Military AI Works

Five F-5N Tiger II's of the VMFT-401 "Snipers" out of MCAS Yuma arrived at the Burlington ANG Base at Burlington IAP (KBTV) Friday, 7-8-2011, for a week of dissimilar air combat training (DACT) with the F-16C's of the 134th FS, 158th FW, VTANG. I was working in my flower gardens as they arrived and it was great to hear and see these sleek little fighters scream overhead and into the traffic pattern at KBTV. I plan to drive over to my favorite spotting location later in the week to watch some takeoffs and landings.

Below is a link to a photo by Barry Griffiths of "Snipers" 02 and 09 in a two ship formation takeoff from MCAS Yuma, AZ.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/collingwoo ... 586548987/

Mike

We had 5 F-5s spend the night here in Cleveland on Friday night. They were also from Yuma and we're heading east the next day. Wonder if these are the same birds?

MIKE JG wrote:We had 5 F-5s spend the night here in Cleveland on Friday night. They were also from Yuma and we're heading east the next day. Wonder if these are the same birds?

I don't think so Mike as the five here arrived in Burlington late Friday afternoon.

Mike M.

Great shot, very nice section takeoff.

I may have to make the trip up there this week to see that.

I finally went over to the Burlington IAP this morning and watched 6 VTANG F-16C's and 4 VMFT-401 F-5N's depart and return on their morning training mission. The F-5N's are really sleek compared to the F-16C's and their profile from directly in front is amazingly small. 3 of the F-5N's (01, 08 & ??) had the blue-grey camo paint scheme, but 07 had a desert tan camo paint scheme.

Mike

And - from the Free Press - "July 18, five F/A-18 fighters from Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia and three fighters from the Canadian Forces base at Bagotville, Quebec, will arrive for training."

I might try to make it over to Burlington for that.

Got the opertunity to see the Thunderbirds depart KBTV for Turkey on Memorial Day morning.

Tom

Currently sitting in my Boxster at KBTV after watching 6 VTANG F-16C's, 2 CAF F-18's, 3 VFA 37 Raging Bulls F-18's and 2 Top Aces Alpha Jets take off. I'll probably hang around and watch them all return........Mike M.

Wow.....that's quite the gathering up there! Pictures??

So I hung around and watched and listened to the air traffic at KBTV as I waited for all the previously mentioned aircraft to return. During my wait a solo VFA-37 Raging Bull F-18C took off and departed the area.

The Top Aces (a private Canadien contractor) Alpha Jets returned first in a tight 2 ship formation and did a very nice sequenced military break over the airfield and circled to land. They are painted very similar to the VMFT 401 F-5N's that were here last week with a light blue-grey camo paint scheme. The VTANG F-16C's then returned in 3 flights of 2 (Atomic 11, Jumbo 11 and ?? flights), but with much more widely spaced formations and military breaks over the airfield. The 3 VFA-37 F-18C's (Canyon 11 flight) then returned in a tight 3 ship formation and very nice sequenced military break over the airfield. The 2 CAF F-18's (Labatt 11 flight) then returned in a loose 2 ship formation with a military break over the airfield. Finally the solo VFA-37 F-18C returned, did a tight military break over the airfield. For those of you not familiar with the name Labatt, it is a popular Canadien beer.

MIKE JG wrote:Wow.....that's quite the gathering up there! Pictures??

Mike G,

Yes, the VTANG base and Burlington IAP is quite busy this week with military flying every morning and afternoon. There are 5 VFA-37 F-18's and 3 CAF F-18's along with all the VTANG F-16's flying from the ANG side of the field and the 2 Top Aces Alpha Jets flying from the civilian side of the field. I had a very nice morning listening to and watching all the take offs, departures, approaches and landings.

Unfortunately my favorite spotting location about mid-field is great for watching all the action but not so good for taking pictues as I have to watch through a chain link fence. Sometimes I go up in the old FAA tower, which is now an public observation tower, but that gets kind of crowded with families and can be very noisy.

Mike M

How long are they at BTV for?

LEBTowerGuy wrote:How long are they at BTV for?

Matt,

As far as I know, they will only be here this week. Typically they fly from around 9:00-12:00 AM and 2:00 to 5:00 PM. I just heard them depart for their morning training flights.

Mike M.

bugger, if I wasn't so tired, I would drive up there this afternoon.

I had to go into Burlington this morning for an appointment, so I stopped by the airport to watch the Alpha Jets, F-16's and F-18's return. They all returned in tight 2 ship formations, sequenced overhead breaks and tight patterns to land. It is supposed to get very hot (90+) here this afternoon and I really shouldn't work outside in the gardens, so I may just drive back over and watch this afternoons flying.

Mike M.