Photos of the Day: A Supercarrier in Los Angeles...

On this Memorial Day, here are images that I took of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) while it was docked at the Port of Los Angeles for L.A. Fleet Week.

These photos of CVN-70 were taken last Friday...from Cabrillo Beach in the city of San Pedro. I could've went on a public tour aboard the deck of this supercarrier, but my goal of this trip was to simply see this formidable warship in person and take pictures of it with my Google Pixel 4A smartphone and Nikon D3300 DSLR camera.

Today was the last day to see CVN-70 while it was berthed here in Los Angeles County for Memorial Day weekend.

This isn't the first time that I've seen an aircraft carrier in person! I have an uncle who served aboard the USS Ranger (CV-61, which was decommissioned in 1993) and gave me and my family members a tour at San Diego's Naval Base Coronado (where the Ranger was stationed) back when I was a young kid.

Here's a fun fact about the Carl Vinson (unless you're a jihadist): It is the carrier from which Osama bin Laden was buried at sea after he was neutralized by SEAL Team Six in Pakistan back on May 1, 2011.

On this solemn day, remember all of the brave American men and women who fought and died for our country.


Richard T. Par


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My Webpage Is Up for Photos That I Took at the 2022 Aerospace Valley Air Show!

I'm over three months late, but just thought I'd end January by letting y'all know that I finally created a webpage containing 60 pictures that I took at last October's Aerospace Valley Air Show in Edwards Air Force Base (AFB), CA! Click on the link below to view the images...which I captured using my Google Pixel 4A phone and Nikon D3300 DSLR camera.

It was so cool to see such aircraft as the F-35 Lightning II (all three U.S. variants from the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, that is), F-22 Raptor, SR-71 Blackbird, B-1B Lancer, NASA's now-retired SOFIA flying observatory, and even the full-sized Darkstar movie prop that was used in last year's Oscar nominee for Best Picture (it's so cool typing that), Top Gun: Maverick, in person.

Not sure if I'll drive down to Edwards AFB again this year (especially considering that Google Maps made me take a crappy route on the way home last time, heh), but if I do, I'll be sure to get more pics of F-22s, F-35s and B-1Bs conducting awesome aerial demos above the Mojave Desert! I missed out last year since I was still looking for a parking spot at the Southern California airbase when these aircraft were strutting their stuff in the sky.

It took me about two hours to park my car once I entered Edwards AFB before I got to enjoy the Aerospace Valley Air Show...but oh well. This event was worth it!

LINK: Click here for more photos that I took at the 2022 Aerospace Valley Air Show

Snapshots from the 2022 Aerospace Valley Air Show!

Earlier today, I drove to Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California to attend the Aerospace Valley Air Show...an event that hasn't taken place at the Mojave Desert-based military installation since 2009!

I stated in this previous Blog entry that I'd share more photos from last month's Miramar Air Show, but I didn't want to wait till I finally made that post to talk about today's exhibition.

While it was obviously cool to see the F-22 Raptor perform in San Diego last month, it was just as awesome that I got to see it on the ground today...along with all three variants of the F-35 Lightning II: The Air Force's F-35A, the Marine Corps' F-35B and the Navy's F-35C. As shown below, I only took images of the F-35A and 'C aircraft—since I already have plenty of photos of the F-35B from the three Miramar Air Shows I went to since 2016!

I was also able to see up close NASA's now-retired SOFIA airborne observatory, as well as the full-size Darkstar model used in this year's highest-grossing film, Top Gun: Maverick. So cool!

I'll eventually create a webpage dedicated to the AV Air Show, just like I did with this section that's devoted to last month's Miramar Air Show. Hope you guys are having a great weekend!

Photos of the Day: More Snapshots of the Raptor and Mustang During Their Heritage Flight Demo at the Miramar Air Show...

Richard T. Par

As previously mentioned in this Blog entry last weekend, here are more images that I took of the F-22 Raptor and P-51 Mustang during their U.S. Air Force Heritage Flight demonstration at the Miramar Air Show on September 24.

These seven images were taken with my Nikon D3300 DSLR camera. Having posted enough pics of the Raptor since this initial entry last month, I think it's time to start editing photos from other exhibitions at the San Diego-based air show...including a U.S. Marine Corps combat demo featuring F/A-18 Hornets, F-35 Lightning IIs, AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters and V-22 Ospreys, and the Blue Angels themselves!

Stay tuned, and Happy Hump Day.


Richard T. Par


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Photos of the Day: A Raptor Takes to the Skies in the 2022 Miramar Air Show!

Richard T. Par

Just thought I'd share these photos that I took at the Miramar Air Show in San Diego, California, yesterday!

I shot over 1,300 pictures with my Nikon D3300 during this event (due to me using 'burst mode' on my DSLR camera)...with more than 600 of those images being of the F-22 Raptor during its aerial demonstration!

My main reason for attending the air show yesterday was to see the Raptor take flight in person (I went to the 2018 Miramar Air Show for this objective, but the F-22 demo team didn't show up when it was scheduled to appear that year), and it didn't disappoint.

I also wanted to see the F-35B Lightning II's hovering demonstration as well, but the traffic from the freeway to the parking lot at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar was so bad when I arrived in the morning that the F-35B was already in the air by the time I parked my car. (I exited the freeway around 10 AM; I didn't get to my parking spot till a little after 11 AM—near the scheduled time the F-35B demo began.)

Oh well. I already saw the F-35B show off its abilities up-close during the 2016 Miramar Air Show as well as the event four years ago. In the meantime, enjoy these pics of the F-22 soaring through the skies alone, as well as with a World War II-era P-51 Mustang in a U.S. Air Force Heritage Flight demonstration. Happy Sunday!


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Six Joint Strike Fighters Are Stationed in Eastern Europe to Deter Russian Aggression...

U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Ali Stewart

U.S. F-35s Forward Deploy to NATO’s Eastern Flank (Press Release)

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- Six U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning II aircraft assigned to the 34th Fighter Squadron currently operating out of Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, forward deployed, Feb. 24, to the Baltic Sea and Black Sea regions in support of NATO’s collective defense.

The fifth-generation aircraft, originally from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, will be supporting NATO’s Enhanced Air Policing mission for a period of time from forward operating locations at Estonia’s Amari Air Base, Lithuania’s Siauliai Air Base, and Romania’s Fetesti Air Base.

“We are facing a dynamic environment, and the deployment of F-35s to NATO’s eastern flank enhances our defensive posture and amplifies the Alliance’s interoperability,” said Gen. Jeff Harrigian, U.S. Air Force in Europe – Air Forces Africa commander.

The F-35 provides unprecedented communication capabilities, command and control, and lethality for the combined and joint force. These capabilities afford NATO leaders the flexibility to project power and assert air dominance in highly-contested environments.

USAFE’s ability to support and integrate with NATO’s air policing missions continually hardens the alliance’s solidarity, collective resolve, and ability to adapt to a dynamic warfighting environment.

Source: U.S. Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa

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U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Ali Stewart

The USAF's Joint Strike Fighter Sees Combat in the Middle East for the First Time...

U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Chris Drzazgowski

U.S. Air Force F-35As Conduct First Combat Employment (News Release - April 30)

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Two U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft conducted an air strike at Wadi Ashai, Iraq, in support of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve on April 30.

This strike marked the F-35A’s first combat employment.

The F-35As conducted the airstrike using a Joint Direct Attack Munition to strike an entrenched Daesh tunnel network and weapons cache deep in the Hamrin Mountains, a location able to threaten friendly forces.

“We have the ability to gather, fuse and pass so much information, that we make every friendly aircraft more survivable and lethal,” said Lt. Col. Yosef Morris, 4th Fighter Squadron commander and F-35A pilot. “That, combined with low-observable technology, allows us to really complement any combined force package and be ready to support AOR contingencies.”

The F-35As, recently deployed from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, joined the Combined Forces Air Component team in the U.S. Central Command area of operations on April 15. This marks the F-35A’s third deployment and first to the CENTCOM AOR. In preparation for deployment, crews prepared and trained on the aircraft for the AFCENT mission.

“We have been successful in two Red Flag exercises, and we’ve deployed to Europe and Asia,” said Morris. “Our Airmen are ready and we’re excited to be here.” Red Flag is the U.S. Air Force’s premier air-to-air combat training exercise which includes U.S. and allied nations’ combat air forces.

There are many Airmen ensuring the planes are ready for their combat missions.

“This jet is smarter, a lot smarter, and so it can do more, and it helps you out more when loading munitions,” said Staff Sgt. Karl Tesch, 380th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons technician.

A central tenant to the F-35A’s design is its ability to enhance other battlefield assets. In this case, the aircraft joins the Combined Joint airpower team already in place to maintain air superiority and deliver war-winning airpower.

“The F-35A has sensors everywhere, it has advanced radar, and it is gathering and fusing all this information from the battlespace in real time,” said Morris. “Now it has the ability to take that information and share it with other F-35s or even other fourth generation aircraft in the same package that can also see the integrated picture.”

Source: U.S. Air Forces Central Command

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U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Chris Drzazgowski

The USAF's Joint Strike Fighter Is Ready for Combat in the Persian Gulf...

U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Chris Thornbury

U.S. Air Force’s F-35A Lightning II Arrives for First Middle East Deployment (News Release - April 15)

AL DHAFRA AIR BASE, United Arab Emirates -- The U.S. Air Force’s fifth generation multi-role aircraft arrived for its first deployment to the Middle East on April 15, 2019. The F-35A Lightning IIs are from active duty 388th and reserve 419th Fighter Wings at Hill Air Force Base, Utah.

As the first deployment to the U.S. Air Forces Central Command area of responsibility, crews are prepared and trained for the AFCENT mission. The F-35A, the conventional takeoff and landing variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, provides greater operational capability by combining advanced stealth capabilities with the latest weapons technology.

“We are adding a cutting edge weapons system to our arsenal that significantly enhances the capability of the coalition,” said Lt. Gen. Joseph T. Guastella, commander of U.S. Air Forces Central Command. “The sensor fusion and survivability this aircraft provides to the joint force will enhance security and stability across the theater and deter aggressors.”

The F-35A is designed with the entire battlespace in mind, and is intended to fuse, integrate and share data with other battlefield assets. It has one of the most powerful and comprehensive integrated sensor packages. It improves lethality, survivability and adaptability against emerging threats in order to maintain air superiority.

“The F-35A provides our nation air dominance in any threat,” said Gen. David L. Goldfein, Chief of Staff of the Air Force. “When it comes to having a ‘quarterback’ for the coalition joint force, the inter-operable F-35A is clearly the aircraft for the leadership role,” he stated.

The F-35A has previously deployed to Royal Air Force Lakenheath in April 2017, as well as the U.S. Pacific Command area of responsibility in the fall of 2017.

“We look forward to demonstrating the full range of the F-35A’s capabilities while it increases the interoperability of our forces throughout the region,” said Guastella.

Source: U.S. Air Forces Central Command

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U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Mya M. Crosby

The U.S. Navy's Joint Strike Fighter Fleet Is Ready for Combat!

U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Shannon E. Renfroe / Released

F-35C Achieves Initial Operational Capability (Press Release - February 28)

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The Commander, Naval Air Forces and the U.S. Marine Corps Deputy Commandant for Aviation jointly announced that the aircraft carrier variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, the F-35C Lightning II, met all requirements and achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC).

The Feb. 28 announcement comes shortly after the Department of the Navy’s first F-35C squadron, Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147, completed aircraft carrier qualifications aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and received Safe-For-Flight Operations Certification.

In order to declare IOC, the first operational squadron must be properly manned, trained and equipped to conduct assigned missions in support of fleet operations. This includes having 10 Block 3F, F-35C aircraft, requisite spare parts, support equipment, tools, technical publications, training programs and a functional Autonomic Logistic Information System (ALIS).

Additionally, the ship that supports the first squadron must possess the proper infrastructure, qualifications and certifications. Lastly, the Joint Program Office, industry, and Naval Aviation must demonstrate that all procedures, processes and policies are in place to sustain operations.

“The F-35C is ready for operations, ready for combat and ready to win,” said Commander Naval Air Forces, Vice Admiral DeWolfe Miller. “We are adding an incredible weapon system into the arsenal of our Carrier Strike Groups that significantly enhances the capability of the joint force.”

Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore is the home-base for the Navy’s Joint Strike Fighter Wing, Navy F-35C fleet squadrons and the Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS), VFA-125 that trains Navy and Marine Corps CVN-based Joint Strike Fighter pilots. To accommodate the F-35C program at NAS Lemoore, several facilities were built or remodeled to facilitate specific F-35C requirements with regard to maintenance and training, including a Pilot Fit Facility, Centralized Engine Repair Facility, Pilot Training Center and a newly-remodeled hangar. Future projects are planned as additional Navy squadrons transition into the F-35C. The Marine Corps plans to transition four F-35C squadrons that will be assigned to Carrier Air Wings for deployments.

“We’re very proud of what our Sailors have accomplished in the Joint Strike Fighter community,” said CAPT Max McCoy, commodore of the U.S. Navy’s Joint Strike Fighter Wing. “Their commitment to mission delivered fifth generation capability to the carrier air wing, making us more combat effective than ever before. We will continue to learn and improve ways to maintain and sustain F-35C as we prepare for first deployment. The addition of F-35C to existing Carrier Air Wing capability ensures that we can fight and win in contested battlespace now and well into the future.”

Meanwhile, Rear Admiral Dale Horan, director, USN F-35C Fleet Integration Office said, “The F-35C will revolutionize capability and operating concepts of aircraft carrier-based naval aviation using advanced technologies to find, fix and assess threats and, if necessary, track, target and engage them in all contested environments,” adding “This accomplishment represents years of hard work on the part of the F-35 Joint Program Office and Naval Aviation Enterprise. Our focus has now shifted to applying lessons learned from this process to future squadron transitions, and preparing VFA-147 for their first overseas deployment.”

The mission-ready F-35C is the latest addition to U.S. Navy’s Carrier Air Wing. With its stealth technology, state-of-the-art avionics, advanced sensors, weapons capacity and range, the aircraft carrier-based F-35C provides unprecedented air superiority, interdiction, suppression of enemy air defenses and close-air-support as well as advanced command and control functions through fused sensors. These state-of-the art capabilities provide pilots and combatant commanders unrivaled battlespace awareness and lethality. The F-35C is the final U.S. Joint Strike Fighter variant to declare IOC and follows the USAF’s F-35A and USMC’s F-35B. IOC declaration is a significant milestone.

Source: United States Navy

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U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Shannon E. Renfroe / Released

Photo of the Day: The Super Snow Moon...

Just thought I'd share this image that I took of tonight's Supermoon (also called the Super Snow Moon), which is the largest Full Moon for 2019. This picture was taken using the Continuous Release mode (a.k.a. rapid-fire shooting) on my Nikon D3300 DSLR camera—which allowed me to take sharp images of Earth's closest celestial neighbor without using my tripod! Awesome. This will also come in handy the next time I go to an air show to take photos of an F-35 Lightning II or F/A-18 Hornet in flight... That is all.