Aircraft Types To Be Seen At Miramar Marine Corps Air Station
By Nigel Howarth
A UC-35D Citation of the based transport/liaison squadron. The UC-35D is a military version of the Cessna Citation 560.
An F/A-18D Hornet of US Marines squadron VMFA(AW)-225 "Vikings" , based at Miramar, resplendent in squadron commander's markings.
A Sikorsky CH-53E heavy-lift helicopter of HMH-46. According to Aviation Week Intelligence Network's Military Aircraft Database, the Marine Corps still has 142 legacy '53s left in service. The first of the all-new CH-53Ks flew for the first time in November 2015.
A Lockheed-Martin KC-130J of Marines Transport Squadron VMGR-352. The Marines operate some 36 of this variant, with more on order.
This Beech UC-12W also flies with the based transport/liaison squadron.
The UH-1Y "Yankee" or "Venom" equips a number of USMC squadrons, this one belonging to HMLA-169. The Yankee is of continuing the line of Bell Hueys which started production in the late 1950s and became synonymous with Vietnam.
A NASA F-15D from the Armstrong Flight Research Center at Edwards AFB, CA. This Eagle is around 35 years old but looks in immaculate condition.
March AFB in Riverside, CA is home to the reserve squadron 452nd AMW who operate this C-17 Globemaster.
A Sikorsky MH-60S painted in special colors, named 'Crazy Horse', and with stripes on the nose representing Native American face paint perhaps.
A Sikorsky MH-60S painted in special colors, named 'Crazy Horse', and with stripes on the nose representing Native American face paint perhaps.
A B-52H from the 2nd BW at Barksdale AFB, LA looking replendent in the California sunshine. Now almost 55 years old, the out of service date could be as late as 2040 for the Air Force's most numerous bomber.
The Marine Corps' latest fighter is the F-35, this one being a B model belonging to VMFA-121 based at Yuma, AZ.
This Navy E-2C Hawkeye is assigned to CVW-17 , based on the carrier USS Carl Vinson. Note the modern 8-bladed propellers.
The US Army's Golden Knights parachute display team usually travel with a C-31, aka Fokker 27, as seen here.
Let39s are a very popular lightweight fast jet, with over 250 resident in the USA. The Patriots fly a team as seen here, with the French-based Breitling Let39s visible behind.
The AV-8B Harrier, one of the finest aircraft designs ever to come out of Britain, is still in service in large numbers with the Corps. Its vertical take off / landing and hovering abilities are always showstoppers.
An F/A-18 sits in front of the control tower at Miramar, made famous in the movie 'Top Gun' when Tom Cruise's character buzzes the tower after being denied permission. Back then in the 80s, Miramar was a Navy base, but Top Gun was merged into the NSAWC at NAS Fallon, and the Marines moved into Miramar from El Toro.
An MV-22 Osprey in squadron commander's colors, clearly illustrating the size of the huge rotor blades.
Germany maintains an Air Force squadron of Tornados for training at Holloman AFB, NM and two of them are seen here, with another Let 39 Albatros forming the 'meat in the sandwich'.
San Diego Coast Guard Air Station is adjacent to the International Airport, and has a small contingent of MH-60Ts based.
An F/A-18C of VMFAT-101 'Sharpshooters' sits wings-folded awaiting its next training mission.
This F/A-18C Hornet flew with the Navy's 'Vigilantes' on board the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, but may well be in the process of being transferred to the Marines.
Aviation Week photographer Nigel Howarth recently visited Miramar Marine Corps Air Station in San Diego and took the opportunity to photograph the wide range of fixed- and rotary-wing types based there. Miramar is the West Coast's major Marine base, previously home to the Navy and its Top Gun fighter school. The visit also coincided with the station's Air Show, allowing a number of non-based aircraft to be seen which wouldn't normally visit Miramar.