Dallas/Fort Worth Area-October 2013: Something old, new, borrowed, and blue

Hello All,

Time for another update from the Lone Star State. I felt i was long overdue for another spotting trip up to get away from classes, and decided to plan it around this weekend's Air Power Expo (be sure to check out CO772ER's thread if you haven't already!).


Day 1: I was supposed to spend my first day out at Alliance, but sudden word about some hurricane evacuations coming into the Naval Base changed that around. While the good stuff we were expecting never showed, it still made for a decent afternoon of spotting. The light was awful for most of the day, so I apologize in advance for the first few photos.

Oh hey there Mr. B-52...

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These guys came in from New Orleans, along with 10 others from the same unit as part of the evacuation

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Then I bagged my 3rd F-35C, shame he couldn't have waited another hour or so

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The local Reserve unit started flying, with some jets they just got from the NJ ANG too!

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Every time I catch a C-40, it is always "831" always...

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And the last jet of the day, and the highlight, this beauty slipping in to spend the weekend.

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Day 2: Saturday was the let-down weather-wise, but I still popped out to Meacham to bag the 787 coming in for paint

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Soon to be with United

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Day 3: A vast improvement for sure. We started at Collin County Regional Airport hoping to see some of the warbirds fly, and we got lucky to say the least. Closed out the day at DFW.

My first time seeing this beauty fly, so I'll post a few more than I normally would

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Nice P-51

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The R4D-6S "Ready 4 Duty" from Lancaster, TX

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Sentimental Journey departing

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The SB2C

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Finally caught the legendary Flagship Tulsa II, the most bland special livery there ever was :biggrin:

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A pleasant surprise, my first AA A319!

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So, in one weekend that was 2 jets both of which flew for the first time this very week, a 60+ year old DC-3 and B-29/17 and P-51, a leased A-319, and a Blue Helldiver :cool: I'll settle for that!

Thanks for checking 'em out, hope you enjoyed.

Cheers!

Nick

Very nice set Nick....nice to see the B-52.

Gee.....Day 3 is outstanding!!!

Thanks, Mark! Day 3 was an absolute blast, albeit a bit cold (50s in Dallas was chilly this weekend!)

Gotta love those shots of FIFI! Nice! I'm still sorry I missed her earlier this year when she visited the Old Dominion at Manassass (HEF)

Nice shots of FIFI. I caught that same B-52 (029) at Barksdale this afternoon.

El Dorado at DFW? I've only seen her once there. She's a regular at ADS.

The B-52 and B-29 rocks!!!!

Damn Nick killer set. What's that all white 707?

Awesome set

Thanks guys!

CO777ER-Yeah, I was surprised to see that little King Air in the pattern at DFW, had never heard of or seen El Dorado before.

Fasil-That all white 707 is a Navy E-6B Mercury, it is responsible for controlling the US nuclear arsenal if the main command and control facilities were destroyed.

Wow - those are 3 awesome days!!! Love the white Navy 135!!!

These are amazing, love B-52 shots.

Thanks Guys!

Nice shots Nick. I thought the E-4B was to take control of the subs and Minutemen III's should the worst happen

William, the way it was explained to me was that the E-4B served as a communications command post for the National Command Authority, where the President, etc. could stay in contact with assets following the destruction of key locales like the White House, Pentagon, etc. The E-4B would have the ability to communicate Presidential orders to units, but the E-6 Mercury would be responsible for actually issuing commands to Nuclear Assets, as it is able to replicate the authority normally vested in US Strategic Command at Offut AFB.

So the E-4B is a mobile situation room, and the E-6B is a backup Nuclear command post...if that makes sense.

It does, thank you sir

The tail-gunner has the best seat in the House.

Great set! Nice prop-blur on the FiFi shots. The Mercury and F-35 are great catches.

For anyone who's interested an E-6B is usually trackable on planfinder:
http://planefinder.net/flight/GOTO%20FMS

Sometimes it visits the Northeast, usually NAS Oceana and sometimes McGuire.

That's one heck of a set Nick, great job on all three days! I'm always happy to see more military jets in these forums!

Thanks Kiffy, Captmjk!

Please Delete

Very cool Photos!!!