Curious on the backstory behind the photos? This is the place. You'll find not only write ups on local outings, but also reviews of major events I’ve attended.
Triple 6: End Of An Era
The Air Force retires an important testbed, and with that, the signature smoky TF-33 engines on the type.
September 5th, 2023 marked the end of an era in North Texas, in a couple of ways. The 61-year-old NC-135W testbed, Triple 6, was retired to the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base boneyard, formally known as AMARG, a massive aerospace storage and maintenance facility adjoining the Arizona base. Triple 6, nicknamed in reference to the airframe's serial number, 61-2666, spent the second half of its life in Greenville, Texas under the Big Safari program, also known as the 645th Aeronautical Systems Group. The Big Safari program is a United States Air Force program that began in 1952, providing management, direction, and control of the acquisition, modification, and logistics support for special-purpose weapons systems derived from existing aircraft and systems.
Arguably of even bigger significance from yesterday's retirement was that this officially concluded operations of the Pratt & Whitney TF-33 engines on US Air Force C-135 series aircraft. The type has used the engine for well over half a century. The TF-33 is the military designation for the Pratt & Whitney JT3D which equipped iconic airliners such as the Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8 in the early years of the Jet Age. With the retirement of the TF-33 comes the absence of the piercing scream and soot trail that were hallmarks of this now-outdated aviation technology. All remaining C-135s are retrofitted with the much more quieter CFM56 engine, which also equip the Boeing 737NG, among other modern aircraft.
On departure, the crew of Triple 6 put on a great show, performing an impressive immediate right turn after departure for the employees of the facility followed by a couple spirited passes, before turning on course for an unpressurized 12,000 foot cruise over to its final resting place in Arizona. If you look closely, you'll see hundreds of signatures by people involved with the program down the side of the airframe.
Triple 6 has quite the impressive resume. According to the wonderful Aerial Visuals website, 61-2666 was originally built in February 1962 by Boeing in Renton, WA, USA as a C-135B-BN. Impressively, only two months later in April 1962, it set a few speed and cargo lift records. Later, in August 1965, it was converted to a WC-135B and was operated by the 55th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron until 1989. Notably, 61-2666 provided support for atmospheric sampling after the Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident. In 1989, it was transferred to Det. 2, 645th Materiel Squadron in Greenville, Texas where it has supported flight testing of the RC-135 fleet ever since.
In May 1995, there was a conversion to WC-135W, which included new equipment for evaluation and various antennas. In 2003, it was converted again, this time to its present-day NC-135W standard. Up until its retirement yesterday, it was still being used to test RC-135 equipment upgrades on behalf of Greenville's Det. 2, 645th Aeronautical Systems Group, 303rd Aeronautical Systems Wing.
With Triple 6's retirement, the USAF began searching for a replacement and eventually settled on TC-135W Stratolifter (serial 62-4133). In February, the previous trainer was flown from Offutt AFB to Greenville Majors Airport for conversion to NC-135 standard and will be incorporated into the Big Safari Program to continue testing upgrades for the RC-135 fleet.
This unique testbed is unfortunately just the latest in a mass extinction of classic military aircraft the past 10 years, but thankfully many more will continue to soldier on in Air Force service thanks to continuous improvements brought on by aircraft like Triple 6.
Happy 247th Birthday, USA!
A very happy 247th…
A very happy 247th birthday to the United States of America!
I wouldn't call us a perfect union just yet, but we are still pretty decent all things considered. Can't detract from our aviation scene, that's for sure!
Here are some of my favorite flag related aircraft/photos over the years.
End Of An Era: Erickson’s DC-7s
A look at Erickson’s iconic fleet of DC-7 tankers shortly after their retirement.
Erickson Aero Tanker is a company that has been at the forefront of aerial firefighting for decades. Founded by Jack Erickson, the company began as a helicopter logging company but quickly expanded into aerial firefighting.
Of the types operated by Erickson Aero Tanker fleet was the Douglas DC-7. The DC-7 was a workhorse of the skies, with an impressive range and the ability to carry up to 3,000 gallons of fire retardant. These aircraft were used extensively by the US Forest Service, and were a regular sight over wildfires in the western United States.
One of the most recognizable DC-7s in Erickson Aero Tanker's fleet was Tanker 60, a Douglas DC-7B. This aircraft was originally delivered to Eastern Air Lines in 1958, before being converted to a fire fighting aircraft. Tanker 60 was one of the busiest aircraft in the fleet, fighting fires throughout the West Coast and beyond for decades.
However, as the fire fighting industry evolved, the use of large radial-engined aircraft like the DC-7 became less common. Turboprop and jet aircraft, such as the Lockheed C-130 Hercules and McDonnell Douglas MD-87, became the preferred choice for aerial firefighting due to their increased speed and range. Erickson Aero Tanker recognized this shift in the industry and began transitioning its fleet to newer, more efficient aircraft. Tanker 60 was retired in 2020, after an incredible 62 year career as MD-87s began to enter service to become the company's go-to LAT (Large Air Tanker) platform.
While the DC-7s have now been retired from Erickson Aero Tanker's fleet, the impact that they had on aerial firefighting cannot be overstated. These aircraft were an integral part of fighting wildfires in the western United States for decades, and they will be remembered for their reliability, strength, and the dedication of the pilots and crews who flew them.
Erickson Aero Tanker's DC-7s carry a rich history in the firefighting industry. As this industry continues to evolve, it is important to remember the pioneers who paved the way for the advancements we see today, and to continue to honor their legacy as we move forward.
Enjoy these photos I took at Madras Airport in Central Oregon back in 2021. As a bonus, I've thrown a couple extra photos in, including Erickson's stunning Neptune and an MD-80 bird that is used for spare parts to keep their MD-87 fleet going strong.
Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth
A brief look into the history behind Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth.
Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, also known as Carswell Field, is a military installation located in Fort Worth, Texas. The base was established in 1942 as a Consolidated Aircraft Corporation manufacturing plant, with the primary mission of producing B-24 Liberator bombers for the United States Army Air Forces during World War II.
After the war, the base was transferred to the Strategic Air Command and became home to the 7th Bombardment Wing, where it continued to be used for production of aircraft. During the Cold War, the base played a critical role in deterring Soviet aggression as a key storage site for nuclear weapons.
In 1994, the base was renamed Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth and now serves as a joint reserve base for multiple military units across different branches. Some of the units that are currently stationed at the base include the 301st Fighter Wing (F-16s), the 136th Airlift Wing (C-130Js), Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112 (F/A-18 legacy Hornets), Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234 (KC-130J), Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 59 (C-40 Clipper), and multiple other units. As you'll see in the photos, we'll occasionally also see transient traffic generally tech stopping for fuel on their way across the US.
One of the base’s biggest highlights for locals and visiting enthusiasts is the massive presence of Lockheed Martin, particularly the F-35 Lightning II program. Lockheed Martin takes up the entire west side of the base and uses it as a key location for the production of the F-35 Lightning II, a fifth-generation fighter aircraft that can be used for a variety of missions. The F-35 program is one of the largest military aircraft contracts in history and provides jobs for thousands of people in the area. In addition to the F-35, you'll also see foreign F-16s which are used to test and modernize the platform.
We are definitely spoiled to have such a variety of aviation to choose from in North Texas and it's easy to take the history that surrounds us at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth for granted. From manufacturing bombers during World War II to playing a key role in deterring Soviet aggression during the Cold War, this base has seen it all. Today, it serves as a vital base for multiple units, ensuring the safety and security of our nation.
Ruslan Rising
Another visit by the mighty Ruslan…
The mighty Ruslan departs DFW Airport in all its smoky loud glory! This Antonov Airlines An-124-100M-150 made a brief visit to Dallas/Fort Worth this morning before continuing on to Space Florida Launch and Landing Facility Airport (KTTS) down in Florida. No matter how many times I see it, it's always incredible to watch this enormous machine fly.
Addison Airport 06/02/23
Aviation action at the Addison Airport on June 2nd, 2023.
A brief visit to the Addison Airport yielded some interesting traffic, with the highlight being a 1980 Lear 25D that had flown up from Conroe, Texas the day prior and a very rare 1978 Aerospatiale 341F Gazelle that was recently acquired by someone based at the airport. A few other goodies thrown in for good measure!
N287KB Leaves Storage
After nearly two quietly sitting on the Southwest corner of the McKinney National Airport, N287KB finally departs.
For the first time since September 2021, "McDonnell Douglas 287 Kilo Bravo" took to the skies at the McKinney National Airport (TKI.) The private MD-87 had been stored at the North Texas Airport since the death of its original owner, billionaire Ken Behring.
The 34 year-old airframe headed for the Miami Executive Airport (TMB) around 1 PM and appeared to be non-RVSM as it cruised at FL270 the entire way down.
My hope is that the aircraft has found a new home and is not on a one way journey to become beer cans.. Either way, it will be a bit odd now not seeing the familiar sight of the MD-87 sitting on the south end of TKI! Farewell Mad Dog.
Makos: Flare For The Dramatic
The Florida Makos of the 93rd Fighter Squadron put on a stunning demo at their home show and flares were not in short supply!
Nestled between Miami and the Florida Keys is the Homestead Air Reserve Base. The former Strategic Air Command base has multiple tenants including the Florida Makos of the 93rd Fighter Squadron. Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of attending the 2023 Wings Over Homestead air show, the first since the COVID pandemic.
This year's headliner was the USAF Thunderbirds demonstration team, but the highlight for me was none other than the home team, as the Makos put on an absolutely incredible fast paced Close Air Support demonstration each day involving four of their F-16 Fighting Falcon multirole fighters, more affectionately known as the Viper. The demo included a rare sight of flares being dispensed throughout the demo from all four jets and plenty of afterburner!
I will post more from the air show in due time, but for now, enjoy the shots of the 93rd FS!
From The Vault: 2021 Wings Over Dallas WWII Air Show
We revisit the 2021 Wings Over Dallas WWII Air Show!
This show was particularly tough to revisit considering the horrible tragedy occured at the 2022 show, with some of the aircraft and volunteers in the photos having been lost. I've also thrown together some new edits that have never been seen before. Below you'll find the original writeup:
One of the last air shows we try to attend each year is the Commemorative Air Force Wings Over Dallas WWII Air Show which is held annually at the Dallas Executive Airport. The event always promises an extraordinary collection of flyable vintage aircraft, most of which are owned and operated by the CAF. This year's attractions included aircraft rides in a variety of historic aircraft, education day, living history, and an impressive daily air show.
In addition to CAF aircraft, this year's show included an additional P-40 Warhawk joining the fray courtesy of the local Cavanaugh Flight Museum and the Trojan Phlyers AirShow & Racing Team performing formation aerobatics with their T-28 Trojans.
The Commemorative Air Force's mission is to educate, inspire, and honor through flight and living history experiences. Events like Wings Over Dallas show the mission is still going strong 64 years after the organization's inception.
Thank you to all involved for a great show! We will certainly be back again next year.
The Endling: Stargazer
The final airworthy L-1011 takes flight at the Mojave Air & Space Port!
Around 80 miles Northeast of LAX is one of the most unique airports in existence, the Mojave Air & Space Port. This airport is home to many fascinating aviation companies, including Scaled Composites, Virgin Galactic, Stratolaunch, and the National Test Pilot School. Perhaps a lesser known tenant to some is Northrop Grumman's specially modified rocket-lobbing mother ship, Stargazer.
Stargazer is the last airworthy example of one of civillian aviation's most beloved flying machines, the Lockheed L-1011 Tristar. Before serving as a mother ship, Stargazer first started life with Air Canada in March 1974, flying for the airline until the early 1990s. Soon after, the airframe was purchased by the Orbital Sciences Corporation, an American company specializing in the design, manufacture, and launch of smalL and medium class space and launch vehicle systems for commercial, military and other government customers. The company decided to christen the Tristar launch platform as Stargazer. Since entering service as a mother ship, the airframe has changed hands, with Northrop Grumman purchasing Orbital Sciences in 2018, and thus inheriting the Tristar.
Stargazer has been primarily used to launch the Pegasus rocket, which has been considered the industry standard for boosting small payloads to orbit at lower cost, relatively speaking. Since 1994, Stargazer has launched over 45 Pegasus rockets (containing nearly 100 satellites) and performed many more lesser known missions, some involving the US military.
These days, Stargazer doesn't fly too often. In fact, the last time Stargazer had flown was when aviation enthusiasts were treated to its presence at the nearby Edwards Air Force Base Air Show back in October 2022. When I rolled up to the Mojave Airport on April 11th, I was just seeing if there was anything going on around the airport grounds, as it's one of the airports where you can see just about anything on any given day.
Imagine my shock when I heard "Lockheed N140SC Heavy requesting engine start" crackle from my scanner! I quickly relocated to the other side of the airport and as I was parking in my normal spot for departures, I heard the crew inform tower they would be informing over NINE approaches. Imagine my excitement hearing those words! I was about to get the rare privilege of seeing the world's last Tristar take flight for what I have to imagine was for crew currency purposes.
At around 10:24 AM, Stargazer was cleared for take off and the crew advanced the three 50,000-lb thrust Rolls-Royce RB211-524B4 turbofans, creating a symphony as it clawed its ways to the skies for the first time in nearly half a year. As the lighting was pretty much directly pointing down the runway, I opted to primarily go for photos of it on base and downwind legs to capture it as its most graceful, in flight!
I hope you enjoy the photos of this 50 year old stunner and hope the Northrop Grumman team receives more missions for iconic bird, as I'd imagine it will be the last of the 250 Tristars built to fly when it's all said and done. As a bonus, I've included a few aerial shots I got of Stargazer during my March/April mega trip around the US.
Stay tuned for a mega album to appear at some point of my travel adventures!
From The Vault: EAA Airventure Oshkosh 2022
Thought 2021 was a great week for Airventure? Between perfect weather and an incredible lineup, 2022 was an unforgettable year!
I was once again honored to receive media credentials for The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration in 2022. Oshkosh is often considered by many to be the best aviation event on the planet with just about every facet of aviation being present each year. 2022 was no different with over 10,000 aircraft arriving to the otherwise quiet Wisconsin town in late July. At Oshkosh's Wittman Regional Airport alone, there were over 18,684 aircraft movements between July 21-31 which comes out to an average rate of 121 take offs/landings per hour while the airport was open.
In the second year back since the COVID-19 pandemic took hold on the world, the 2022 edition of the World's Greatest Aviation Celebration was a record-breaking success with over 650,000 in attendance over the week-long event, a 7 percent increase over 2021’s visitor tally. The event was also very fortunate to receive beautiful weather over the entire week, a rarity as seasoned Oshkosh attendees would attest.
Some of the themes for the ‘22 show were the 75th anniversary of the United States Air Force, 50th anniversary of the Van's Aircraft RV series, and the 30th anniversary of the EAA - Young Eagles ride program. Airlines, eager to inspire and recruit a new generation of pilots, were also a strong presence with impressive flight demos by both United and Delta Air Lines. Despite the US Air Force being OSH22’s focal point, US Naval Aviation also showed up in strong numbers, bringing the F-35C Lightning II, EA-18G Growler, and E-2C Hawkeye demonstration teams. Another visitor, this one unexpectedly, was Delilah the "stowaway cat" who ended up sneaking into her parent's camper all the way from Maine and ended up spending the entire week at the show!
I hope the following photos can do this incredible event justice. Oshkosh is both a slice of aviation heaven while also getting to see both old and new friends each and every year. I can't wait to be back in 2023!
This is a very large album that includes action from throughout the week I was up there. Below are 341 images for your viewing pleasure. Please be patient as this album may take a bit of extra time to load.
From The Vault: EAA Airventure Oshkosh 2021
A look into the 2021 edition of the World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration, the first since the start of the global pandemic!
In 2021, I was lucky enough to make the trip north to Oshkosh, Wisconsin for the year's edition of the World's Greatest Aviation Celebration - EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. This was my sixth AirVenture and despite the ongoing pandemic, I was very impressed with the turnout and adjustments made by the organizers to make this extraordinary event happen. Attendance numbered around 608,000 for the week and more than 10,000 aircraft arrived. According to the EAA, there were 16,378 aircraft operations in a 10-day period from July 22-31 which averages out to around 116 takeoffs/landings per hour. There's a reason why OSH tower is considered the "World's Busiest Control Tower" during the week of the show! If there was anything I could possibly complain about, it would be the constant smoky skies due to the terrible ongoing wildfires across North America that week, but of course, that is totally out of our control. The performers and themes at OSH21 quickly made everyone forget about the lack of blue skies. Themes of 2021's AirVenture included Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) which brought a staggering number of high profile assets to the show, the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII, and humanitarian aircraft such as the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital.
If all of that wasn't enough, did I mention I was lucky enough to hitch a ride on a Pilatus PC-12 up to Oshkosh? Pinch me!
This is a very large album that includes action from throughout the 7 days I was up there. Below are 297 images for your viewing pleasure. Please be patient as this album may take a bit of extra time to load.
A Royal Classic
One of the few private 737-200s still flying around and this one has quite the history!
Those of us in North Texas are fortunate to have no shortage of classic aircraft based in the area, and this privately-owned Boeing 737-205(A) is one of my personal favorites as there are few private (or operating for the matter) "Jurassic Guppies" still flying in '23!
Even with yesterday morning's temps at a crisp 49F and a slight headwind, this classic ate up a significant portion of Addison Airport's 7,203ft runway 34 for its 2.6 hour flight down to Nassau, Bahamas!
This airframe was delivered to Norwegian airline Braathens S.A.F.E. in 1986 before being converted into a VIP configuration in 1993 for Saudi Arabian Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz. The Prince had a rather flashy interior outfitted with the aircraft boasting a VIP configuration of 19 seats, a meeting quarters, dining room, two large salons, and a master state room in the back with a bed. I also have it on good authority that much of the aircraft has gold accents and the photos in the below link seem to confirm that!
In 1999, the aircraft was sold to Basic Capital Management Inc of Dallas, TX and has been based in Addison ever since. Hoping this beauty still has plenty of life left in it!
OH....I forgot to mention this aircraft is for sale.. but you'll have to call for the price...
For Sale:
https://www.hangar67.com/aircraft/1986-boeing-737200/24336
Airframe History:
https://www.planespotters.net/airframe/boeing-737-200-n370bc-basic-capital-management-inc/rqp1vj
