After ending the procrastination streak of 5 months without posting, I decided to edit some shots I took in October with @Altaria55 and @AndrewWu. Me and the gang decided to visit NAS Point Mugu as the first stop of our 4 day trip in Southern California.
Point Mugu is a spot me and Altaria55 visited in 2023, but I never edited the shots I took on that trip due to poor lighting. Marine layers are common throughout the fall months in LA, essentially fog over the ocean. Luckily the fog stayed pretty much just west of the airport throughout the morning and early afternoon. Point Mugu is home to a few ATAC-owned fighter jets, California ANG Herc’s, a few Navy squadrons, along with visits from other squadrons occasionally.
VX-1’s Pancake Carrier arriving from a sortie.
Another Pancake atop an L-188, but instead flown by VAW-113.
Two of Phoenix Air’s EMB-120’s on their daily flights to San Nicolas Island NOLF.
An IAI F-21A KFIR flying for ATAC, these are pretty uncommon to see.
By now, I have learned that they renamed these specially configured L-188’s to “P-3” and I’m under the assumption P stands for Pancake. This one is owned by VAW-116!
An MK58 Hawker Hunter from ATAC with some yummy looking drop tanks.
A C-130J can carry roughly 1 @AndrewWu.
California ANG’s MAFFS C-130, it’s actively deployed on the Palisades Fire in LA.
Here’s a spectacular video of one of their drops. Brilliant work that they do!
Super happy that I got to spot one of these submarine hunters before they vanish from the US skies soon.
VX-30 is one of two remaining US squadrons to operate the P-3 with VQ-1 retiring their P-3’s this year.
Gear
Sony A7R III 👀
Canon Rebel EOS 250D
Canon Rebel EOS 450D [OLD]
Nikon D800E
Tamron 18-270mm F/3.5-6.3
Tamron 100-400mm F/4.5-6.3
Nikkor 17-35mm F/2.8
Nikkor 50mm F/1.8
Manfrotto Carbon Fiber Tripod
