Naval
Air Station (NAS) Lemoore in California is home to
most of the US Navy's Pacific Fleet Hornet and Super Hornet squadrons.
During mid April 2013, I was fortunate to spend a couple of hours with
Strike Fighter Squadron 122 (VFA-122).
VFA-122
are the West Coast Hornet and Super Hornet Fleet Replacement Squadron
(FRS) and their role is to train Navy and Marine
pilots and Weapons System Operators (WSO) to ensure
that they are combat ready prior to being assigned to an active squadron
and ultimately, deployment. The squadron is the largest on the West Coast
and operates in excess of 80 aircraft. Airshow goers will no doubt be
familiar with the squadron as they provide both the crews and jets for
both the Legacy and Super Hornet demonstration teams on the West Coast.
However, due to sequestration, demonstration team activities have been
suspended until further notice and flying hours have been reduced to cut
costs.
Lemoore's
PAO met me at the decal and pass office and after
obtaining the necessary permits, we proceeded to the VFA-122 hangar to
meet my escort for the visit. After securely storing any
loose items that may pose a Foreign Object Damage (FOD) risk and quickly
stopping to grab a "cranial" (helmet/goggles/ear defenders), we
proceeded out through VFA-122's hangar and onto the flightlines.
Click on
images below to see larger images
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The
Neighbours
After walking
around the VFA-122 ramp, we ventured across to the east
side of the base to see what some of the neighbours were up to.
VFA-2 "Bounty Hunters", VFA-22 "Fighting
Redcocks" and VFA-25 "Fist of the Fleet" were
present along with one of Lemoore's Search and Rescue (SAR)
MH-60S Knighthawks.
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images below to see larger images
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Visitors
I wasn't the only visitor to the flightlines: A group of
Hornets, Super Hornets and an F-16B
Fighting Falcon from Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center (NSAWC)
based at NAS Fallon, Nevada were conducting operations. Other visitors included
an F/A-18E Super Hornet from VFA-136 "Knighthawks" from NAS Oceana,
Virginia and an F/A-18D Hornet from VMFA(AW)-224 "Fighting Bengals"
from MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina.
Click on
images below to see larger images
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Equipment
Used
Nikon D7000
with Nikkor AF-S 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 G IF-ED VR.
Nikon D90 with Nikkor AF-S 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G IF-ED VR.
Acknowledgements
This article
would not have been possible without the assistance
and especially the patience of:
Melinda Larson, PAO.
LT Chris "Leash" Waskey, VFA-122.
LT Graham "Heed" Scarbro, VFA-122.
Jeremy Gould
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