2017 Airwingspotter.com started with a lot of local spotting activities in NAS Ft Worth KNFW. The early spring gets us some local traffic from the base including F-35 testing jets from Lockheed Martin Plant and our local squadron namely 301st FW “Spads” and VMFA-112 “Cowboys” The summer we welcome some Oregon F-15C, EA-18G from VX-9 and VAQ-138 visiting our base and the introduction of some refurbished F-18B for our local Marine reserve squadron VMFA-112 Cowboys. During the Hurricane season, we did get a big evacuation from Bases in Florida and South Carolina, KNFW host P-8 from NAS Jacksonville, F-5 from NAS Key west, F-16 from Swamp fox and Makos, F-35A from Eglin AFB, F-18 from MCAS Beaufort and F-22 from Tyndall. We could have easily hosted more than 150 aircraft in the base during the evacuations time frame.We also get coverage of Ellington Field Local traffic .
Local spotting also included Ft worth Alliance airport KAFW and during the right time we can get some interesting subjects such as F/A-18, UH-60, F-5n and of course we get the usual trainers from Sheppard, Laughlin, Columbus , Randolph whereby in a good weekend we can get up to 30 trainers at a time with assortment of T-38C, T6, J1 and T45.
For Military Exercise we get to cover Red Flag Alaska 17-2 in Eielson AFB and this Exercise include the full Pacific Air Force units including 25th FS, 35th FS, from Osan AB, 13th and 14th FS from Misawa AB, 107th FS A-10 from Michigan ANG , Japanese Self defense Air Force F-15MJ and Republic of Korea Air Force KF-16D units. We also cover Dawn Blitz Exercise in Southern California where we get to photograph on board USS Essex.
Our Airshow coverage for 2017 was widespread , they include local shows like Lancaster airport war bird flyin, Ft worth Alliance Airshow, Travis AFB, Capitol Airshow and the French aerobatic team Patrouille Acrobatique de France USA tour, Tinker AFB Airshow in Oklahoma. Wings Over Houston, Joint Base San Antonio Airshow, Nellis AFB Aviation Nation. International Airshow coverage include Royal International Air Tattoo “RIAT”, Jesolo airshow in Italy and Athens Flying Week.
Overall we have a very busy year in 2017 and we are looking forward for 2018 with more military aviation coverage. Thanks everyone for the support and see you next year.
Article by Dave Chng