Palmdale Plant 42 - PMD

[f4_phantom_fan]

Yeah its been 110 now for three days straight. Very little action at P-42 during the times I went this week.

[SkyBaby]

Yeah its been 110 now for three days straight. Very little action at P-42 during the times I went this week.

The heat probably has something to do with it. 

[gfydad]

Looks like the Wyoming ANG bird is testing out of Edwards looking at the sensors on the pitot tube.
They've got the state license plate befoe the pilot's window.
This almost looks to be a Combat Spear but isn't sporting the usual air-to-air refueling stations the type normally carries on the outboard wing stations.

[f4_phantom_fan]

Did anyone catch the red/white P-3 Orion that was out today?? Saw it but didn't have the camera w me.   

[f4_phantom_fan]

Today's catches. The WR-coded U-2 was out again today, shot it on video, but it did not have that big satellite data uplink pod on this time around. Actually caught an F-16 from Edwards I've never seen before, and seeing one of the Hercs w the orange firefighting markings here at P42, was also a first for me. Busy day today, nice change from the many hours of nothing the past couple of weeks. The E-2C is the Sunkings' CAG - went back thru my files and noticed I'd shot it four years ago coming out of Davis-Monthan AFB, and at that time it flew for VAW-87 and still had the older 4-blade props.

[Midnight Mover]

Today's catches. The WR-coded U-2 was out again today, shot it on video, but it did not have that big satellite data uplink pod on this time around. Actually caught an F-16 from Edwards I've never seen before, and seeing one of the Hercs w the orange firefighting markings here at P42, was also a first for me. Busy day today, nice change from the many hours of nothing the past couple of weeks. The E-2C is the Sunkings' CAG - went back thru my files and noticed I'd shot it four years ago coming out of Davis-Monthan AFB, and at that time it flew for VAW-87 and still had the older 4-blade props.

[sr-aeronut]

Nice stuff Brian!  it was another hot one ---could not last,   Clay Lacy was scouting around

[phantomphan1974]

Great shots guys and the Channel Island guys getting better at the orange markings.  Number looks better almost a stencil. 

[SkyBaby]

Nice stuff Brian!  it was another hot one ---could not last,   Clay Lacy was scouting around

Beautiful captures!!!  I love love love the second one.  What lens/camera combo were you using?

[sr-aeronut]

I use the Canon 7D and the 50D with the Canon 100-400 for the bulk of what I shoot ...  not sure what Brian is using these days.

[SkyBaby]

I use the Canon 7D and the 50D with the Canon 100-400 for the bulk of what I shoot ...  not sure what Brian is using these days.

Thanks for letting me know.  I'm just curious what lenses are being used most often, because I'm trying to decide what long lens to get for my 50D. 

[sr-aeronut]

For Canon, the 100-400 L  is the most popular and a pretty good lens!!

[aim9xray]

Beautiful captures!!!  I love love love the second one.  What lens/camera combo were you using?

The E-2 bubbas are indeed using vinyl stencils since they got a cutter a few years back.  It's a lot less work and hassle than dealing with paint for markings (especially since Ventura County is lumped in with LA for air pollution regulation purposes).

[phantomphan1974]

The E-2 bubbas are indeed using vinyl stencils since they got a cutter a few years back.  It's a lot less work and hassle than dealing with paint for markings (especially since Ventura.  County is lumped in with LA for air pollution regulation purposes).

So they are stencils or vinyl decals?

[aim9xray]

Oops, sorry for the confusion!  My understanding is vinyl decals that they cut on their machine for the numbers and smaller stuff.