WTI 1-13

[Jeff D. Welker]

I had to cancel a trip with my father to shoot the fall leaves in the White Mountains on Thursday due to weather. He gave me a mild guilt trip and asked if I'd take him to Yuma Wednesday afternoon to shoot some WTI activity. I could not deny his request and we left the house at 10:45 AM. This was my first opportunity to shoot WTI and I appreciate meeting up with Ned to help me get my bearings. All in all, it was a fun trip and we got a few keepers.

In the late afternoon, two F/A-18's took off and one immediately declared an emergency. The afflicted Hornet quickly began an fuel dump in preparation for an emergency landing. Turns out the Hornet with problems was the VMFA-122 color bird.About 13-14 minutes after I captured the fuel dump image, the Hornet came in on final approach and we got lucky to catch a few shots in the best Arizona golden light of the day.The pilot landed without incident and we had an unexpected and exciting end to a fun day.

CLEAN UP ON ISLE 9

TOUCAN SAM

[Joe Copalman]

Damn, look at that light.  What an awesome shot.

[Jeff D. Welker]

Damn, look at that light.  What an awesome shot.

Thanks Joe, it was excellent light for sure. Every time we'd photograph an arrival, we'd 'chimp' our images and exclaim "This is a great shot Mav, I should be a photographer" 

We had a nice surprise about 3:00 PM when a Boeing IDS E-6B Mercury (TACAMO) appeared on the horizon and made three touch-n-go's for Ned, my Dad and me - we need all the help we can get. With the storm front moving through, we had terrific white clouds and bright blue skies as a backdrop for this big boy. I haven't seen Ned smile that much in quite some time. He said this was his 'White Whale' - literally 

NED'S WHITE WHALE

EVENING NIGHTMARE

[Joe Copalman]

I know the smile you are talking about.  I saw it on Ned's face after the first set of H-53s had arrived and departed during the park assault exercise at Western Wetlands park a few years back. 

Solid set of images, Jeff.

[Jeff D. Welker]

PERSPECTIVE

[Jeff D. Welker]

I'll pump the brakes and only post two more. I've been smitten by the super light and can't stop playing with the pixels - sorry. I'm looking forward to seeing the other wonderful images Ned, Matt, Joe and others have captured at WTI 1-13.

LEATHERNECK 911

EVENING REPRIEVE

[bilwor]

Jeff you got some terrific shots especially for the short time you were there.

[bilwor]

McDonnell Douglas FA-18C Hornet 164247 VMFA-122 Crusaders  The first VMFA-122 Squadron was the Candystripers flying F4F Wildcats under command of Major Pappy Boyington

[bilwor]

Hawker Beechcraft B300C Super King Air N610A Homeland Security b

[bilwor]

McDonnell Douglas FA-18A Hornet 163121 VMFA-115 Silver Eagles

[bilwor]

Northrop F-5N Tiger II 761532 AF-116 VFC-111 Sundowners NAS Key West

[Matt Ottosen]

This past Wednesday I took a quick six-hour ride on a KC-130J from MCAS Yuma to Las Cruces, New Mexico and back, this was part of WTI and was scheduled as an MV-22 Long Range Raid.  We departed MCAS Yuma around 1500 and returned around 2100.  Once over Las Cruces the KC-130s entered a holding pattern, this video was taken while the KC-130 in front of us refueled an MV-22.  Sorry about the video quality, but there is more to come on Southwest Aviation Review (SoAR).

[Scott Youmans]

I'll pump the brakes and only post two more. I've been smitten by the super light and can't stop playing with the pixels - sorry. I'm looking forward to seeing the other wonderful images Ned, Matt, Joe and others have captured at WTI 1-13.

Now that there is some kinda beautiful light. And them planes aint too bad neither.

We should invite clouds to Arizona more often...

[Joe Copalman]

SAND TIGER

[Jeff D. Welker]

I had another great day with Ned and Joe in Yuma. Again the light was wonderful; even though we had to dodge a few clouds.

FLIGHT OF THE THUNDER CHICKENS