USA Week 1
Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2025 6:54 pm
Hello everyone, I recently headed over the pond again to the West Coast with a friend, for a bit of late winter sun and to bother a few more pixels. Many images were taken again, so I am splitting this trip into two posts.
We landed in San Diego which I will admit, is so much better and far less stressful than LAX. After collecting the hire car (another pickup) we headed off towards El Centro. We drove across the mountains on the I8 and were confronted by blizzards. Luckily, snow ploughs were in a action and a slow drive saw us leave the snow behind as we descended onto the desert plain. The glorious winter sun was shining, however, it was very cold (perfect conditions for photography). El Centro consisted of 15 harriers on the ground from a mix of the last two USMC squadrons; VMA 223 Bulldogs and VMA-231 "Black Aces". I thought I had seen my last operational USMC harrier 12 months earlier so this was a real bonus. T-45 Goshawks from Trains Wing 2 (NAS Kingsville) were also enjoying the warm winter conditions and of course, the Blue Angels were on their season workup. We spent two days in the area.
Blue Angels by Jason Grant, on Flickr
165666 1 F/A-18E Blue Angels by Jason Grant, on Flickr
165576 CG-01 AV-8B VMA-231 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
VMA-231 AV-8B Formation Break by Jason Grant, on Flickr
164552 CG-05 AV-8B VMA-231 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
165587 CG-04 AV-8B VMA-231 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
165638 B-284 T-45C TW2 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
165634 B-280 T-45C TW2 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
165587 CG-04 AV-8B NAF El Centro by Jason Grant, on Flickr
165057 B-229 T-45C TW2 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
Plenty of Ospreys knocking around again, including the COD version.
169455 54 CMV-22B VRM-50 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
165312 WP-22 AV-8B VMA-223 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
165585 WP-17 AV-8B VMA-223 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
165585 WP-17 AV-8B VMA-223 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
T-45C Goshawk Formation TW2 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
It appears the Navy has bought some grey paint from the MOD. This is a glimpse of the future.
167094 B-252 T-45C TW2 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
165389 CG-07 AV-8B VMA-231 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
165312 WP-22 AV-8B VMA-223 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
167094 B-252 T-45C TW2 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
VMFA-314 F-35C by Jason Grant, on Flickr
169790 NG-316 F-35C VMFA-314 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
170092 NG-314 F-35C VMFA-314 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
With Imperial County Airport 5 miles away, there's always plenty going on with military aircraft being refuelled day and night. These are from the two nights.
169449 52 CMV-22B VRM-50 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
166689 YR-05 MV-22B VMM-161 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
Now two similar pictures, the first is the usual tripod 30 second exposure time using my canon 6d II with 24-105L. ISO 125, F8 for 30 sec.
168707 YR-17 MV-22B VMM-161 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
The second is handheld with my canon R5 with my 100-500L. ISO 1600, f4.5 for 0.4sec. A truly astonishing result in my opinion, a game changer.
168707 YR-17 MV-22B VMM-161 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
168708 MV-22B VMM-163 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
168285 YP-01 MV-22B VMM-163 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
Then the half day drive north to Las Vegas for three days of action at Nellis for Red Flag 25-1
91-0323 MO F-15E 391st FS by Jason Grant, on Flickr
22-5711 LN F-35A by Jason Grant, on Flickr
00-0218 SW F-16C 79th FS by Jason Grant, on Flickr
91-0377 SW F-16C 77th FS by Jason Grant, on Flickr
90-0845 SW F-16D 55th FS by Jason Grant, on Flickr
60-0024 LA B-52H 20th BS by Jason Grant, on Flickr
166896 166855 EA-18G VAQ-209 VAQ-135 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
A35-017 F-35A RAAF 3 Sqn by Jason Grant, on Flickr
My first F-15EX
20-0005 OT F-15EX by Jason Grant, on Flickr
86-0365 WA F-16C 64th AGRS by Jason Grant, on Flickr
85-1501 F-16C 926 WG by Jason Grant, on Flickr
JZ F-15C 159 FW Bayou Militia by Jason Grant, on Flickr
A46-306 EA-18G RAAF 6 Sqn by Jason Grant, on Flickr
60-0058 LA B-52H 20th BS by Jason Grant, on Flickr
This is the growler that crashed into San Diego Bay a week or so later.
166855 NL-520 EA-18G VAQ-135 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
90-0707 WA F-16C 64th AGRS Ghost by Jason Grant, on Flickr
86-0303 WA F-16C 64th AGRS by Jason Grant, on Flickr
Nellis was a bit more frustrating than usual on this occasion with most of the good stuff landing left runway for one reason or another or with us being out of position trying to catch the Super Hornets and Growlers returning (without success). The clouds rolled in on our third day. This proves that you do need a few days at Red Flag to try and crack it, maybe next time. On Saturday, we headed off down the Extra Terrestrial Highway to the Little A'Le'Inn at Rachel for a well deserved alien burger. Sunday we headed south again. Week 2 will follow soon.
We landed in San Diego which I will admit, is so much better and far less stressful than LAX. After collecting the hire car (another pickup) we headed off towards El Centro. We drove across the mountains on the I8 and were confronted by blizzards. Luckily, snow ploughs were in a action and a slow drive saw us leave the snow behind as we descended onto the desert plain. The glorious winter sun was shining, however, it was very cold (perfect conditions for photography). El Centro consisted of 15 harriers on the ground from a mix of the last two USMC squadrons; VMA 223 Bulldogs and VMA-231 "Black Aces". I thought I had seen my last operational USMC harrier 12 months earlier so this was a real bonus. T-45 Goshawks from Trains Wing 2 (NAS Kingsville) were also enjoying the warm winter conditions and of course, the Blue Angels were on their season workup. We spent two days in the area.
Blue Angels by Jason Grant, on Flickr165666 1 F/A-18E Blue Angels by Jason Grant, on Flickr165576 CG-01 AV-8B VMA-231 by Jason Grant, on FlickrVMA-231 AV-8B Formation Break by Jason Grant, on Flickr164552 CG-05 AV-8B VMA-231 by Jason Grant, on Flickr165587 CG-04 AV-8B VMA-231 by Jason Grant, on Flickr165638 B-284 T-45C TW2 by Jason Grant, on Flickr165634 B-280 T-45C TW2 by Jason Grant, on Flickr165587 CG-04 AV-8B NAF El Centro by Jason Grant, on Flickr165057 B-229 T-45C TW2 by Jason Grant, on FlickrPlenty of Ospreys knocking around again, including the COD version.
169455 54 CMV-22B VRM-50 by Jason Grant, on Flickr165312 WP-22 AV-8B VMA-223 by Jason Grant, on Flickr165585 WP-17 AV-8B VMA-223 by Jason Grant, on Flickr165585 WP-17 AV-8B VMA-223 by Jason Grant, on FlickrT-45C Goshawk Formation TW2 by Jason Grant, on FlickrIt appears the Navy has bought some grey paint from the MOD. This is a glimpse of the future.
167094 B-252 T-45C TW2 by Jason Grant, on Flickr165389 CG-07 AV-8B VMA-231 by Jason Grant, on Flickr165312 WP-22 AV-8B VMA-223 by Jason Grant, on Flickr167094 B-252 T-45C TW2 by Jason Grant, on FlickrVMFA-314 F-35C by Jason Grant, on Flickr169790 NG-316 F-35C VMFA-314 by Jason Grant, on Flickr170092 NG-314 F-35C VMFA-314 by Jason Grant, on FlickrWith Imperial County Airport 5 miles away, there's always plenty going on with military aircraft being refuelled day and night. These are from the two nights.
169449 52 CMV-22B VRM-50 by Jason Grant, on Flickr166689 YR-05 MV-22B VMM-161 by Jason Grant, on FlickrNow two similar pictures, the first is the usual tripod 30 second exposure time using my canon 6d II with 24-105L. ISO 125, F8 for 30 sec.
168707 YR-17 MV-22B VMM-161 by Jason Grant, on FlickrThe second is handheld with my canon R5 with my 100-500L. ISO 1600, f4.5 for 0.4sec. A truly astonishing result in my opinion, a game changer.
168707 YR-17 MV-22B VMM-161 by Jason Grant, on Flickr168708 MV-22B VMM-163 by Jason Grant, on Flickr168285 YP-01 MV-22B VMM-163 by Jason Grant, on FlickrThen the half day drive north to Las Vegas for three days of action at Nellis for Red Flag 25-1
91-0323 MO F-15E 391st FS by Jason Grant, on Flickr22-5711 LN F-35A by Jason Grant, on Flickr00-0218 SW F-16C 79th FS by Jason Grant, on Flickr91-0377 SW F-16C 77th FS by Jason Grant, on Flickr90-0845 SW F-16D 55th FS by Jason Grant, on Flickr60-0024 LA B-52H 20th BS by Jason Grant, on Flickr166896 166855 EA-18G VAQ-209 VAQ-135 by Jason Grant, on FlickrA35-017 F-35A RAAF 3 Sqn by Jason Grant, on FlickrMy first F-15EX
20-0005 OT F-15EX by Jason Grant, on Flickr86-0365 WA F-16C 64th AGRS by Jason Grant, on Flickr85-1501 F-16C 926 WG by Jason Grant, on FlickrJZ F-15C 159 FW Bayou Militia by Jason Grant, on FlickrA46-306 EA-18G RAAF 6 Sqn by Jason Grant, on Flickr60-0058 LA B-52H 20th BS by Jason Grant, on FlickrThis is the growler that crashed into San Diego Bay a week or so later.
166855 NL-520 EA-18G VAQ-135 by Jason Grant, on Flickr90-0707 WA F-16C 64th AGRS Ghost by Jason Grant, on Flickr86-0303 WA F-16C 64th AGRS by Jason Grant, on FlickrNellis was a bit more frustrating than usual on this occasion with most of the good stuff landing left runway for one reason or another or with us being out of position trying to catch the Super Hornets and Growlers returning (without success). The clouds rolled in on our third day. This proves that you do need a few days at Red Flag to try and crack it, maybe next time. On Saturday, we headed off down the Extra Terrestrial Highway to the Little A'Le'Inn at Rachel for a well deserved alien burger. Sunday we headed south again. Week 2 will follow soon.
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