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In the Wild - November 2005 |
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The Mojave desert is the site of nearly continuous military aircraft operations. The R-2508 Restricted Airspace Complex stretches from Bishop to Edwards Air Force Base and from Tehachapi to the Nevada State line. Approximately 18,000 low level test and training missions are conducted within the R-2508 Complex annually.
Under the R-2508 Complex, the Saline Valley, adjacent to Death Valley, is used by military aircraft to transit between China Lake NAWC, Edwards AFB, and test ranges in Nevada. Aircraft from Fresno ANG Station and Lemoore NAS aircraft use the area for training.
I spent four days in November camping in the Saline Valley photographing military jets, mostly Super Hornets and RAF Hercules.
Boeing E-8 J-STARS ground mapping radar variants of the 707 flew racetrack patterns high overhead on most days, occasionally sharing the sky with Boeing-McDonnell-Douglas C-17A Globemaster IIIs, a McDonnell-Douglas KC-10A Extender, Boeing E-3 Sentrys, and a Boeing RC-135V Rivet Joint.
Boeing-McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18F Super Hornet of VFA-122 Flying Eagles based at Naval Air Station Lemoore climbs out of the valley.
An American Airlines Boeing 777 cruised over the valley on a long flight.
F/A-18F, BuNo 165879 #120 of VFA-122
Royal Air Force Lockheed Hercules C3 can be identified by the stretched fuselage and refueling probe.
F/A-18F of VFA-122
F/A-18C #305 of VFA-211 Checkmates based at Naval Air Station Lemoore.
Royal Air Force Lockheed Hercules C5 can be identified by the short fuselage and six-bladed propellers.
F/A-18C #304 of VFA-151 Vigilantes based at Naval Air Station Lemoore.
F/A-18C #301 of VFA-151.
The least expected sighting was Lockheed P-2 Neptune, N96264 Tanker #12 transiting the valley at mid-altitude.
F/A-18E #202 of VFA-115 Eagles based at Naval Air Station Lemoore.
General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon of the California Air National Guard based at Fresno.
RAF Hercules C5.
RAF Hercules C3.
RAF Hercules C5.
F/A-18E #203 of VFA-14 Tophatters based at Naval Air Station Lemoore.
F/A-18F #120 of VFA-122 Flying Eagles based at Naval Air Station Lemoore.
F/A-18F #120 of VFA-122 heading up the Eureka-Saline Corridor.
A small portion of the photo above reveals a Beechcraft C-12 Super King Air coming the other direction.
Beechcraft C-12 Super King Air.
F/A-18F #115 of VFA-122.
Composite image of F/A-18F #115 of VFA-122 flying past Palm Spring.
F/A-18D Hornets practiced dogfighting three to five miles overhead.
Unlike the pre-planned routines at airshows, not even the pilots know how the air combat maneuvering will turn out.
The Hornets twist and turn at high angle of attack, bleeding off energy and descending rapidly.
F/A-18F #142 of VFA-122.
F/A-18E #173 of VFA-122.
F/A-18F #142 of VFA-122.
F/A-18E #173 of VFA-122 carries a turbine-powered refueling pod.
Two high altitude jets left narrow contrails. One turned across the path of the other and flew directly through its contrail.
A pair of F/A-18E Super Hornets of VFA-14.
A second pair of F/A-18E Super Hornets of VFA-14.
F/A-18E #204 of VFA-14.
F/A-18E of VFA-14.
F/A-18F of VX-9 Vampires based at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake.
F/A-18F cruises through the Saline Valley.
F/A-18F.
RAF Hercules C5.
F/A-18E #202 of VFA-14.
F/A-18F.
F/A-18F.
Royal Air Force Panavia Tornado GR.4 from the Fast Jet & Weapons Operational Evaluation Unit (FJ&W OEU) based at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire approaches camp from low over the valley floor.
Tornado GR.4 heads up the Eureka-Saline Corridor.
RAF Hercules C5.
Four-frame composite of RAF Hercules C5 descending into the valley.
Three-frame composite of RAF Hercules C5
F/A-18F.
RAF Hercules C3.
RAF Hercules C5.
RAF Hercules C5 and a Raven.
RAF Hercules C5 has lowered its landing gear as if it intends to land in camp.
RAF Hercules C5 passes over the palm trees at the spring.
A surprise visit by a Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18A Hornet that carries tail art commemorating 20 years of Australian F/A-18 service.
F/A-18F #104 of VFA-122 played enthusiastically at high speed and very low altitude.
F/A-18F #104 of VFA-122 shared the valley with RAF Hercules C3.
F/A-18F #104 of VFA-122 descends toward the salt flats.
RAF Hercules C3 drops into the valley from the top of Grapevine Canyon.
A pair of F/A-18E Super Hornets transition from the Saline Valley into the Panamint Valley.
F/A-18F #142 of VFA-122.
Royal Air Force Harrier GR.7 from the Fast Jet & Weapons Operational Evaluation Unit (FJ&W OEU) based at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire dives into the Sailne Valley.
RAF Harrier GR.7 returns to the Panamint Valley.
Link to the In
the Wild index page for more pictures of jets in the
desert.
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