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

[Le Addeur noir]

Some of the noted airplanes here on Wednesday, 12th February,

15-20794 UH-60M 3-227th AVN
15-20809 UH-60M 3-227th AVN
15-20823 UH-60M 3-227th AVN (ending in 23, and radio call of Army Copter 20823)

Unit markings noted on at least 2 of these in the last week is a yellow shield with a black line through it. The 3-227th AVN facebook page confirms these markings to be this unit.

Also here were HMLA-775 with 3x AH-1Z and 3x UH-1Y. All of these had departed by early the following day. Heat haze thwarted proper identification of these, but what was confirmed was the following,

169244 WR-05 UH-1Y HMLA-775
WR-06 UH-1Y HMLA-775
WR-08? UH-1Y HMLA-775
WR-41 AH-1Z HMLA-775
WR-42 AH-1Z HMLA-775
WR-45 AH-1Z HMLA-775

8x AV-8B of VMA-223 were lined-up far away, and only the modexes WP-00,02,03,06,08,09,11 and 223 of these were confirmed.

2 F/A-18F of VFA-106 were present, modexes AD-220 and AD-221.10 other F/A-18s were present, 7 of which were confirmed as VFA-122, and 5 of these departed to NAs Lemoore prior to 12:00 and were modexes NJ-206,210 and 223 (F/A-1E) and F/A-18F modexes NJ-116 and 126. The others were all gone from here by the next day. 2 of these were modexes NJ-102 and 113.

One other visitor was 165830 -830 C-40A (VR-59) CNV4200.

[SBGrad]

Interesting. WP 00, 02 (164569), 06 (165592) and 09 from VMA-223 ended up at KPSP (Palm Springs Intl) by 1230 on the 17th when I dropped by the air museum there. When I left the museum approx 2 hours later the Harriers were still there and an Osprey was landing.

[tbower40]

I left El Centro Friday evening and 4 Harriers were hitting the bombing range a few others were still on the tarmac. About 10 F-18 Super Hornets from VFA 106 showed up in the afternoon. Not sure how long they will be there.

[Marijn]

Thank you for your log(s) "Le Addeur noir"!

The week before (during 2 visits), the following were seen:

1 additional UH-60M 20794. I can confirm all 4 had the 3-227 AVN badge on the nose.

In total 8 USMC helos were noted:
AH-1Z : 168002/WR-41, 168520/WR-43, 169513/WR-45, WR-42 (anyone for the BuNo of this Cobra??)
UH-1Y : 169244/WR-05, .../WR-06, 169285/WR-08, .../WR-09

The 8 AV-8s were:
164551/WP-00, 164569/WP-02, 165595/WP-03, 165312/WP-07, 165596/WP-09, 165381/WP-11, 164560/WP-223 and the 8th should be 165592/WP-06

Also the Blue Angels were around. Anyone for 1 or more ID's of these?

[Le Addeur noir]

Thank you for your log(s) "Le Addeur noir"!

The week before (during 2 visits), the following were seen:

1 additional UH-60M 20794. I can confirm all 4 had the 3-227 AVN badge on the nose.

In total 8 USMC helos were noted:
AH-1Z : 168002/WR-41, 168520/WR-43, 169513/WR-45, WR-42 (anyone for the BuNo of this Cobra??)
UH-1Y : 169244/WR-05, .../WR-06, 169285/WR-08, .../WR-09

The 8 AV-8s were:
164551/WP-00, 164569/WP-02, 165595/WP-03, 165312/WP-07, 165596/WP-09, 165381/WP-11, 164560/WP-223 and the 8th should be 165592/WP-06

Also the Blue Angels were around. Anyone for 1 or more ID's of these?

Blue Angels noted on the 12th,

163766 1
one ending in 2 code 2
163708 3
163705 6

2 coded 4 and 2 coded 7.

[AndyMarden]

Noted here this morning:
20794 UH-60M 3-227th AVN
20809 UH-60M 3-227th AVN
20823 UH-60M 3-227th AVN
_____ UH-60M 3-227th AVN
(this was present last night but had gone by the morning)

AV-8B
164551 WP/00
164569 WP/02
165595 WP/03
165592 WP/06
165312 WP/07
165596 WP/09
165381 WP/11
164560 WP/223

FA/18 VFA-106/AD
213
214
220 165806
221 165808
225 166__6
226 165934
236
240
243 16588_
245 165892
260
266 166612
267
plus one in the hangar

Blue Angels
1 163766
2 163462
3 163708
3 163429
4 163768
5 162411
6 163705
7 163464
7 162857

[747woody]

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

213/166672,
214/165799,
220/165806,
221/165808,
225/165931 (carries 166456 on lhs - see further down thread)
226/165934,
236/166460,
243/165883,
245/165892,
252/169647,
260/166613,
267/166619

160506 and 160475 T-34C 'DOG1 & 2'

All 8 VMA-223 AV-8Bs and 4 UH-60s still here ('20793' heard on the radio).

Visitors:

761576/LS08 F-5N VMFT-401 for touch and go
165782/NJ201 F/A-18E VFA-122 for gas and go
162158/34 VRC-30 C-2A 'PASSWORD34' for gas and go?
168951/SE02 UH-1Y HMLA-469 dep
164859/YK859 CH-53E HMH-466 'THUNDER21' for gas and go
plus a few more unidentified CH-53Es for gas and go, including 'THUNDER11 & 12'

[747woody]

PS where is this El Cantro place??!!

[CR-74050]

It's about a 1 hour drive west of MCAS Yamu!

Cheers, Dick

[mainsail2011]

2 hours drive east NAS North Ijsland

[SBGrad]

Per Thunderbirds Instagram, all 8 Thunderbirds jets are in El Centro. Blue Angels instagram says " Stay tuned, we have some really cool stuff lined up this week!" so I am guessing this will be more than one day. I will be out there tomorrow (Thurs).

[tbower40]

I thought I read that they will be doing some joint winter training for 4 or 5 days.

[747woody]

Additional VFA-106 Superbugs from my report on the 19th seen today:

227/165913, 240/165880, 255/169649, 266/166612

Looks like the Harriers have gone.

[747woody]

26/2/20 visitors:

164211/SH270 F/A-18D VMFAT-101 gas and go
169601/VW301 F-35C VMFA-314 low approach
166512/QB512 KC-130J VMGR-352 pattern work
90-1797 C-130H 139 AW MS ANG in and out, twice
07-7174 C-17A ‘THUNDERBIRD14’ 436 AW plus the Thunderbirds!

The Army UH-60s are still here, and the three HSC-4 MH-60s at Imperial were operating from here. There were also three CH-53Es, but they didn’t move whilst I was there.

[blazesixate]

28Feb is looking real good for a dual service demo team practice seas. am & pm