2005 09 16 Spotting at KNTU

Because of hurrican Ophelia many participants still had to arrive at NAS Oceana. This meant a busy morning with arrivals and a busy afternoon with rehearsels. Although some participants didn't made the show because of Ophelia, there were still enough interesting visitors. At the end of the afternoon we saw the Blue Angels making there final reherasel for the weekend. 
Highlight of the day was the rehearsel of the Fleet fly by followed by the Air Power Demonstration. This included two Legacy Hornets, two Super Hornets and four Tomcats. 


HH-60J  USCG  6009

QF-4E  USAF  72-1490/TD

E-2C Hawkeye  US Navy  164494/624

F-14B Tomcat  US Navy

F/A-18C  US Navy  163746/AB-307

F-14B Tomcat  US Navy  163216/AC-105

F-14B Tomcat  US Navy  163216/AC-105

F-14D Tomcat  US Navy  164601/AD-160

F/A-18A  US Navy  Blue Angels

2005 09 15 Boattrip at Norfolk harbour

When we arrived at Elizabeth City, base of the US Coast Guard, the base looked like a spotters paradise. A very open base where you had a perfect view on the hangers as well on the runway. Unfortunately we still had hurricane Ophelia in the neighbourhood which led to zero activity. It looked like a ghost base. There wasn't a plane or helicopter to see, except for the gate guards. 
So we drove back to Virginia and headed to Norfolk to see if we could catch the boattrip at Norfolk harbour. And we were lucky. Soon we were sealing past the destroyers, frigates, cruisers, submarines and the aircraft carriers.
After our boattrip we went to see if there was some action at Oceana and we were lucky to see five F/A-18E Super Hornets from VFA-143 'Pukin' Daogs' in the circuit. After an half hour they were all back on deck and we headed back to our hotel. 


UF-1G Albatross  USCG 



Guided Missile Cruiser  US Navy  USS Anzio

Submarine  US Navy  USS Norfolk

Amphibious warfare ships, Wasp Class  US Navy  USS Essex

Aircraft carrier  US Navy  USS Dwight D. Eisehower

SH-3G  US Navy  149737/HU-721  

2005 09 14 Spotting at KNTU

Today we were gonna go to Pope AFB and perhaps Seymour Johnson AFB. But by the time we wanted to leave Virginia Beach we saw the Blue Angels making their check points in the air. So we changed our plans in the hope to see the Blues already performing and perhaps see already a glimp of the Tomcats. Unfortunately the day was very boring with only three Blue Angels, a Learjet 35, a F/A-18D, an UH-H3 and a demo by an E-2C.
With the threat of hurricane Ophelia most flying activities were stopped. So this was a bit of a lost day but is was nice to see the UH-H3.

F/A-18D  US Navy  161938

UH-3H  US Navy  151549

E-2C Hawkeye  US Navy  165647

2005 09 13 Spotting at KNGU

Today we were gonna check out Langley AFB, home of the 1ste Fighter Wing, flying the F-15 and F-22. After a short stop at the harbour of Norfolk where we saw some aircraft carriers and a submarine we headed to Langley.
In the morning there was zero activity. Shortly in the afternoon we saw two F-15's and three F-22's preparing for take-off. But, this was to be expected, we first had a control from the MP to see what we were doing there. Although it wasn't her intention to help us but we found out that all of these jets were leaving Langley because they feared the incoming hurricane Ophelia. As soon as we heared that we weren't gonna get one descent shot of the Eagles or the Raptors we setted off to NAS Norfolk. While we departed another six Eagles left there nest.
After we found a nice spot in the small civilian part of the base, we saw an E-2C landing and there was a C-2 Greyhound performing some touch and goes. After several rounds the C-2 landed and we wanted to leave. By the time we were at our car, we were already blocked by two vehicules of the MP. They asked us to show us our ID and what we were doing here. After they checked ours ID we were free to go.
Atlhough we didn't made a lot of pictures, it was still a nice day.

E-2C  US Navy  serial unknown

C-2A Greyhound  US Navy  162159

2005 09 12 Oceana and surroudings

To see the F-14 flying was the main reason to go to the US. And there's no better place then NAS Oceana to see them.
The F-14's are going fast on retirement. With VF-213 'Black Lions' and VF-31 'Tomcatters' just set on a cruise to the Middle East, there were just two F-14 squadrons left at NAS Oceana. These were VF32 'Swordsmen' and VF-101 'Grim Reapers'. The participation of the Tomcats during the airshow was a hot topic until days before the show. Reason for this was that the last Tactical Demonstration by a Tomcat was done in 2004. In 2005 there wasn't a demo team. Only a few weeks before the show the 'GO' was given by higher command for a last Tac demo by a Tomcat. Now the real preperations could start in making the crew ready for a safe demo. Luckily the crew that flew last years demonstration were more than happy to spend some extra hours in the flight sim to be able to perform the demo at the airshow. The crew was Lt Jack 'Rocco' Tangredi and Lt Joseph 'Smokin' Joe' Ruzicka.
While being at the East coast, Jan and I setted up a schedule so that we could maximize our time their. NAS Norfolk, Langley AFB, USCG Elizabeth City, Pope AFB and of course NAS Oceana were all part of the schedule. Unfortunately hurricane Ophelia had some other plans forcing us to either cancel or change our schedule.

Monday 12 September
We arrived at Newark airport after a 7h flight. We picked up our Mercury Mointaineer and drove for another 8h to Virginia Beach. We arrived at our hotel around 10 o'clock pm. After check-in we went to the 7-11 for a quick snack and a little tour around NAS Oceana before falling in sleep.