Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA, KIWA, IWA) "Willie"

[Joe Copalman]

Awesome catch, Bill!  I remember seeing this on final that evening when I was headed into Mesa for something or other.  You didn't happen to be around when the A-3 Skywarrior was shooting touch-and-goes, did you?  I think it was a few months before this.

And for as beautiful as the single-seat Hunter is, the two-hole version is surprisingly ugly.

[BillOz]

I don't recall seeing the A-3 Skywarrior.

This is kinda ugly, for a jet.  Some designers just don't seem to understand, it has to look good too.  The best looking are also the best performing.  Consider the SR-71, F-104, F-14, -15, -16, -18, -22.  The incomparable XB-70.   The SU-27, -31, -35, MiG-29.   The Concorde.

And Boeing wonders why they lost the JSF program.  Not even its' mother could love that.

[BillOz]

One of the Texas Gunfighters who stopped in last weekend, as part of his last trip with the unit, as he retired a few days later.  These guys gave quite a little show when they came in, doing four fast touch and go's, before finally landing.
Here he is headed home to Texas, doing a max performance takeoff and climb to 20k.

[Matt Ottosen]

149th AVN, Texas ARNG, Grand Prairie, Texas
Republic of Singapore Air Force
RSAF Peace Prairie Detachment

[Joe Copalman]

If Willie had a mascot, it would be a broken-down T-38.  The current mascot hails from Vance's 25th FTS and supposedly has a dead battery.

[Matt Ottosen]

My first Skyhawk!   

Thanks again to Joe C. for the heads-up!

McDonnell Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk
Advanced Training Systems International, Inc. (ATSI)

[David Loera]

T-38 that welomes you to Willie

[David Loera]

Eclipse Aviation Corp EA500

[Joe Copalman]

Caught an A-4N taxiing back to ATSI's hangar after a mid-afternoon flight and SIX touch-and-goes.

[Joe Copalman]

From a few months back. 

A Columbus-based T-38C and the Army's sole TO-5C, which serves as the crew trainer for their EO-5C ARL-M fleet operated by the 204th MI Battalion. 

[David Loera]

TAV-8B at Willie Jan of 08

[Joe Copalman]

Tanker Zero-Five departing Willie last July.

[Matt Ottosen]

Joe, awesome shot!  I was hoping for some tankers at Willie this year, but maybe next year.  I'm hoping there are still some tankers at Fox Field when I'm there a week from Tuesday.

[David Loera]

Airbus A321-231
I caught this guy doing a touch-n-go at Willie back in April, and I forgot I had this shot untill I started going through some of my older shots for the last few weeks.

[Matt Ottosen]

Antonov An-124 Ruslan

Here's another AzAP exclusive, you will not find this photo posted anywhere else!