WTI 1-10

[Matt Ottosen]

Joe, thanks for calling and getting these dates!

Official start is next Monday, September 14th.  The next three weeks will primarily be academic stuff.  The good flying should start around the week of October 5th and continue on until October 24th, which is a Saturday (that should be the date of the FINEX).

[Jay Beckman]

Ignorance Alert: What is "WTI" ?

[Joe Copalman]

It's the Marine Corps' Weapons and Tactics Instructor course.  It's a "train the trainers" course in which nearly every squadron in the Corps sends a pilot or aircrew to be trained as a Weapons and Tactics Instructor so they can come back to the squadron and train other pilots on the latest tactics.  Kind of like Top Gun, only with ALL types of aircraft and every type of mission performed by Marine Air (fixed-wing, helos, tilt-rotor, tankers, etc).  

It's a great opportunity to photograph (off-base, they don't do media days like Nellis does/did) every type of aircraft currently flown by the Marines.  

[John S]

Next ignorance alert,  where is it held at?

John

[Joe Copalman]

MCAS Yuma.  They hold two per year, one in the spring and one in the fall.

[Ned Harris]

EA-6B Prowler from VMAQ-2, call sign Jester 05.

[Ned Harris]

UH-1 Huey Marine rescue helicopter.

[Ned Harris]

F-5N Aggressor, call sign Sniper 06.

[Ned Harris]

AV-8B Harrier from VMA-211 BuNu 165422.

[Ned Harris]

F-18D from VMFA(AW)-224.

[Ned Harris]

F-18C from VMFA-251.

[Ned Harris]

Two ship of F-5N Aggressors.

[Ned Harris]

CH-53

[Ned Harris]

F-5N, call sign Sniper 01.

[Joe Copalman]

Excellent shots Ned.  I especially like the Thunderbolts' F-18.  I've always thought those were sharp markings.