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

[Matt Ottosen]

Lockheed Martin KC-130J Harvest HAWK
Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352 (VMGR-352) "Raiders"

[Jason Hyatt]

Worm Burner

[Jeff D. Welker]

Terrific catch Jason, especially for Willie. What RWY were they using?

[Joe Copalman]

12R, back in the good old days.

Le sigh.

[Jason Hyatt]

Mr. Copalman is correctamundo, Jeff. He was departing 12R back in twenty ought six. Those were definitely a treat.

[Scott Youmans]

Wow!  We need more pilots (and photographers!) like that.  Outriggers are almost up.  Very cool.

[Joe Copalman]

Scott, this was how Harrier departed Willie regardless of which direction they were flying.  I think it was back in 2009 when it was decided for whatever reason that the Harriers would use the far runway instead of 12R/30L.  I never got a clear answer for why this change was made.  For a while, it only seemed to impact Yuma-based Harriers, as we'd get Cherry Point and VX-31 Harriers using 12R/30L quite a bit, but this seems to have stopped now. 

I'd really love to see the Harriers using 12R/30L again.  Those departures made for some epic shots against the backdrop of the Superstition Mountains.

[Scott Youmans]

Did they generally get the gear up while still that low? Very nice.

[Joe Copalman]

Depends on how they launched, but yeah.  I'm guessing this guy was the last one to launch in a trail departure, as a lead or dash-2 would probably still be retracting the gear at this point on a 12R departure.  When they launched 30L, I don't recall them being THIS low coming from the other direction, but they were commonly low enough to get them against the mountains in the background.

[josephea6]

Beautiful shot Jason, I sure miss those days at Willie...

[Jeff D. Welker]

SCOOTIN' ALONG

[josephea6]

Simply gorgeous Jeff!  Love the Scooter...

[Jeff D. Welker]

Thanks Joe. Shortly after the Skyhawk arrived, a couple of T-38's from Sheppard Air Force Base landed in some nice late afternoon light. Here is the second one taxiing through the long shadows.

[Jeff D. Welker]

EXCELLENT ARIZONA LATE AFTERNOON LIGHT

[Scott Youmans]

Great series Jeff!  Are we still shooting from ladders 6 feet from the fence?  Haven't been to Willie in months.