Tucson International Airport (TUS, KTUS)

[Harry Morrow]

HI Everyone

I had some friends visit from the UK last weekend telling that about 40 A-10's from DM were down at Tucson Int, I know it was reported on here about the runway at DM being closed for re-surfacing work but does anyone know when this started, also the A-10's are parked outside the old terminal, hope to get down to get some shots, not been out for ages.

Harry

[Joe Copalman]

A-10s started flying out of TIA this week, D-Ms EC-130s began ops out of Gateway as well.

[Chris Kennedy]

I remember there was some speculation here on the forum about where the AZANG alert F-16s would go. Where did they go?

[Joe Copalman]

March seems to be the closest base that supports Noble Eagle missions, and I believe someone on Fencecheck posted a shot of two AZ Vipers flying out of there with live missiles a few weeks back.

[Chris Janes]

I remember there was some speculation here on the forum about where the AZANG alert F-16s would go. Where did they go?

There are three or four down at the end of taxiway A17 at TUS. A17 is restricted to military aircraft as of last night.

[Joe Copalman]

My understanding is that live munitions are prohibited at TIA, which is why the Tucson alert birds stage out of DM. 

[jslugman]

My understanding is that live munitions are prohibited at TIA, which is why the Tucson alert birds stage out of DM. 

Correct.

[Ned Harris]

Dept of Homeland Security P-3 landing at TIA on 4/1/11.

_MG_4238 DHS P-3 by Ned Harris, on Flickr

[Ned Harris]

U.S. Dept. of Justice Dash-8 landing at TIA on 4/1/11.

_MG_4133 DeHavilland DHC-8 by Ned Harris, on Flickr

[John B.]

Both fine catches, Ned.  Looks like TIA is suddenly a really hot place to shoot--A-10s, F-16s, airliners, GA.  Almost as hot as Willie!

[Joe Copalman]

Much, much hotter.

ZERO military stuff at Willie this afternoon, and NOBODY has caught the EC-130s flying. 

Solid catches Ned, and both great shots.

[Chris Janes]

My understanding is that live munitions are prohibited at TIA, which is why the Tucson alert birds stage out of DM. 

This morning at the "last chance" near  A-17.  There are three F-16s with fuel pods that have what appear to be g suits draped over them, missiles on each wingtip and on hard points under the wings. There are two double wide trailers next to them. I'm not the brightest person but they look like Alert birds to me. No engine run ups are allowed at A-17. That area of the airport is being well protected.

http://www.162fw.ang.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/100413-F-0000H-010.jpg

This is the load out of the three. Ill try and get a picture tonight when I go in.

[Joe Copalman]

That does sound like it.  The banding on the missiles will be the "tell."  Brown and yeller = kill a feller.

[jslugman]

Wonder if they got a "boom" waiver while the runway's down?

[Ned Harris]

In addition to the A-10s, the Homeland Security aircraft have also moved to TIA while the DM runway is being repaved. This Cessna Citation is painted differently than the others I've seen.


_MG_3205 Cessna Citation (N2734K) by Ned Harris, on Flickr