our van parked near the T-6s, a Swiss spotter recognised us as fellow spotters and told us a C-12 had landed an hour ago at nearby Chandler and was parked good for a photograph. Most of our group were getting lunch and decided to skip this, but three diehards got back in the car!
Chandler-Municipal
11-00284 MC-12S no mks
“15077282” T-50 N63395, USAF c/s, civil only
N25WK C-45G std (ex 51-11471)
The tipoff was very good, the C-12 was indeed parked nicely on the platform near the tower here. The stored Beech was a bonus and became the last (mil/ex-mil) aircraft of our trip. And a great trip it was, looking back. Many thanks to 4Aviation for organising and to Dennis for leading the tour!
On the journey home Heathrow lived up to its nasty reputation, with a complete luggage cart staying behind in London. However a day later my suitcase was neatly delivered at my home, so all well that ends well.
As always, additions, comments and corrections are very welcome.
That’s all folks!
Patrick Dirksen
Tristar Aviation