MCAS Yuma/Yuma International Airport (YUM, KNYL, NYL)

[Ned Harris]

Avengers color bird MCAS Yuma 4/18/13.


_92W0948 AV-8B+ Harrier II USMC BuNo 164553, VMA-211 "Wake Island Avengers" by Ned Harris, on Flickr

[Ned Harris]

CH-53E MCAS Yuma 4/19/13.


_92W1565 Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion USMC BuNo 162487, HMH-464 "Condors" by Ned Harris, on Flickr

[Matt Ottosen]

Bell UH-1Y Venom
Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469 (HMLA-469) "Vengeance"

[Matt Ottosen]

Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 (VMFA-121) "Green Knights"

[Bubak]

...very cool, Matt!

[Matt Ottosen]

...very cool, Matt!

Thank you!

[Joe Copalman]

TIGER

Technically not an aviation shot, but worth sharing.  This is Joe "Tiger" Patrick II.  Tiger is an Army vet with a combat tour in Desert Storm.  He is currently walking across the US, from San Diego to Washington, DC with a gigantic banner showing the faces of nearly all of the 6,000+ American servicemembers killed since September 2001.  It was very humbling and overwhelming to see so many faces, and uplifting in a way to see them honored in such a manner, especially for those with personal connections to the fallen.    

https://www.facebook.com/FacesOfOurFallen for anyone interested in following Tiger's journey.

[Tower Guy]

Thanks for sharing this story and photo Joe. I wish him a safe journey to complete his mission.

[Scott Youmans]

Raw Power

[Joe Copalman]

Scott, I must say that I am a - ahem - big fan of this uplifting image.  

Seriously terrific detail given the distance and the heat-haze.

[Scott Youmans]

Thanks Joe!  That was taken with my alternate (to 100-400mm) lens combo consisting of a 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII and Canon 2x extender mounted on a 1D Mark IV.  Not exactly a candidate for a 20 x 30 blowup but I'm surprised it was even usable.  I'll credit Ned for tipping me off on that lens combo.  The newest 2x is a cut above any others I've ever used, at least on that lens.

Speaking of fans, that things absorbs something close to 30,000 HP!

[Matt Ottosen]

McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II
Marine Attack Squadron 211 (VMA-211) "Wake Island Avengers"

[Jay Beckman]

Raw Power

Nice Scott.

I have to wonder though, who the heck thought that throwing up what amounts to a speed brake is a good thing for any aircraft trying to reach flying speed?

[Scott Youmans]

Raw Power

Nice Scott.

I have to wonder though, who the heck thought that throwing up what amounts to a speed brake is a good thing for any aircraft trying to reach flying speed?

Jay, Interesting point. I'd like to know what the relationship is between the position of the fan inlet door and the airspeed as the aircraft transitions from vertical or slow speed flight using vectored thrust and the fan to wingborn flight.  I don't imagine they can keep that door fully open at over 150 to 200 kts or so.  At 200 kts it should be able to fly on the wing alone at any weight.  I wonder if it begins to close as forward airspeed increases.  Something to look into.

[Scott Youmans]

The Classic F-5N...