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View Full Version : NAS/JRB Willow Grove - December 2



Steven Holzinger
2005-11-26, 08:35 PM
If any of you guys are interested in shooting military aircraft for a change, this coming Friday will be your best opportunity to do. Saturday is the traditional Army/Navy football game being held at the Link in Philadelphia, and weather permitting, there is usually a good turnout of transient military traffic that comes into Willow Grove the day before the game. From JFK, it should take about 2½ hours to reach Willow Grove, which is off of Exit 343 on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Based at Willow Grove are A-10s from the 111th Fighter Wing (Pennsylvania ANG, tailcode PA), C-130 Hercules (from the 913th Airlift Wing and from VR-64 which is a Navy unit---tailcode BD), and C-9B Skytrains (VR-52, tailcode JT). All of our P-3C Orions are gone... :( but we should be able to catch some base flight ops.

Now, from what I caught last year, included (over a period of six hours) two KC-135R Stratotankers from Pittsburgh, a C-130H Hercules from Pope AFB, four F-14B Tomcats (in formation!) from VF-143 "Pukin' Dogs", an F/A-18 Hornet from VFA-201 "Hunters", and closing out the day was a massive formation of EIGHT Apaches and one Blackhawk! We were expecting a total of seven Hornets, but only three showed up.

This year, I have no idea what to expect to come in. I'm hoping for Hornets and Super Hornets, but that might be a bit of a stretch. Oh wait, it's Army/Navy, so there has to be aircraft representing both branches coming in! Remember that military aircraft spotting is totally different than spotting airliners, because military operations usually aren't as frequent as civillian operations!

Steven Holzinger
2005-12-03, 12:26 AM
Some pictures from today... based aircraft first then the good stuff.

http://www.stevesairshow.com/airliners/12-02-05/C-12%201.jpg
C-12 Huron.

http://www.stevesairshow.com/airliners/12-02-05/C-9.jpg
Unmarked C-9B Skytrain...was using callsign Juilet Tango, which is VR-52's callsign and the unit based at WG.

http://www.stevesairshow.com/airliners/12-02-05/PA%20ANG%20Overhead%201.jpg
PA ANG A-10 Thunderbolt IIs.

http://www.stevesairshow.com/airliners/12-02-05/PA%20ANG%20Overhead%202.jpg

http://www.stevesairshow.com/airliners/12-02-05/PA%20ANG%200a.jpg

http://www.stevesairshow.com/airliners/12-02-05/PA%20ANG%201.jpg
A total of four A-10s came back from a training sortie. My best shots came out of one particular aircraft.

http://www.stevesairshow.com/airliners/12-02-05/PA%20ANG%202.jpg

http://www.stevesairshow.com/airliners/12-02-05/PA%20ANG%203.jpg

http://www.stevesairshow.com/airliners/12-02-05/PA%20ANG%204.jpg

http://www.stevesairshow.com/airliners/12-02-05/Screwtop%201.jpg
This E-2C Hawkeye 2000 from VAW-123 "Screwtops" shot like six touch and goes before heading back to Norfolk.

http://www.stevesairshow.com/airliners/12-02-05/T-44%201.jpg
A pair of T-44A Pegasus trainers from Corpus Christi, TX came in.

http://www.stevesairshow.com/airliners/12-02-05/T-44%202.jpg

http://www.stevesairshow.com/airliners/12-02-05/T-44%203.jpg

http://www.stevesairshow.com/airliners/12-02-05/UC-35%201.jpg
UC-35B Citation from NAF Washington/Andrews AFB. Landed and then departed for Dobbins, GA.

http://www.stevesairshow.com/airliners/12-02-05/Apaches%20Arrive%201.jpg
A flight of SEVEN AH-64 Apaches flew into Willow Grove on Thursday. All went up on Friday, except one went back because of a problem, and here's the remaining six coming back to the base.

http://www.stevesairshow.com/airliners/12-02-05/Nickel%20Flight%201.jpg
F/A-18F Super Hornets from VFA-211 "Checkmates" arriving around 4:05 pm. They use Nickel as their callsign. They only did the overhead break and came in...full stops.

http://www.stevesairshow.com/airliners/12-02-05/Nickel%201.jpg

http://www.stevesairshow.com/airliners/12-02-05/Nickel%202.jpg

http://www.stevesairshow.com/airliners/12-02-05/Nickel%203.jpg

http://www.stevesairshow.com/airliners/12-02-05/Nickel%204.jpg

http://www.stevesairshow.com/airliners/12-02-05/Nickel%205.jpg

http://www.stevesairshow.com/airliners/12-02-05/Nickel%206.jpg

The Super Hornets seen here and the Apaches, I believe, will be the flyover aircraft for tomorrow's Army/Navy football game at the Link in Philadelphia.

Derf
2005-12-03, 01:08 AM
GREAT STUFF!

lijk604
2005-12-03, 02:21 PM
Steve,


Great stuff as usual. Wish we had more mil traffic on the Island, but that's life. If you have more shots, please do post 'em.


John
Patchogue, NY

Steven Holzinger
2005-12-04, 08:06 PM
Taken today just after sunset... VFA-211 "Checkmates" F/A-18F Super Hornet beginning its takeoff roll.

http://www.stevesairshow.com/airliners/12-04-05/AB-100%20Burners.jpg

IslipWN
2005-12-04, 09:36 PM
holy crap, that shot is awesome!!!!

lijk604
2005-12-05, 06:08 PM
NICE SHOT! Damn I'm jealous!