Osprey in Washington State?

According to a relatively reliable source (and by that, I mean a relative: My sister) there are V-22 Ospreys flying in South Central Washington (Prosser area)!  If anyone has any corroborating information, along with where they are operating from, and where they are going, I would appreciate ANY news!  I will attempt to post photos as soon as I get some!  An Osprey is the ambitious mating of a helicopter and an airplane.  This gawky looking aircraft is faster than a helicopter, but has the VTOL capabilities of a helicopter.  They are the product of over thirty years development, probably more.  As far as I know, the USMC is the only operator at this time, but I am notoriously unreliable!

Here is what an MV-22 looks like (I borrowed this photo from Military-Today).

Other sitings recently include a pair of F-18s, a C-130, a C-17, and a P-3, all in the Yakima area.  If you are in Washington State and would like to contribute sitings, feel free to leave a comment, I welcome it.

There are certain places where activity is expected, for instance, Whidbey NAS, McChord AFB, and Fairchild AFB, however, recently Fairchild moved many of its assets to Moses Lake, at Grant County International Airport.  One would expect C-17s, KC-135s, and EG-18Gs from those places.  Portland International hosts ANG F-15s.  Other aircraft would likely be transient.

Take, for example, this C-130 that passed over my house tonight.  Where the heck is he from and why didn't he fly lower, so I could get a better picture?  Here are my pictures.

That is much too small to see detail.  Try this:

This is obviously a C-130, but what model?  Have a look at the lumps and bumps. 

  So, what is it?  Is it an MC-130?  The picture below is an MC-130 (borrowed from the USAF).

It doesn't seem to have the requisite lumps amidships, though, how about this next one?

The lumps on the side seem too large, but at least they are there, but this one is missing the lump on the nose, hanging down.  It seems like a FLIR (Forward Looking InfraRed) turret.  I am leaning toward an MC-130 that has some sort of sensor or antennae in that amidships position.  What do you think??

So, let's have some comments, folks!  Update me!

Shuttle, Go/No Go? NOOOOO!!!!

Unfortunately, the Shuttle will NOT be coming to Washington State.  The decision was made and the four shuttles will go, one each, to the Udvar-Hay part of the Smithsonian, The Intrepid Air and Space Museum in New York, Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and, the most disappointing to me, the California Science Center in Los Angeles.  Actually, two of those are disappointing.

The Intrepid is an aircraft carrier, that shuttle will NOT fit on a hangar deck.  I assume they plan on housing it in some shore based facility.  Still, so close to the water's edge, makes me nervous for a national treasure.  New York in not a large island, so the facility will likely bring a huge price tag and being on the other end of the country, I will not be visiting it often.  (This last point is the one that I REALLY think NASA should have taken into account.)

As for the California Science Center, well, I've never heard of it until today.  Honestly, I assumed each state had one, but California's was not one I'd really heard of before.

But let's look at the map, shall we?  Shouldn't the shuttles be spread out more?  Maybe one in each corner of the US?  Or maybe one in the middle, say...the USAF Museum in Ohio?  Or something closer to absolute center like Kansas or Nebraska?  Obviously, NASA was determined to reach the largest masses of people, but the WEST COAST is growing.  Give us a chance.  Washington could have housed an orbiter in style.

You can see more here, on the NASA site.  And here you can read at "A Field Guide To American Spacecraft" from last week, this fellow works for NASA and he thought Seattle had a fair chance, too.

Fingers Crossed for a Seattle Shuttle!

Nasa decides where to display the Space Shuttles, as they retire, TODAY!  So, this afternoon we will know if Seattle's Boeing Museum of Flight gets one! We can only hope!  See here:

http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/apr/HQ_M11-076_KSC30th.html

UH-72A at YTC

The US Army's newest light utility helicopter has made it to the Yakima Training Center.  It's been there the last couple months, but being the new father of a toddler, it takes me longer to catch up on changes.  It is here to replace the base's aging UH-1s.  The UH-72A Lakota is produced here in the US by Eurocopter (EADS North America).

I saw this one fly over last week and wrongly assumed it to be a modified OH-58, but a little research and an article in Combat Aircraft led me to this site.

So, lets welcome the new addition to the inventory.

EA-18G Growler

The EA-18G Growler is the replacement for the EA-6 Prowler.  Both birds are electronic warfare aircraft.  The Prowlers had been used for several decades and frequently flew over our house, near Yakima.  The Prowlers have been retired and the replacement, the EA-18G Growlers, have taken over.  Today was the first time I had seen one of these making a touch and go, or, at least simulated touch and go.  The weather has precluded me seeing much in the sky, not to mention I am usually at work when they do fly over.  Today, however, I managed to SEE one AND take a picture, though it was already past by the time I got the camera, but here you go!  Look forward to better shots this summer.

I had to do a little post processing to get detail.

F-86F #51-13352

In the spring of 1954, the US was standing in the shadow of an uneasy truce with North Korea.  Stalin had recently passed away to be replaced by the first in a number of communist leaders, none of whom were particularly fond of the United States or capitalist pigs!  The Cold War was going on in earnest.  On the bright side, the US had just had the opportunity to test new war fighting gear in Korea.  One of these new items was the wonder-fighter F-86, which racked up an impressive record against Russian built MiGs.

The F-86A was far superior to the straight-winged F-51s, F-80s, and F-84s.  Those less than suitable fighters were soon put into the ground attack role.  The F-86s, more often than not, flew top cover, guarding the Hogs and Stars in the mud below.

The F-86 was rushed into service in Korea when the F-80s and F-84s proved unsuitable in the air-to-air role.  Still, it would be nice if there was something that could drop bombs AND fight off the MiGs.  So, North American began developing a version of the F-86 that was also suited to the ground attack role.

The F-86F was one of these ground attack F-86s.  It was actually used in Korea.  It had four wing stores positions and six .50 caliber machine guns.

In May of 1954, there were several F-86Fs at McChord AFB. The men of the 435th Fighter Squadron, part of the 479th Fighter Group, out of George AFB, California, were serving at McChord for a short time.  They were there for training no doubt.  On the morning of May 28, 1954, 2nd lt. Jack Moore was set to be wingman on a flight of two for a simulated strafing and napalm mission against aggressor forces on a hilltop.  Moore was flying F-86F #51-13352, a Block 25 aircraft built at North American Aviation's Columbus, Ohio plant.

This mission was part of a joint Air Force and Army maneuver that was being conducted at the Yakima Firing Range.  

The mission called for a two ship flight flown by Second Lieutenant Harry E. Payne and Second Lieutenant Jack Moore.  Their call sign was "Hades Black."  Payne flew lead.  Weather in the target area was set with a ceiling of 10,000 feet with a ten mile visibility.  When they got to the target area, Payne could not contact the Forward Air Controller, call sign "Blanket Control," so Moore took the lead and the two began conducting some runs on the enemy position.

After four simulate runs on the target, number two (Payne) called Bingo, or low fuel.  Moore, in the lead, said they would make one final pass.  The targets were two trucks on top of a ridge.  Moore made a pass over the trucks, turning left.  He then failed to pull up over the next ridge and struck the ridge approximately 75 feet from the crest.  The aircraft exploded upon impact, scattering wreckage for approximately 1200 yards.  Lt. Payne reported Moore's loss and returned to base without incident.

The recommendations of the investigating committee were:
1.) Wing, Group, and Squadron leaders should be reviewed for adequacy.
2.) A greater emphasis be placed on the importance of observing minimum altitudes during briefings on missions of this type.
3.) That this accident be brought to the attention of all flying personnel.

Others said of Second Lieutenant Moore:  He was well liked.  He was unmarried.  Considered a "Tiger" and a good pilot but he took some chances.  Born in October of 1930, he was only 24 when he died.

The accident is listed as having taken place 28 miles East North East of Yakima, yet the coordinates given show it to be approximately 40 miles to the East, though that is unlikely, since that is farm country.

One thing that is rarely mentioned in all of flying lore, is the losses incurred by training.  One suspects that these losses far outweigh those incurred in combat.  So ended the career of both Second Lieutenant Jack Moore and his F-86F, #51-13352.

If you have any information on this loss, I would be very interested in hearing from you.


Sources:

http://sabre-pilots.org/classics/v14f86f.htm

http://sabre-pilots.org/classics/v21gunnery.htm

http://sabre-pilots.org/classics/v14robin.htm

http://f-86.tripod.com/f86list.htm

Accident report of #51-13352

McChord Air Museum is OPEN!!!!

Yes, you heard right.  I was doing a little research yesterday and discovered that sometime in December McChord Air Museum became open to the public.  All you need is your driver's license, and proof of insurance and your vehicle registration to get a visitor's pass.  It's free!  This is the first time since shortly after 9/11 that McChord Air Museum has been open to the public (that I know of).

You can check out their site, here.

Among their collection, which is impressive for not being a museum associated with an aircraft company, are such rarities as a C-124!  They also have a rare C-82 Packet and a B-23 Dragon.

There are fighters to be sure, among them are the F-106, F-102, and the F-101.  There is also an A-10.  Considering the history of McChord as a long time Air Defense Command base, it is too bad there is no P-61 or F-82, both of which are such rare items that most museum curators would probably resort to dire measures indeed to obtain one.

I visited McChord Air Museum long ago, before even the first Gulf War.  I was young, but have vivid memories.  They did not have the C-124 on display at the time.  If they did we did not see it.  I highly recommend a trip to see this museum, which houses a few aircraft that other local museums DO NOT!

Go out and visit and Air Museum today!

**UPDATE***  July 2013****  The Museum is only open on Wednesday and Thursday for a few limited hours due to the sequestration.  Thanks Congress.