Forum: Military Aircraft of the Cold War

I was driving by the east end of McCarren today when I saw something out of the corner of my eye that made me turn around for a second look. Sure enough, there were three F/A-18 Hornets taxiing to the end of the active runway (I think it's 10R - 010 degrees magnetic). I stopped the car and watched them as they took up position on the end of the runway, lit the burners, and blasted off into the rain over Las Vegas. One of the locals who was also watching and used to work on Bugs in St. Louis said that there were also a couple of Canadian Hornets there the other day and that seeing them there might be attributed to Red Flag coming up this weekend at Nellis.

I'm just curious as to what the heck Hornets are doing at a civilian airport like McCarren, especially when Nellis is so close by? I'd really appreciate it if someone could shed some light on this one! Thanks in advance Very Happy

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Winds out of limits at Nellis is a pretty common reason to land at McCarron.

Cylon

Thanks Cylon Very Happy

! Yeah, the weather sucks here today - lots of rain and nastiness Sad

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I just thought of something else related to this - What do the pilots do when they have to land at a civilain airport? Is there a special proceedure for dealing with air traffic control? Are there pre-arranged areas to park the jets or do you just park them on the transient ramp? Do you have to stay within visual range of them? Please understand that I'm not trying to steal one or anything and if the info is too sensitive, please leave it out Wink

. I'm just curious about this situation.

We talk to atc just like everyone else (although usually on UHF). We generally park slightly separated from civilian traffic, but at your normal fbo. For fighters, the base will send SP's over to keep an eye on the jets. Whe I used to take the AT-38C cross-country, there were specific fbo's / airports we could go to (gov contracts, etc). We tried to keep the jets at military / joint use / guard & reserve bases over-night to the max extent possible.

Cylon

What can be cooler than parking a Fighter at a local FBO along with all the 152's?
I can't think of anything.

Just to clarify, you cannot leave an F-16 at an FBO unattended... (unless a nearby base sends SP's --and even then, there better be a GREAT excuse as to why you are leaving a Viper overnight at an FBO.) The AT-38C is not quite so........sensitive.

Cylon

Wender wrote:

What can be cooler than parking a Fighter at a local FBO along with all the 152's?
I can't think of anything.

heh...heh...heh...It gives them 152s something to aspire to! Laughing

"When I grow up I wanna be just...like...the F-16!" Not Worthy

Thanks for the info Cylon Very Happy

! I can understand the extra security for the Viper Wink

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Link - you're too funny Laughing

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When I worked at Riverside Airport, the A-10s came in for the airshow a couple days before. I was working the line at that time, and they left them parked on our ramp. There was a pivate securityguard hired for the second night, but the first night, I had them all to myself! I didn't do much but just walk around them and look and touch. I didn't try to open the canopy or anything. I knew the kind of crapstorm that would have brought upon me. So I just enjoyed the sight and presence while I could. I didn't have a digicam at the time, so the only snapshots are in my head.

I know sometimes when the ramp is filled up at Tyndall, you will see transient birds fly into Panama City. Only problem with PC's airport, is it has a small runway, going straight out into the bay. The civilians are scared to even land a DC-9 there. Usually, if an AF bird lands there, it will be a T-37 or T-38.

The F-15s I've seen land there (I've only seen a couple do it) have taken off in full blower, since the runway is so d@mned small.

Something else to consider is the fact that at a civilian airport, you will not have a barrier, unless you happen to land at an airport like JAX International, which houses an ANG unit (F-15s). Coming in IFE to a civilian airport requires additional care.

BTW, I've also seen B-1s take off from Chicago O'Hare. Definitely a cool sight!

Beers and MiGs were made to be pounded!

There's a B-1 sitting at Long Beach Airport right now, getting some depot maintenance done. But it is also the site of the C-17 production line, so you see those there all the time as well. In fact the final assembly building is right behind my flight school.

Habu, you're sure lucky Very Happy

! Nice job you have there Wink

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TC, I can only imagine what those Eagle drivers are thinking - Come on baby, FLY Crazy Pilot

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Oh that was years ago. I haven't worked at an airport in....oh 7 years abouts....

Forum: Military Aircraft of the Cold War

F/A-18s at McCarren