Pt. Mugu Naval Air Station
One of the fringe benefits of living near the Pt.
Mugu Naval Air Station (it's 6
miles away, as the "bird" flies) is the frequent sighting of Navy
military aircraft flying only a few thousand feet overhead as they enter the
glide slope into the main runway. As my house sits on a hill, placing my backyard
elevation at about 500 feet above sea level, I get a good view of the aircraft.
Occasionally, either by design or errant pilot, a fighter jet will fly overhead
across the glide slope path, heading towards Conejo
Peak or the adjacent mountain range, and maneuver either a rapid high thrust
ascent, or an afterbunner assisted burst upwards and away. Both military and
civilian aircraft seem to share the glide slope, with differing trajectories.
The military glide into Mugu, and the civilians glide into the approach path
for Camarillo
Airport, 5 miles to the west.
On this page, I have photos of the types of military aircraft that regularly
fly overhead. Most of these photos are in-flight photography from Navy websites,
but I will add my own airshow and ground photos as "allowed".
F/A-18 Hornet - E-2C Hawkeye - P-3
Orion - Others - Home
Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., May 4, 2002 - The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron,
the world-famous Blue Angels, perform a fly-by formation over the flight deck
of USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). In addition to its role in the Fleet Week festivities
in Broward County, Fla., Harry S. Truman, homeported in Norfolk, Va., served
as the centerpiece for the 2002 Fleet Week/Air and Sea Show. Harry S. Truman
and six other U.S. Navy ships are visiting Ft. Lauderdale to help with the festivities.
U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Recruit Brandy Hornback [020504-N-4430H-501]
May 4, 2002
At sea with USS John C. Stennis, May 5, 2002 - An F/A-18 Hornet assigned to
the "Argonauts" of Strike Fighter Squadron One Four Seven (VFA-147) performs
a high speed pass over the flight deck of USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John
C. Stennis and its embarked Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) has recently completed
combat missions over Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S.
Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Jayme Pastoric. [020505-N-9769P-169]
May 5, 2002
Operation Enduring Freedom, Jul. 10, 2002 - F/A-18C Hornet strike fighters from
Carrier Air Wing One Seven (CVW 17) fly in formation after launching from USS
George Washington (CVN 73). Navy and Marine Corps aviation, flying from carriers
such George Washington, allow the United States to bring air power where it's
needed, when it's needed and for as long as it's needed without requiring any
basing permission from another country. George Washington is based in Norfolk,
Va., and is on a scheduled six-month deployment in support of Operation Enduring
Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Capt. Dana Potts. [020710-N-1955P-001] Jul. 7, 2002
Hi-Rez.
At sea aboard USS George Washington, Jul. 9, 2002 - An Aviation Ordnanceman
arms an F/A-18 Hornet assigned to the Sunliners of Strike Fighter Squadron Eight
One (VFA 81). Aircraft are armed just prior to launch as a safety measure. The
Navy pays a great deal of attention to safety. George Washington is based in
Norfolk, Va., and is on a scheduled six-month deployment in support of Operation
Enduring Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Jessica Davis.
[020709-N-3986D-001] Jul. 9, 2002 Hi-Rez.
At sea aboard USS Nimitz, May 13, 2002 - Members of the catapult crew aboard
USS Nimitz (CVN 68) give the o.k. to launch one of the new F/A-18F Super Hornets
of the "Black Aces" of Strike Fighter Squadron Four One (VFA -41) from the ship's
flight deck. VFA-41 started the transition from the F-14 Tomcat to the F/A-18F
Super Hornet in November 2001 and completed it in April. The squadron, established
1 June 1945 and flying the Chance-Vought F4U Corsair, is based at Naval Air
Station Lemoore, Calif. Nimitz is currently conducting sea trials off the coast
of California. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Kristi Earl. [020513-N-1974E-002]
May 13, 2002
Operation Enduring Freedom, Apr. 11, 2002 - Decked out in patriotic colors,
an F/A-18C Hornet from the "Blue Diamonds" of Strike Fighter Squadron One Four
Six (VFA-146), loaded with a 500-pound GBU-12 laser-guided bomb, AIM-7 Sea Sparrow,
and AIM-9M Sidewinder missiles, patrols through a blue sky in support of Operation
Enduring Freedom. The "Blue Diamonds" are embarked with Carrier Air Wing Nine
(CVW-9) aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). Stennis and CVW-9 are supporting
Operation Enduring Freedom. U S. Navy photo by by Lt. Kyle "Chet" Turco. [020411-N-1334T-005]
Apr. 11, 2002
China Lake, Calif., Aug. 28, 2001 - An F/-18 Hornet banks over the Naval Air
Systems Command (NAVAIR) weapons test range in China Lake, Calif., for a test
of the Navy's Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) program. The first
Guided Test Vehicle (GTV) tests were successfully completed. The use of this
missile in conjunction with other successfully tested systems and equipment
improves pilot situational awareness and targeting due to the weapon's ability
to accurately locate and identify radar systems over a large field of view.
The AARGM is also able to successfully engage any radar targets that employ
radar shutdown tactics. U.S. Navy photo. [010830-N-0000X-001] Aug. 28, 2001
Source:
http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/images/imageair37.html
http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/images/imageair38.html
At sea aboard USS Kitty Hawk, Jun. 3, 2002 - A member of the catapult crew aboard
USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) ensures the nose tow bar of an E-2C Hawkeye is properly
seated in the shuttle of the number 1 catapult as it is about to be launched.
The E-2C is assigned to Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron One One Five
(VAW-115). Kitty Hawk, forward-deployed in Yokosuka, Japan, is providing a forward
presence in the Asia/Pacific region, and conducting training and exercises with
regional allies. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Lee McCaskill.
[020603-N-0271M-009] Jun. 3, 2002 Hi-Rez.
Operation Enduring Freedom, May 12, 2002 - An E-2C Hawkeye of Carrier Airborne
Early Warning Squadron One Two One (VAW-121), the "Bluetails," is in flight
in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The "Bluetails" are assigned to Carrier
Air Wing Seven (CVW 7), embarked on USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67). The Hawkeye
is the eyes and ears of the carrier battle group, extending the range of the
battle groups radars and communications well over the horizon. The Hawkeye also
can vector pilots over targets, providing battlespace air control. U.S. Navy
photo by Photographer's Mate 1st Class (NAO) Jim Hampshire. [020512-N-6492H-526]
May 12, 2002
At sea aboard USS George Washington, Jan. 29, 2002 - An E-2C Hawkeye of the
"Bluetails" of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron One Two One (VAW-121),
based at the Naval Air Station, Norfolk, Va., launches from one of four steam-powered
catapults aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73). VAW-121 is currently embarked
aboard George Washington while conducting carrier qualifications (CQ). U.S.
Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Summer M. Anderson. [020129-N-3653A-002]
Jan. 29, 2002
The Red Sea, July 19, 2000 - An E-2C Hawkeye from Carrier Airborne Early Warning
Squadron One Two Five (VAW -125, the "Tiger Tails") takes off from the deck
of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73). The Norfolk, Va.- based
carrier and squadron are currently transiting the Red Sea en route to the Arabian
Gulf as part of a scheduled six-month Mediterranean Sea and Arabian Gulf deployment.
U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Shane McCoy [000719-N-6967M-501]
July 19, 2000.
Originally
designed as a land-based, long-range, anti-submarine warfare (ASW) patrol aircraft,
the P-3C's mission has evolved in the late 1990s and early 21st century to include
surveillance of the battlespace, either at sea or over land. Its long range
and long loiter time have proved invaluable assets during Operation Iraqi Freedom
as it can view the battlespace and instantaneously provide that information
to ground troops, especially U.S. Marines.
The
P-3C has advanced submarine detection sensors such as directional frequency
and ranging (DIFAR) sonobuoys and magnetic anomaly detection (MAD) equipment.
The avionics system is integrated by a general purpose digital computer that
supports all of the tactical displays, monitors and automatically launches ordnance
and provides flight information to the pilots. In addition, the system coordinates
navigation information and accepts sensor data inputs for tactical display and
storage. The P-3C can carry a mixed payload of weapons internally and on wing
pylons.
Others also seen...
An LC-130 Hercules
attached to Antarctic Development Squadron Six (VXE-6) makes the squadron's
final departure from Williams Field, Antarctica, Feb. 17, 1999. VXE-6 has supported
Operation Deep Freeze over 44 years. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate
1st Class Edward G. Martens. [990217-N-0000M-001] Feb. 17, 1999.
