Aerospace and AZ Days - Davis Monthan - DISCUSSION THREAD

[BillOz]

I just looked at the DM Airshow's official website, and they list the F-35 as a mock-up only.   There has been talk that the F-35 will be a real flyable one, brought in for another purpose, but hang around for the show.  Personally I think they are too early in the test phase to loan one out for noise testing, then hang around for a show, but maybe we'll get lucky.  I guess we'll have to wait to see.   I think I'm going to this show,  and mostly watch the show, maybe some video.  I haven't been to a show to just watch for many years, and due to current situation, this is the closest I'm going to get to an airshow this year, so I just decided that I think I'll  go.

[Jay Beckman]

We learned at the ISAP gig in Vegas that there are only two flying F-35s at the moment.

One is at PAX River and the other is at Edwards.  Nothing is impossible but I doubt they'll bring a flying one to DM.

[Ned Harris]

The latest update to the DM web site lists all the static aircraft and the F-35 now is listed as "mock up only".

[Joe Copalman]

I'm sure the PAO got sick of fielding all the F-35 phonecalls.

[Ned Harris]

Today's Daily Star newspaper contains an Air Show Spotters Guide. I was happy to see that it mentioned none of our off base photo locations. Thursday and Friday should be the best arrivals/practice days. If you are coming for the show on Saturday or Sunday I recommend taking the shuttle bus instead of trying to drive on base. You can catch the shuttle at Park Place Mall, 5870 E. Broadway starting at 0800 each day.
They are well worth the $2.50 charge.

[F-16_fixer]

Well guys looks like I have to go to LA after work on Thursday but I'll be back for the show on Sunday.  Gotta do what you gotta do sometimes. 

[John S]

I am going down Saturday, but I don't really want to go on the base, is anyone planning on being at any of the other places?  Hopefully being out there the traffic won't be so bad. Any directions to the other sites would help out, I kind of know my way around there (major streets).  Thanks.

John

[Dave S.]

Looks like I'll be heading down, to catch arrivals, on Friday.  Due to my daughter being on Spring Break, I won't be leaving for Tucson at 0-dark 30.  Probably will plan on hitting the road around 8:30 and arriving ~ 10:00'ish.

[Joe Copalman]

Just about when the light is getting decent anyway.

Just going through my shots from Luke arrivals last year - the bulk of the non-performer/static stuff arrived on Friday morning between 7:30am and 11am (the majority of it between 9 and 11), then the performers had the field for practice through about 2pm, then more static stuff started arriving through about 5pm.  A handful of statics (B-52, KC-135, Red Bull Albatross, and two Langley F-15Cs) were already there on Friday morning, having arrived the day prior.   

[Dave S.]

Overall, sounds like Friday will be a better day than Thursday.  Thanks for the info.

[Joe Copalman]

I think both days should be good - I'd imagine most performers will arrive on Thursday or earlier.  With all the statics on the list (I counted about 45 aircraft that are NOT based at D-M or tow-overs from the Pima Museum), I'd imagine both days will be pretty heavy.

[JWright]

My media credential for the show has been approved so I'll be attending both days.

I've decided that I don't want to do a two-hour drive down and back from Florence each day so I'm staying over Saturday night.  I'm not going to go down for the arrivals on Friday.

[JWright]

So now we get to the universal question:

Will DM enforce the policies as written or will they be like Nellis and Luke over the last couple of years and actually allow camera bags (even huge ones)?

Photo Vest FTW!

Expect them to enforce the policies strictly.

I just got a call from the PAO and they're saying if you want to be credentialed and have access to the media shooting area, then you have to stay there or be escorted if you want to leave the shooting area. 

If they're getting this restrictive with the media, then expect them to rigidly enforce the rules for the general public.

[jslugman]

Tough day at arrivals, aircraft were landing from both directions back and forth. The heavies tended to come in to 30 (B-52, RC-135, etc.). Hopefully tomorrow will give us a definite direction so there will be much less guesswork and hopping from spot to spot. Here's #5 giving us a good look during the orientation activities.

[Joe Copalman]

James, the consensus on weather.com and accuweather.com is that winds will be from the SSE until 0900, when it will be coming from the south.  From there, it shifts progressively to the NW and increases to 10-14mph around 2pm.  Morning arrivals will probably be RWY12 and afternoons will be 30.  We'll have to keep an ear on ATIS, of course.