Post by adola68 on Mar 29, 2017 17:29:57 GMT
We had to leave the Yuma airshow before the end as the next day we were attending the China Lake show 360 miles away (the last 100 miles on poor roads). Our bus driver got us safely to the hotel near China Lake at 10:15PM. The next morning we set out for the base. China Lake's previous Open Day was over 20 years ago and security was much tighter here than the other two shows. At one point it looked doubtful that we would get in at all but our Ian Allan Tour Leader used all his negotiating skills to get us (and our cameras) in.
Once in there were security guards everywhere. I (and several others) was required to delete one of my photos when I pointed my camera in the 'wrong' direction! China Lake is the Naval Air Weapons Station, developing and testing bombs, missiles, guns etc for the USN. It's in the Mojave Desert beyond Edwards AFB and covers an area almost as big as the State of Delaware! Most of the static was in shelters which kept Joe Public out of the photos but limited the angles available. There was a small flying display consisting of the Blue Angels, a couple of warbirds and local F/A-18s.
Highlight of the static display for me was what must be the last Sabreliner in US Military service, a T-39D of the local VX-31 Squadron:
And for possibly the first time, all three variants of the F-35 were in the static park.
F-35A of the Royal Netherlands AF:
F-35B of the RAF:
F-35C of the US Navy:
This shot of one of the Blue Angels F/A-18s gives some idea of the dramatic scenery of the area:
And here is one of the based F/A-18s taxying back from its display:
After China Lake we returned to San Diego and the trip home. But not before a few hours on Coronado Beach, an excellent spot to photograph aircraft on finals to runway 29 at North Island Naval Air Station such as this based C-2A Greyhound:
All in all a fantastic trip.
Thanks for viewing!
Once in there were security guards everywhere. I (and several others) was required to delete one of my photos when I pointed my camera in the 'wrong' direction! China Lake is the Naval Air Weapons Station, developing and testing bombs, missiles, guns etc for the USN. It's in the Mojave Desert beyond Edwards AFB and covers an area almost as big as the State of Delaware! Most of the static was in shelters which kept Joe Public out of the photos but limited the angles available. There was a small flying display consisting of the Blue Angels, a couple of warbirds and local F/A-18s.
Highlight of the static display for me was what must be the last Sabreliner in US Military service, a T-39D of the local VX-31 Squadron:
And for possibly the first time, all three variants of the F-35 were in the static park.
F-35A of the Royal Netherlands AF:
F-35B of the RAF:
F-35C of the US Navy:
This shot of one of the Blue Angels F/A-18s gives some idea of the dramatic scenery of the area:
And here is one of the based F/A-18s taxying back from its display:
After China Lake we returned to San Diego and the trip home. But not before a few hours on Coronado Beach, an excellent spot to photograph aircraft on finals to runway 29 at North Island Naval Air Station such as this based C-2A Greyhound:
All in all a fantastic trip.
Thanks for viewing!
