MCAS Yuma and WTI 2-14 (large post)

[sovietjet]

In April I spent several days at MCAS Yuma during the biannual WTI course. A lot of aircraft and helicopters showed up for this. On one of the days I got a chance to join a flight of MV-22s. The rest of the participants and some other local traffic was also seen. Hope you like the photos!

Some photos from the MV-22 flight:









Shooting with the M2 gun:









And shooting with the gatling gun DWS system mounted under the belly. This is a new system for the MV-22.





Among the other participants there was F/A-18s from five different Marines squadrons:

































Lots of MV-22s and KC-130s were present:











The KC-130s launched simultaneously in section with two MV-22s. I was told this is the first time this was done.















Plenty of Harriers were flying:





























Other WTI participants included Prowlers, UH-1Y, CH-53s and a very rare and interesting Mi-24!













The newest addition at MCAS Yuma is the F-35, which didn't fly WTI missions but it did fly.







It wouldn't be Yuma without F-5s





















Some other local based aircraft:







And a good variety of interesting transients:

The one and only O-2 in the Navy -















Hope you liked the long post!

[Arno 01]

Wow Ivan, what a superb set of photos. Fantastic shoots. Thank you for sharing

[Airwolfhound]

Totally awesome, a very cool set and one that has spent a good few minutes of an otherwise boring lunchtime

Hoping to go on holiday to Arizona next year or the year after, will try and fence check Yuma if we get a chance to

[Ledhead27]

What a comprehensive set of images, thanks for sharing Ivan! Good catches on the Mi-24, ROKAF Hawk, Prowler and O-2

[Russ]

Brilliant. Thanks for sharing.

[stevebrodie]

awesome shots, not much room in the back of the osprey, seems quite tight

[corsair F4U]

Superb post, Those F-5's still look great
Thanks Ivan

[expat1]

Fantastic. Not only the only O-2 in the Navy. But the world's only Single engined O-2?

[Downes0106]

Great shots of a great selection of aircraft. Have to say that the angle on the gunner isn't too flattering though.

[powerslave16v]

Great shots,ive been to Yuma a few times before and going next month has well.
Really hoping i get to see some F-35's.also looking fwd to see some Harriers.

Ian

[RichPittman]

Interesting set and a place that never gets enough coverage.
Lovely seeing the F5s landing on 21 in the late light.

Shame about the hazy skies in some of them

[Bartek]

Great stuff mate. This Chinook is from 160th SOAR? Rare sight.

[Skylinerworld]

Brilliant! Now where's that jealous emoticon...

[foxfour]

A lot of great shots there but I keep going back to the one of the Rescue UH-1.

[sovietjet]

Thanks everyone for the comments!

Fantastic. Not only the only O-2 in the Navy. But the world's only Single engined O-2?

I think so, although I know little about this aircraft type.

Great stuff mate. This Chinook is from 160th SOAR? Rare sight.

Yes Bartek, 160th SOAR! They flew several flights during my time at Yuma but I was always out of position to catch it in the air.

[Paul H]

Interesting re the O2, wonder if they have uprated / changed (to TIO 540 maybe, seem to remember many moons ago there was an STC for same ?) the rear unit to compensate for the loss of the "pull me" power part of the aircraft, Paul H.

[NTG1610]

Quite outstanding