LUKE AIR SHOW &
MCAS YUMA AIR SHOW
One day each at the Luke AFB Open House & Air Show featuring the Blue Angels and the MCAS Yuma Air Show featuring displays by the base aircraft, warbirds and some aerobatics. Between shows we visit the incredible Pima Air Museum, AMARG and overflights before going to The War Eagles Museum at El Paso and the rarely visited White Sands Missile Museum. Also restoration facilities and the CAF museum at Mesa.
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FRIDAY 9TH MARCH
Fly to Phoenix
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SATURDAY 10TH MARCH
Our first visit is to the CAF Museum at Falcon Field where a busy morning of locals taking flights in various museum aircraft provide some good photo opportunities. After visiting the Falcon Warbirds hangar we go to Williams Airport at Mesa. Finally we visit the Arizona Military Museum on the Army ANG Base at Papago.
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SUNDAY 11TH MARCH
We tour the local airfields, first Goodyear, then to The Lauridson Collection at Buckeye followed by Glendale, Deer Valley home to RS Warbirds and finally Scottsdale with its many biz jets.
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MONDAY 12TH MARCH
Driving down to Tucson to spend a day at The Pima Air Museum including the Tour of AMARG.
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TUESDAY 13TH MARCH
We have booked over flights of AMARG and Pinal Air Park followed by visits to aircraft restorers at Marana Airport. There is plenty of flying at Tucson airport, home to the Tucson ANG, six visiting USMC AV-8B Harriers are parked, departing as we watch. Arriving at Marana we watch military parachutists drop from a C-27 Sherpa and a C-130J.
WEDNESDAY 14TH MARCH
We drive to El Paso to visit the War Eagles Museum, many of these aircraft are in flying condition but now rarely fly. The Tu-2 had just been repainted in camouflage. The Tora Tora aircraft land and park, we are invited on to the pan to photograph. We call in at El Paso Airport, the NASA Super Guppy is based there, also the rare McDonnell 220 biz jet prototype.
THURSDAY 15TH MARCH
Today we will go to the rarely visited White Sands Missile Museum. Although it has few aircraft in the missile garden the base has a fascinating history, the museum clearly illustrating the rapid development in missile technology. We also visit the nearby White Sands National Park with its pure white dunes of fine sand then head back to Tucson
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FRIDAY 16TH MARCH
Before heading for Yuma we again visit Tucson airport and see an Iraqi F-16 land as well as the Dutch F-16s, also visiting the Titan Missile Museum on the way. A brief stop at Gila Bend to photograph the 2 RF-101s at the airport.
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SATURDAY 17TH MARCH
A full day at the MCAS Yuma air show. Base aircraft including the F-35B, AV-8B Harrier 11, MV-22 Osprey and F-5N Tiger 11 are demonstrated supported by the Super Salto jet powered self launching sailplane, Subsonix Microjet, crazy flying in a Piper Cub and including The Patriots flying the L-39 Albatross.
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SUNDAY 18TH MARCH
We head for the Luke AFB Open House & Air Show headlining The Blue Angels. Luke AFB is home to F-35A and F-16 training squadrons including RSingapore AF F-16s. Base aircraft, warbirds and aerobatic aircraft perform. A large static includes F-35As from Japan and Norway as well as the T50A advanced trainer contender.
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MONDAY 19TH MARCH
This evening we depart for the UK. We use the opportunity to see departures and training flights from Luke AFB before go. F-35As from Japan and Norway fly, Dean returns on Tuesday and sees Republic of Singapore F-16s and RAAF F-35As.
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GOODBYE UNTIL NEXT TIME
A short trip in the pleasant Arizona sunshine whilst it snows back home. Some interesting visits, plenty of photo opportunities as well as two exciting military air shows to enjoy with enthusiastic companions. A great way to start the years aviation activities.