McGuire AFB - Saturday 5/12/07

Made the trek to McGuire Saturday for the open house. It started out cloudy, but by early afternoon, the sun was out and the skies were clear, just in time for most of the various jet demonstrations.

I still have a ton of photos to go through, but here are some highlights.

Some of McGuire's heavy iron:

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/152045434-L.jpg

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/152045586-L.jpg

This one looks familiar!

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/152045723-L.jpg

T-1 Jayhawk trainer from Randolph AFB:

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/152045855-L.jpg


http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/152045897-L.jpg

First time I've seen an F-117!

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/152092061-L.jpg

The early clouds meant enough moisture for some interesting effects - F-18 high speed pass:

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/152099907-L.jpg

F-22 Raptor - they had a bunch of CAP cadets near the rear of the a/c, telling people you weren't allowed to photograph the exhaust area :shock:

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/152092293-L.jpg

I love Phantoms!

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/152091921-L.jpg

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/152092444-L.jpg

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/152092517-L.jpg

Air Force Heritage Flight

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/152092335-L.jpg

The stars of the show...

Thunderbird Lead taxies out to start the show.

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/152092768-L.jpg

Major Samantha Weeks, one of two women flying with the Thunderbirds this year. She flies #6, the Opposing Solo. Shortly after the show started, she had a radar altimeter malfunction. After a short delay, the show continued.

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/152092685-L.jpg

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/152092899-L.jpg

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/152091255-L.jpg

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/152091222-L.jpg

The two solos cross at show center.

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/152091195-L.jpg

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/152091332-L.jpg

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/152091405-L.jpg

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/152091434-L.jpg

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/152091375-L.jpg

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/152091882-L.jpg

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/152091493-L.jpg

does the USAF still fly the T-37?

and if you ever have problems with the CAP or any JROTC just call phil, he'll take care of them!

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Originally Posted by cancidas

does the USAF still fly the T-37?

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Yes they do...

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/152150912-L.jpg

This old gal turns 50 this year. I'll have to dig out my log book, but it's very possible I flew her back in UPT. Columbus AFB will retire their Tweets within a year. I don't know if any other bases still use the Tweet, or if they have all converted to the T-6A.

Nice stuff Moose, really disappointed I didn't make it out this year.
That F117 looks even more meanacing with the dark clouds in the sky.

Hey! That was an awesome show, did you see me there?
Yea, I was realy excited when they said there was gonna be a surprise visit by the F-117!
Where were you, I was show right?
the F-117 literaly banked right over me : ]

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Originally Posted by moose135

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cancidas

does the USAF still fly the T-37?

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Yes they do...

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/152150912-L.jpg

This old gal turns 50 this year. I'll have to dig out my log book, but it's very possible I flew her back in UPT. Columbus AFB will retire their Tweets within a year. I don't know if any other bases still use the Tweet, or if they have all converted to the T-6A.

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Laughlin is all T-6 and I believe Columbus has gone over primarily to the T-6 with a remaining few 37s...

The 37s have been around for something like 40 years! :shock:

The T-6 is a sweet aircraft though. Two grads, a UPT guy and an O-5 from Del Rio flew up here for his cross-country (and to attend some Wings of Blue Ceremony that the Col. was involved in) and landed at the airfield while I was doing AFS last summer. I took some time to look around the aircraft and all, and it was NICE, much nicer than the T-37. It'll be pretty sweet to fly that plane in just over a year!

Nice shots!

the T-37 was used for primary flight training or was it more for jet transition training? and the T-6 is one sick airplane, i'd love to own one for myself!

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Originally Posted by cancidas

the T-37 was used for primary flight training or was it more for jet transition training?

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The T-37 was for primary training. If you had no previous flight experience prior to going to UPT (I already had my PPL) you got a handful of hours while in ROTC or the Academy, but Day 1 of UPT (well, more like Day 30 or so) your first flight was in the Tweet. It's changed since I was there, but at the time, you flew the -37 for about 4 months, concentrating on basic flight maneuvers, aerobatics, instrument flight, and a little formation flying. From there, you moved on to the T-38 for about 7 months. You got more advanced flight maneuvers, more aerobatics & instrument work, and a ton of formation flying. About 2/3 of the way through T-38 phase, you were rated as either fighter/attack/recon qualified (FAR) or tanker/transport/bomber (TTB). FAR guys got more formation work, TTB guys more instrument time.

Now that determination is made following T-37 or T-6 phase. Fighter guys (includes bombers now as they are part of Air Combat Command) go to the T-38. Tanker/Transport guys go to the T-1 Jayhawk. I'm glad I went through UPT when I did - I got to fly the Mighty Tweet, as well as the White Rocket!

wow nice to see a USAF F-18

I'm not that interested in the Air Force, but these photos certainly made me appreciate it! Very nice. I think the Thunderbirds are my favorite.

Quick question. Regarding this photo

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http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/152045586-L.jpg

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what is the outline around where door 2L would normally be?

excellent photos

Great shots Moose!

Definately great shots Moose.

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Originally Posted by AirtrafficController

wow nice to see a USAF F-18

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Thats a Navy Super Hornet and they're the only onew hos fly them.

Nice shots Moose, sorry I never called you back but I bumped into a few people I knew and just forgot. I still havn't edited my shots but I'll do so and post some later.