VCV - Victorville (Southern California Logistics Airport)

[rammsteinmatt]

My attempt at a spotters guide...  I have found these locations to be somewhat interesting.

1. Southern departure on main runway (35/17).  Take Air Expressway to Phantom West then first left.

2. Big dirt hill (to shoot over the perimeter fence, 17 departure shots and airport overview).  Take Air Expressway to Adelanto rd.

3. Dirt road, under the approach path to 17.  35/17 is 15,000 ft, its a long drive down a rutted dirt road to this location.  Keep driving north past location #3, required right turn to get under approach path is a very obvious and well used road.

4. Approach to 21.  I would imagine you could go all the way up to the gate and hangout.  It seems 21/3 is a popular runway for GA aircraft and C-17 practice since its almost a normal length (9,100 ft).  Take Phantom East or West to Perimeter Rd. (at power plants).

5. There are some peek throughs between buildings on Readiness St.  Take Phantom East or West to George blvd (at control tower) into Readiness St.  This is also the way to get to Million Air FBO, which has a cafe open to the public.  I suppose you could sweet talk the lady to let you out onto their patio to take pictures as well.  Million Air is located approximately at the "A" on the map in a green building.

Airport map with tower and ground frequencies can be found here:  http://flightaware.com/resources/airport/VCV/APD/AIRPORT+DIAGRAM/pdf

Security is provided by a private security company.  I haven't been stopped by any of them, but have seen them driving around.

Most everything is far away and would recommend AT LEAST 300mm (on APS-C or equivalent sensor) with the exception of the approach photos.  Victorville is pretty low traffic, and would encourage checking with flightaware.com for incoming flights (filed flight plans only).  Flight plans for test flights (787 and the like) most likely will not be very accurate due to the testing nature of these flights.

[SkyBaby]

Very nice!!  Is the first 787 at VCV now?  Is N7874 still there?  I'm heading that way this coming weekend.  I love the first one's paintjob. 

[rammsteinmatt]

Very nice!!  Is the first 787 at VCV now?  Is N7874 still there?  I'm heading that way this coming weekend.  I love the first one's paintjob. 

it seems like it changes each week...
I want to say #1 has been here for 2-3 weeks now.  haven't seen the all white version (ANA colors) for it seems like a month (assuming that's N7874, or N7874 is painted like that).

[SkyBaby]

it seems like it changes each week...
I want to say #1 has been here for 2-3 weeks now.  haven't seen the all white version (ANA colors) for it seems like a month (assuming that's N7874, or N7874 is painted like that).

That's interesting.  I hope #1 is there when i get there this weekend.  N7874 is ship #4 and white with a blue stripe.  ANA 787 is ship #2 in ANA livery.  Don't know the N numbers of either the first or the fourth.  I tried googling it, but didn't find 'em. 

[rammsteinmatt]

went out to VCV during the golden hour yesterday.  nothing came in or left... even though flight aware said a 788 was coming in.
looks like N7874 (white with blue squiggly stripe) is here right now.

I would not trust flightaware to plan your day there.  Hardly anything takes off or lands here too, so it could be a pretty boring day of flying.  And with 400mm i couldnt sit outside the perimeter fence and get a DC-10 (10 tanker) to fill the frame when it is parked on the ramp.

[SkyBaby]

went out to VCV during the golden hour yesterday.  nothing came in or left... even though flight aware said a 788 was coming in.
looks like N7874 (white with blue squiggly stripe) is here right now.

I would not trust flightaware to plan your day there.  Hardly anything takes off or lands here too, so it could be a pretty boring day of flying.  And with 400mm i couldnt sit outside the perimeter fence and get a DC-10 (10 tanker) to fill the frame when it is parked on the ramp.

When is the golden hour?  Back when I used to live in the area, I'd see a C-17 doing TnGs at least 2 days a week.  That was a few years ago.  Last time I was down there, a 767 and a DC-9 took off, as well as several smaller aircraft.  I'll guess weekend days are probably the slowest days there for the big stuff, but maybe some of the busiest for the little stuff. 

The 787 was quite close to the fence last time I was down there.  Hopefully one of these days I get to see it fly. 

[rammsteinmatt]

When is the golden hour?  Back when I used to live in the area, I'd see a C-17 doing TnGs at least 2 days a week.  That was a few years ago.  Last time I was down there, a 767 and a DC-9 took off, as well as several smaller aircraft.  I'll guess weekend days are probably the slowest days there for the big stuff, but maybe some of the busiest for the little stuff. 

The 787 was quite close to the fence last time I was down there.  Hopefully one of these days I get to see it fly. 

the golden hour for photography - the hour before sunset (roughly).

the C-17 still comes every once in a while, maybe once a week.  its really slow right now, just look at flightaware theres like 1 flight plan per day from vcv and its usually the 787, it must be pretty boring to be vcv tower.  I think i got spoiled with LAX, i couldnt fathom going to an airport all day and maybe getting 40 pictures total, of which i would keep <10.  yea, the 787 usually parks pretty close to the fence. 

[Code20photog]

When Bernie and I went up there earlier this year to get the first arrival of the 787, we were up there about 6 hours. Nothing took off the whole day, and only the 787 and a Cathay Pacific 747 landed.

It can get quiet and lonely out there.

[SkyBaby]

the golden hour for photography - the hour before sunset (roughly).

the C-17 still comes every once in a while, maybe once a week.  its really slow right now, just look at flightaware theres like 1 flight plan per day from vcv and its usually the 787, it must be pretty boring to be vcv tower.  I think i got spoiled with LAX, i couldnt fathom going to an airport all day and maybe getting 40 pictures total, of which i would keep <10.  yea, the 787 usually parks pretty close to the fence. 

I loved seeing that C17 when I used to live in the area.  I used to live in Adelanto and it would be so low over our house.  My mom swore it was gonna crash on several occasions.  My folks now live in Pinon Hills and can see the runway and departures and arrivals on a slow day. 

What time of the day does the 787 usually fly?  Where should I park to get good views of the runway for pictures?  The closer, the better.  My only lens is the 28-135mm IS kit. 

[blazer]

Dont forget it gets COLD to !

[Code20photog]

There was a spot on the west side of the facility, off property where they had begun grading for a construction project. Off Airway Express Blvd. That's going to get the sun at your back, but with a 135, I think it's going to be quite a reach to get anything.

[rammsteinmatt]

I loved seeing that C17 when I used to live in the area.  I used to live in Adelanto and it would be so low over our house.  My mom swore it was gonna crash on several occasions.  My folks now live in Pinon Hills and can see the runway and departures and arrivals on a slow day. 

What time of the day does the 787 usually fly?  Where should I park to get good views of the runway for pictures?  The closer, the better.  My only lens is the 28-135mm IS kit. 

I live east of the airport, and some times the C-17 really comes cooking over my house, its pretty awesome.

the 787 of course flyies with Boeing employees, so I would venture a guess it only flies M-F (and probably doesnt spend the weekend here).  Typical take off is in the morning, maybe 9ish, returning in the mid afternoon (i come home at 4 and its usually still out for the day, but sometimes back already).

I'll create a map of all the places I like to go and post it later this afternoon.

Close and airport usually do not go together, sorry   I think you're gonna feel like the 28-135 is a knife at a gunfight.  I've sat at the end of the runway, with the 787 departure right past me (pictures above).  I was using a 70-200.  For reference, the 787 was taken at 175mm and the E-2 was taken at 200mm, that's about the closest you can get to the runway (technically an approach to either runway will bring the planes closer though).  Matter of fact, this is the poor self justification I used to convince myself to buy a 200-400, not being able to get close enough.

map coming...

[rammsteinmatt]

Updated original post with spotters guide.  removed my photos for reader convenience

[SkyBaby]

Updated original post with spotters guide.  removed my photos for reader convenience

Very helpful!  Thank you!  I'll be getting Canon's 100-400mm L at some point in the near future.  Then I'll have all the reach I could need for this kind of thing.  For now, I'll have to settle for static shots of the 787.  I'm just lucky it parks close to the fence.  lol  C17s are big enough that I wont need a whole lot of zoom to get a nicely framed shot. 

[snapperbaz]

Hopefully give it a quick visit in Oct when passing thru to Vegas again...here's an "arty" shot of a C-17 at Victorville shot in Dec' last year which just won me a Photo Comp here in the Mil' class!

Baz