Static Displays at Thunder and Lightning Over Arizona
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Davis-Monthan Air Force Base hosted Thunder and Lightning Over Arizona to commemorate the state centennial. On Sunday, April 15, I photographed the static displays at the open house.
Lockheed C-5A Galaxy 69-0003 of the 455th Airlift Wing based at Wright-Pattterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
Lockheed EC-130H Compass Call 73-1583 of the 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron based at Davis-Monthan.
Boeing TC-135W 62-4129 of the 38th Reconnaissance Squadron based at Offutt Air Force Baseis used for training crew members for operations of RC-135W Rivet Joints. It was built as a C-135B Stratofreighter. It was converted to a VC-135B VIP transport before its conversion to TC-135W.
Boeing E-8C J-STARS 02-9111 of the 116th Air Control Wing based at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. It first flew on October 19, 1967. Its construction number is 19581. It was delivered to American Airlines as 707-323C N8401 on October 31, 1967. The Air Force acquired it as C-18A 81-0896 on July 20, 1982. It was converted to EC-18B range instrumentation aircraft. It was withdrawn from use by August 2001 and converted to E-8C 02-9111 on March 22, 2005.
Boeing E-8C J-STARS 02-9111 of the 116th Air Control Wing.
Boeing E-8C J-STARS 02-9111 of the 116th Air Control Wing.
Grumman EA-6B-45 Prowler BuNo 158810 #910 of VAQ-129 Vikings based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.
Grumman EA-6B-45 Prowler BuNo 158810 #910 of VAQ-129 Vikings.
Grumman EA-6B-45 Prowler BuNo 158810 #910 of VAQ-129 Vikings.
Bell-Boeing MV-22B Osprey BuNo 168012 #11 of HMM-166 Sea Elks based at MCAS Miramar.
Bell-Boeing MV-22B Osprey BuNo 168012 #11 of HMM-166 Sea Elks.
NASA Aero Spacelines 377SGT Super Guppy Turbine N941NA is based at Ellington Field, Texas.
NASA Aero Spacelines 377SGT Super Guppy Turbine N941NA.
NASA Aero Spacelines 377SGT Super Guppy Turbine N941NA.
NASA Aero Spacelines 377SGT Super Guppy Turbine N941NA.
The forward fuselage of a former Blue Angels McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom II.
Boeing B-52H Straatofortress 60-0013 of the 2nd Bomb Wing based at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana.
Boeing B-52H Straatofortress 60-0013 of the 2nd Bomb Wing.
Boeing B-52H Straatofortress 60-0013 of the 2nd Bomb Wing.
Hawker Hunter Mk. 58A N159AM served the Swisss Air Force as J-4035. It is now registered to the Air Museum Planes of Fame at Chino, California and is displayed at the Pima Aerospace Museum.
Northrop T-38A Talon 67-14923 of the 7th Flying Training Squadron based at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico.
Lockheed-Martin F-22A Block 20 Raptor 04-4076 of the 46th Fighter Wing based at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico.
Beech RC-12W Liberty 09-0640 of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing based at Beale Air Force Base, California.
RAF Panavia Tornado GR4A ZA400.
RAF Panavia Tornado GR4 ZD788.
Embry Riddle Diamond DA-42 N907ER was built in 2007. Its construction number is 42.302.
Arizona Air National Guard General-Dynamics F-16C Block 42F Fighting Falcon 89-2100 of the 162nd Fighter Wing based at Tucson International Airport.
Commemorative Air Force General Motors TBM-3U Avenger N3967A was delivered to the US Navy as BuNo 53835 in 1945. Its construction number is 3897. Nevadair of Tonopah, Nevada registered it as N3967A in 1963. Charlie T. Jensen of Tonopah, Nevada bought it in 1972 and sold it to Maynard Lund of Ritzville, Washington in 1978. Skarda Flying Service of Hazen, Arkansas acquired it on January 17, 1984. It flies as as BuNo 53835/GS-41.
Beech model D18S N145AZ is owned by the Commemorative Air Force. Its construction number is A235. It is powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior nine-cylinder radial engines. It is restored as a C-45 Expediter.
North American P-51D Mustang, N151MW Lady Alice was delivered to the Army Air Force as 45-11633. Its construction number is 124-48386. William G. Lacy and Lacy Steel Incorporated of Honolulu, Hawaii registered it as N5413V in 1963. It was damaged in a ground accident at Honolulu in 1972. Lady Alice Corporation of Wilmington, Delaware registered it as N151MW on August 26, 1999. It has been registered to Wagner P-51 Corporation since September 12, 2006.
North American T-28C Trojan NX28CQ was delivered to the US Navy as BuNo 146254 in 1957. Its construction number is 252-17. It was registered as N910KK by Southern California Aviation of Corona Del Mar, California in January 1986. John F. Hulls of St. Cloud, Minnesota acquired it in 1987 and registered it as N254PJ in July 1988. Seahorse Aviation of Rye, New York bought it in 1992. San Diego Warbirds registered it as N28CQ in 2002. It has been registered to James Ostrich since March 25, 2005.
Beech A45 N34EM served the US Air Force as T-34A Mentor 53-4150. Its construction number is CCF34-119. It has been registered to Spirit Rotorcraft of Phoenix since March 7, 2008.
Beech B-45 N134FA was built in 1954. Its construction number is G-21. It has been registered to Fast Aircraft Incorported since June 26, 2009.
Beech A45 N434JH served the US Air Force as T-34A Mentor 53-4148. Its construction number is CCF34-117. It has been registered to James Hunt since July 20, 1999.
Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk N518TA is registered to Pacific Aero Ventures LLC of Bellevue, Washington. Its construction number is 14291. It is based at Marana Regional Airport, Arizona. It is powered by a Pratt & Whitney J52-P8B.
Northrop T-38A Talon 65-10429 of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing based at Beale Air Force Base.
Lear C-21A 84-0075 of the Air Materiel Command.
Beech T-1A Jayhawk 93-0622 of the 86th Flying Training Squadron based at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas.
Cessna O-2A Skymaster N48233 served the US Air Force as 68-11018. Its construction number is 128. It is powered by a pair of Continental Motors IO-360 series flat six engines. The serial number on its tail, 11108, was applied to a Texas Instruments AGM-45A Shrike.
Nose art of Cessna O-2A Skymaster N48233.
Nanchang CJ-6A N360PT carries construciton number 4232024. . It has been registered to Gary Bunn since March 12, 2003.
Nanchang CJ-6 N191CL was built in 1985. Its construciton number is 4132016. It has been registered to Richard Lee since August 7, 2008.
Northrop T-38A Talon 64-13304 of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing based at Beale Air Force Base.
Beech T-6A Texan 08-3919 of the 85th Flying Training Squadron based at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas.
Northrop T-38A Talon 67-14951 of the 87th Flying Training Squadron based at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas.
Aerovodochody L-39 Albatross N391ZA was built in 1985. Its construction number is 533219. It has been registered to L39 JT LLC since September 22, 2000.
McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18C Hornet BuNo 164223 #402 of VFA-94 Mighty Shrikes of Naval Air Station Lemoore, California.
McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18C Hornet BuNo 164212 #401 of VFA-94 Mighty Shrikes of Naval Air Station Lemoore, California.
McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18B-8 Hornet BuNo 161711 was Blue Angels #7. It has been retired to AMARG.
Sikorsky SH-60F Sea Hawk BuNo 164073 formerly of HS-10 Warhawks based at Naval Air Station North Island, California. It was retired to AMARG on December 6, 2011.
Grumman E-2C Hawkeye BuNo 164110 #660 formerly of VAW120 Grayhawks based at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia. It has been retired to AMARG.
Convair F-106A-110 Delta Dart 59-0043 set the world speed record of 1525.95 miles per hour on December 15, 1959. Its construction number is 8-24-172. It was retired to AMARG on August 1, 1988. It was converted to a QF-106 target drone, but returned to AMARG on April 4, 1998.
Fairchild-Republic OA-10A Warthog 82-0659 of the 358th Fighter Squadron Lobos.
Fairchild-Republic A-10A Warthog 80-0173 of the 355th Fighter Wing.
Fairchild-Republic A-10A Warthog 78-0706 of the 354th Fighter Squadron Dragons.
Customs and Border Protection Sikorsky UH-60A Blackhawk 86-24548.
Customs and Border Protection Eurocopter AS 350 B3 N791AM.
Homeland Security Pilatus PC-12/45 N541PB.
Vintage Arizona Highway Patrol Mercury.
Vintage Arizona Highway Patrol Mercury
Grumman HU-16B Albatross N10019 served the US Air Force as 51-0019. It was later transferred to the Philippines Coast Guard. It was registered as N5545 in 2005. It has been registered to Robert Ryan of Guam as N10019 since November 30, 2005. It is powered by a pair of Wright R-1820 Cyclone single-bank, 9-cylinder radial engines.
Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion BuNo 161387 of HMM-465 Warhorse based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California.
The YAL-1A Airborne Laser Testbed carries a megawatt class Chemical, Oxygen Iodine Laser (COIL) for destroying Tactical Ballistic Missiles in the boost phase of their flight. The laser is emitted from the large steerable turet on the nose of the YAL-1A.
Boeing YAL-1A Airborne Laser Testbed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base on April 15, 2012: You can buy this photo as prints as large as 16" x 24".
Boeing YAL-1A Airborne Laser Testbed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base on April 15, 2012: You can buy this photo as prints as large as 14" x 40".
The laser turret and engines of the YAL-1A Airborne Laser Testbed have been covered in protective material for long term storage.
Boeing YAL-1A Airborne Laser Testbed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base on April 15, 2012: You can buy this photo as prints as large as 16" x 24".
The COIL emits its laser beam through this large turret on the nose of the Airborne Laser Testbed.
The pod below the laser turret houses a weather radar and one of the six Infra-red Search and Track (IRST) units. The IRSTs detect the heat of the plume from an ascending missile.
The IRST pod under the laser turret.
Mission marks were applied below the cockpit windows.
Mission marks commemorate nine laser tests, including the destruction of two missiles.
The Active Ranging System (ARS) is mounted on the top of the fuselage. It houses a carbon-dioxide laser for tracking missiles. The YAL-1A sports badges for the Missile Defense Agency, the Air Materiel Command, and the Air Combat Command.
Right side of the Active Ranging System.
Badges for the Missile Defense Agency, the Air Materiel Command, and the Air Combat Command on the right side of the fuselage.
Two more IRSTs are mounted on either side of the fuselage, directly below the ARS.
Two hazardous chemical vents are mounted on the right side of the upper fuselage, aft of the wing.
Exhaust ports for the COIL vent through the bottom of the fuselage aft of the wing.
A hazardous chemical vent is mounted under the fuselage forward of the exhaust ports of the COIL.
The COIL laser vents exhaust gases through thirty-six vents on the underside of the fuselage.
Two hot exhaust vents present a hazard to ground crew operating under the aft fuselage.
Ground crew are instructed to wear proper personal protective equipment in the vicinity of the hot exhaust vents.
Two more hazardous chemical vents are mohnted on either side of the COIL exhaust vents.
The national insignia on the YAL-1A incorporates a lighter shade of blue than the standard insignia. It resembles the non-standrad national insignia of the VC-25s that serve as Air Force One.
The YAL-1A was assigned to the 417th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base.
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base is home to Fairshild-Republic A-10A Warthogs, Lockheed EC-130H Compass Call Hersules, Sikorsky UH-60A Blackhawks of the Customs and Border Protection Serice, and AMARG.
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