Brief Mojave report.

Darryl · 02-04-2002, 12:20 AM

Flew out to Mojave yesterday to check on the post 9-11 planes in storage and there are a whole lot of 'em out there now. Also, according to airport security, there is pretty much no more walking around the ramp since 9-11, so we took off and did three low level passes (since those are still permitted) to check things out and get some photos.

Interesting sights:

Eight SWA 737's (all in N/C's). From the air they all looked like 700's

Metrojet 737's - Did not get a count, but there is a whole mess of them out there.

US Airways F-100's (A whole mess of these, too).

Canada 3000 757's - There were two of these, along with a Royal 757 (surprised to see that).

A whole slew of ex Delta L-1011's (I thought that Victorville had them all).

KLM - Two 747-300's.

A Cactus 737-300 in the N/C's (odd that there was just one, and no series 200’s).

Air India 747 – This was ready to go to the chopping block, as it was completely stripped.

CV-990 – Only one left from what we could see, however, there is a group of folks that have an 880 out there and want to restore it. More on that later if we can hook up with them.

These were all in addition to the usual host of ex American, Hawaiian and Continental DC-10’s, Hawaiian DC-9’s and various 727’s, DC-8’s and DC-9’s. There were a lot more out there, but it was hard to remember them all.

If any of you folks get the chance, take a trip out there, as it looks like you can get good photos from the fences. I have been told that you can get tours of the storage facility, however, I cannot confirm this. Does anyone know for sure if tours are available?

BillTse · 02-04-2002, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Darryl
Interesting sights:

Eight SWA 737's (all in N/C's). From the air they all looked like 700's

You would be correct about those SWA's. The latest issue of Airways says those are factory fresh 737's too.

Sentinel Chicken · 02-04-2002, 02:33 PM

I had posted this several weeks ago, but this image is from The Chicken Works network of low-Earth orbiting imaging satellites.

Travelin' Man · 02-04-2002, 08:26 PM

Mojave is a very interesting place. Some real strange folk live out there. Doc would feel right at home.

Darryl · 02-05-2002, 05:20 PM

Yep, those be the ones Chickie Babe.

smoothjazz · 02-06-2002, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sentinel Chicken
I had posted this several weeks ago, but this image is from The Chicken Works network of low-Earth orbiting imaging satellites.

How about that! It is a interesting picture...
All brand-new B737-700s for short-term parking...
I really want to visit this place sometime.

Benjamin

Tony Sepanski · 02-06-2002, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sentinel Chicken
I had posted this several weeks ago, but this image is from The Chicken Works network of low-Earth orbiting imaging satellites.

Those B-66's look kind of out of place with all that iron. US Air wasn't using them at one time were they? It sounds like the kind of screwed up thing Wolfie would have them do...
------
Better to have the new SWA 700's lined up there than in the rain on the flightline here in Seattle. There were 10 Delta's lined up at Boeing Field for the better part of a month recently...

Sentinel Chicken · 02-06-2002, 12:49 PM

Hey Tony, I think those are actually ERA-3B Skywarriors (the last of the A-3 line, which is just the naval bro of the B-66). The last of them were fitted out as electronic warfare aggressors for the Navy's Fleet Electronic Warfare & Support Group (FEWSG). Some of them also ended up being used by defense contractors as airborne testbeds and that might explain why these are sittin' out there at Mojave instead of the boneyards at Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson.

Marc Hookerman · 02-06-2002, 04:18 PM

You got it Chicken. Those are A-3s that were used as online airborne drones. Mostly testbeds. After looking at them up close the past few years, they seem pretty clean. Neat and ugly suckers. There are some F-111 dumps out there too off field. Nothing more hilarious than an Aardvark nose staring at you from the road. Haha.

Sentinel Chicken · 02-06-2002, 05:20 PM

If you look closely enough, the first and third ERA-3Bs still have their tailfin markings for the last squadron that operated the Skywarrior, VAQ-33 "Firebirds". They pretty much handled the Navy's needs for EW aggressors and were last based at NAS Key West before the Skywarriors were retired from active duty and the Firebirds were disestablished.

Attached is a photo of a VAQ-33 Whale with all it's bumps, protuberances, aerials, and pods. Pretty neat lookin' if you ask me.

Marc Hookerman · 02-06-2002, 07:43 PM

They absolutely are neat...one of the more eccentric designs...which means a place in my heart...

I still think the Armed Forces should keep an airworthy example(s) of all of their past machines of beauty to use during airshows. A B-58 Hustler would make my day. In other words, restore all of Wright-Pat to flying condition. Haha. If I were pres, that would be an executive order. I would probably not get re-elected, but I would do it.

Same with airliners.

02-04-2002, 12:20 AM	#1
Darryl Senior Collector Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: La La Land Posts: 165	Brief Mojave report. Flew out to Mojave yesterday to check on the post 9-11 planes in storage and there are a whole lot of 'em out there now. Also, according to airport security, there is pretty much no more walking around the ramp since 9-11, so we took off and did three low level passes (since those are still permitted) to check things out and get some photos. Interesting sights: Eight SWA 737's (all in N/C's). From the air they all looked like 700's Metrojet 737's - Did not get a count, but there is a whole mess of them out there. US Airways F-100's (A whole mess of these, too). Canada 3000 757's - There were two of these, along with a Royal 757 (surprised to see that). A whole slew of ex Delta L-1011's (I thought that Victorville had them all). KLM - Two 747-300's. A Cactus 737-300 in the N/C's (odd that there was just one, and no series 200’s). Air India 747 – This was ready to go to the chopping block, as it was completely stripped. CV-990 – Only one left from what we could see, however, there is a group of folks that have an 880 out there and want to restore it. More on that later if we can hook up with them. These were all in addition to the usual host of ex American, Hawaiian and Continental DC-10’s, Hawaiian DC-9’s and various 727’s, DC-8’s and DC-9’s. There were a lot more out there, but it was hard to remember them all. If any of you folks get the chance, take a trip out there, as it looks like you can get good photos from the fences. I have been told that you can get tours of the storage facility, however, I cannot confirm this. Does anyone know for sure if tours are available?

02-04-2002, 02:33 PM	#3
Sentinel Chicken Go-Getters Go Ozark Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: DFW/THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS Posts: 4,167	I had posted this several weeks ago, but this image is from The Chicken Works network of low-Earth orbiting imaging satellites. __________________ *Piss on noise abatement!*

02-06-2002, 12:49 PM	#8
Sentinel Chicken Go-Getters Go Ozark Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: DFW/THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS Posts: 4,167	Hey Tony, I think those are actually ERA-3B Skywarriors (the last of the A-3 line, which is just the naval bro of the B-66). The last of them were fitted out as electronic warfare aggressors for the Navy's Fleet Electronic Warfare & Support Group (FEWSG). Some of them also ended up being used by defense contractors as airborne testbeds and that might explain why these are sittin' out there at Mojave instead of the boneyards at Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson. __________________ *Piss on noise abatement!*

02-06-2002, 04:18 PM	#9
Marc Hookerman DC-10 Lover Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Saint Louis, MO USA Posts: 352	You got it Chicken. Those are A-3s that were used as online airborne drones. Mostly testbeds. After looking at them up close the past few years, they seem pretty clean. Neat and ugly suckers. There are some F-111 dumps out there too off field. Nothing more hilarious than an Aardvark nose staring at you from the road. Haha. __________________ Jet Noise : The Sound of Freedom Midwest Express Airlines "The Best Care in the Air"

02-06-2002, 05:20 PM	#10
Sentinel Chicken Go-Getters Go Ozark Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: DFW/THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS Posts: 4,167	If you look closely enough, the first and third ERA-3Bs still have their tailfin markings for the last squadron that operated the Skywarrior, VAQ-33 "Firebirds". They pretty much handled the Navy's needs for EW aggressors and were last based at NAS Key West before the Skywarriors were retired from active duty and the Firebirds were disestablished. Attached is a photo of a VAQ-33 Whale with all it's bumps, protuberances, aerials, and pods. Pretty neat lookin' if you ask me. __________________ *Piss on noise abatement!*

02-04-2002, 08:26 PM	#4
Travelin' Man Insane Collector Join Date: May 2000 Location: Aspen USA!!! Posts: 1,919	Mojave is a very interesting place. Some real strange folk live out there. Doc would feel right at home.

02-05-2002, 05:20 PM	#5
Darryl Senior Collector Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: La La Land Posts: 165	Yep, those be the ones Chickie Babe.

02-06-2002, 07:43 PM	#11
Marc Hookerman DC-10 Lover Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Saint Louis, MO USA Posts: 352	They absolutely are neat...one of the more eccentric designs...which means a place in my heart... I still think the Armed Forces should keep an airworthy example(s) of all of their past machines of beauty to use during airshows. A B-58 Hustler would make my day. In other words, restore all of Wright-Pat to flying condition. Haha. If I were pres, that would be an executive order. I would probably not get re-elected, but I would do it. Same with airliners. __________________ Jet Noise : The Sound of Freedom Midwest Express Airlines "The Best Care in the Air"

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