Scramble Messageboard

14 January Federal Aviation Administration Beech 300 N72/ 'Flight Check 72' US Navy/VAQ-129 Vikings EA-18G Growler NJ-507 NJ-513 NJ-577 NJ-555 NJ-544 They asked for an expedited departure because they said they had to be finished at El Centro by 1300 (probably because the Blues needed the runway). E...

12.01.21 VAQ-129 VIKINGS Boeing EA-18G Growler 507/169207 513/168372 556/166894 CAG 555/166941 577/169206 Flight International RIPTIDE Lear 35 N80PG N52FN US Army Alenia C-27 Spartan 10-27027 'Desert Two Seven' They called the tower and announced they had 'jumpers in the air, south of the (San Diego...

Couldn't find this one first time around-- another (slightly newer) hulk on Nimitz. For some reason they like to show them off during ships tours. Only time I saw a hulk with a BUNO.

Most every CVN based here has a clunker on it. When a carrier gets their hands on one they usually end up putting the hull number on the nose. https://live.staticflickr.com/6130/6191569893_70fa25def2_b.jpg Reagan's hulk, 2011 They use them for fire fighting practice https://live.staticflickr.com/331...

Yah, I noticed the nose/tail mismatch right away. There must be a story behind that, but not much chance to find out. We'll see if Tac Air comes down for the next battlegroup COMPTUEX (Vinson, I think) and if they've changed the paint on the tail.

22 Dec More exercises with the battlegroup: Tactical Air Support 'VILLAIN' Northrop F-5AT N617TA Black 02 N646TA Brown 04 N791TA Black 01 N696TA Black 15 The F-5s flew 2 hops, landing for the night about 1700. On the first hop, one of the jets had an indicator light that the gear wasn't locked. He w...

Hey thanks! Yah, the weather has been VERY cooperative. Absolutely clear skies the past week. The jets helped me out, too. Two hops per day but the light was so much better when they landed after the 2nd flight I ended up using all those. I only wish that some of the ATAC jets that were also involve...

18 Dec 2020 Civilian aggressors/contract aircraft participating in CVN-71 battlegroup training: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50739676343_797f415910_k.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50740410601_1366276d2a_k.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50740516172_327ae2af8c_k.jpg https://l...

18 Dec 2020 VRC-30 Providers 'Password' Grumman C-2 37/BUNO 162141 Dept Homeland Security Textron B350 N451G Troy Two One VR-59 Boeing C-40 Clipper BUNO 165830/Convoy 4262 CVN-71 COMPTUEX going on, lots of civvie aggressors Tactical Air Support 'VILLAIN' Northrop F-5AT N617TA Black 02* N646TA Brown ...

Apologies if this has already been posted, I couldn't find any mention after several thread searches. Navy wants to base their west coast fleet of MQ-25 Stingray CBUAS tankers at Pt Mugu: https://www.nepa.navy.mil/stingray/ A few interesting tidbits from the report: Operation anticipated to begin 20...

The world's only large civil passenger jet ever certified for skydiving may be going back in service after an almost 10 year hiatus. Perris Valley Skydiving bought the ex-SAS, ex-Nordic Intl, ex-Spirit, ex-ValuJet, ex-Allegiant DC-9-21 for US$50,000 back in 2009 and used it until 2013 as a skydiving...

Yes, it was Vikings 577, fixed above.

20 November

Rudy Three Two/169439 CMV-22B Osprey VRM-30
NJ 242/BUNO 166608 F-18E VFA-122 gas-n-go
Bell Zero One 91708/JG-1708/BUNO 169429 V-22B Osprey JGSDF

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50629071831_201cb74330_k.jpg CAG leading a 3 ship formation https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50628325273_349d36b2a6_k.jpg Never seen this pod on a Riptide bird before--it houses a reel and cable for streaming surface to air targets https://live.staticflickr.co...

18 Nov

VAQ-140 Patriots
Boeing EA-18G Growler

AG 500/168375 CAG bird
AG 503/168373
AG 504/168374

19 Nov

from binoculars, approx 1/4-1/2 mile away

VFA-14 Tophatters
Boeing F-18E
CAG bird landing