NAF El Centro - Pearl of the Desert

[CH79]

Hello,

Mid-March, I visited NAF El Centro to find out about what they get up to on base. https://www.frontlineaviation.co.uk/elcentro

The PAO was very welcoming and following a chat about the facility I was given the opportunity to walk the ramp and spend a short amount of time at the end of the runway. Not quite in the same league as Fallon but seeing a visiting squadron of AV8s from Cherry Point was great amongst other guests...

1.
Blue Angel Park, NAF El Centro by Chris Heal, on Flickr
2.
AH-1 Cobra (Viper), Attack Helicopter, 167810, US Marines by Chris Heal, on Flickr
3.
"Tiger at Rest", Fighting Bengals, VMFA (AW) 224, MAG31, Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron by Chris Heal, on Flickr
4.
"Ace in the Pack", AV8-B, VMA231, 164562, US Marines by Chris Heal, on Flickr
5.
"Bombs Away", AV8-B, VMA231, Ace of Spades, US Marines by Chris Heal, on Flickr
6.
"Providers", Grumman C-2 Greyhound, 162177, VRC-30, Fleet Logistics Support Squadron by Chris Heal, on Flickr
7.
AV8-B Harrier II, Ace of Spades, VMA-231, Cherry Point, US Marines by Chris Heal, on Flickr
8.
"Fighting Bengals", VMFA (AW) 224, MAG31, Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron by Chris Heal, on Flickr
9.
AV-8B Harrier II, Ace of Spades, MCAS Cherry Point by Chris Heal, on Flickr
10.
Grumman F6F Hellcat by Chris Heal, on Flickr
11.
"Circuit Bashing", Grumman C-2 Greyhound, 162177, VRC-30, Fleet Logistics Support Squadron by Chris Heal, on Flickr
12.
“Armed”, AV-8B Harrier II, 165356, Ace of Spades, VMA-231, MCAS Cherry Point by Chris Heal, on Flickr
13.
Lockheed Martin KC-130J Hercules, BH 14-5809, US Marines by Chris Heal, on Flickr
14.
"Hot Recovery", AV8-B Harrier, Ace of Spaces, US Marines, Cherry Point by Chris Heal, on Flickr
15.
"In the Shade", Fighting Bengals, VMFA (AW) 224, MAG31, Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron by Chris Heal, on Flickr
16.
"On the Approach", Grumman C-2 Greyhound, 162177, VRC-30, Fleet Logistics Support Squadron by Chris Heal, on Flickr
17.
"In the Hover", AV8-B Harrier, Ace of Spaces, US Marines, Cherry Point by Chris Heal, on Flickr
18.
"Sharp Shooters", F/A-18 Legacy Hornet, VMFAT-101, Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron by Chris Heal, on Flickr
19.
"Pair of Aces", AV8-B Harrier, VMA-231, Ace of Spades, Cherry Point by Chris Heal, on Flickr
20.
"Touch n Go", Grumman C-2 Greyhound, 162177, VRC-30, Fleet Logistics Support Squadron by Chris Heal, on Flickr

Hope you've enjoyed the selection.
Best wishes,
Chris

[Blackbird]

Yes I did! Thanks for posting. I do like the Harrier in #4

Andy

[boff180]

I do love El Centro, you never know what you’ll find there - including absolutely zip! Lol

Cracking set of shots!

Andy

[Vixen1]

Looks like you were a very lucky man. Being a Naval Air Facility rather than Station it has no based aircraft and is very 'hit or miss'. Apart from six or seven Ospreys on my visit it was dead. Nice shots!