Welcome to Part III of Up Close and Personal at MacDill. For several years my family and I attended the Airfest at MacDill AFB in Tampa, FL where guests are permitted on base, after a stringent search, and experience what many of us are only lucky enough to catch a glimpse of flying over our homes. The participants in Airfest grace us with flyovers and formation flights that are nothing less than awesome. Each year different planes are available to walk around, and sometimes walk through. The active military planes present typically depends on which are not being currently used in a military operation. Private pilots also bring their planes, often restored by the owners, to show off in flight, often so low you can see the pilot and feel the wind on your face.
These are the last of the photos that I have taken at the airshows through the years. Most planes fly so fast it is difficult to get a good shot of them but I hope to have a better camera some day and be able to even catch the ones that break the sound barrier.
If you missed the first and second parts of this series you can find them here:
Not all of the photos in this part are of planes, but they are still important vehicles in our military and I thought it pertinent to share them with you, all Steemians. As in the other parts of this series, I welcome any assistance with planes and such that I haven't been able to identify. And of course, I give credit where credit is due if you would like to participate.
If you would like to know more about the MacDill Airfest, held annually in spring, typically March, visit the official website here. It is an experience you'll never forget, and one that I absolutely recommend if you're in the area!
At least once, if not twice, the SOCOM (Special Operations Command) Para-Commandos perform jumps over the air field. The events of Airfest typically begin with the para-commandos doing a flag jump after the opening ceremonies.
Formed in 1991, the para-commandos are a highly trained group of volunteers from several branches of the military - US Army, Marines, Navy, and Air Force. They are trained both for combantant and humanitarian missions.
Their techniques can be seen locally at many sporting events, military and civilian airshows, and various celebrations throughout the US.
More on their freefall technique:
The team normally jumps from an altitude of 12,500 feet above ground level, freefalling approximately 2 miles, reaching speeds in excess of 120 miles per hour. This freefall can last up to one minute. During their freefall, the members of the team maneuver their bodies, like the flight surfaces of an aircraft, to form numerous aerial designs and formations in the sky. When the jumpers approach an altitude of 4,000 feet, they will break their formation and glide in different directions. As each team member reaches an altitude of 2,500 feet, they will begin deploying their parachutes. Once open, the members steer their parachutes and perform what is called "stacking." Stacking enables the jumpers to form up in the air as a group and land one behind the other, with precision accuracy.
The USSOCOM Parachute Team modifies the military aspects of MFF operations and provides graphic displays of intricate maneuvers and precision canopy control techniques. Jumps by the team may include carrying a flag or passing a baton while descending in freefall, all while wearing burning smoke canisters attached to their boots to allow viewers to see them better.
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additional source - more on para-commandos
Watch the para-commandos in action at Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort, SC
AC-130 Spooky
Lockheed/Boeing's AC-130 Spooky was first deployed in 1995, tasked with multiple missions of close air support, air interdiction and armed reconnaissance. The AC-13 has a history dating back to Vietnam as the Spooky is the third generation of such gunships.
The Spooky is the third generation of C-130 gunships. All gunships evolved from the first operational gunship, the AC-47, to the AC-119, and then the AC-130A which was the basis for the modern C-130 gunship. The AC-130H “Spectre” gunships were fielded in 1972 and retired in 2015.
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B-1B Lancer "The Bone"
In service since 1985, Boeing's B-1B Lancer was originally designed as a mutil-mission conventional bomber. In the 1990s, with its nuclear capabililties, it was changed to a strictly conventional combat role. source
MH-53M Pave Low IV
The MH-53M is an upgrade to the MH-53J Pave Low III with enhancements to the original defensive capabilities.
... with the addition of Interactive Defensive Avionics System/Multi-Mission Advanced Tactical Terminal or IDAS/MATT.
It provided instant access to the total battlefield situation, through near real-time Electronic Order of Battle updates. It also provided a new level of detection avoidance with near real-time threat broadcasts over-the-horizon, so crews can avoid and defeat threats, and replan en route if necessary.
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Part of the fleet retired in 2008, there are Pave Low's on display across the US. See the "Jolly Green Giants" here and at numerous airshows:
- MH-53M Pave Low IV, AF serial number 68-10928, was retired 29 July 2007 and placed on display at Air Commando Park, Hurlburt Field, Florida on 3 December 2007. This helicopter took part in the May 1975 Mayagüez incident rescue operation and sustained major battle damage to the engine, rotor blades, and instrument panel. The aircraft flew in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq for its last seven years of service, completing its last combat mission in Iraq during the summer 2007.
- MH-53M Pave Low IV, AF serial number 68-10357, was retired in March 2008 and placed on display at the National Museum of the US Air Force at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio on 8 July 2008. This MH-53 carried the command element during Operation Ivory Coast, the mission to rescue American prisoners of war from the Son Tay North Vietnamese prison camp in 1970.
- MH-53M Pave Low IV, AF serial number 70-1626, was retired 11 August 2008 and will be placed on display at the Museum of Aviation, Robins AFB, Georgia.
- MH-53M Pave Low IV, AF serial number 68-8284, was retired on 30 September 2008 and arrived at the Cold War Exhibition at the Royal Air Force Museum, RAF Cosford, UK on 17 December 2008.
- MH-53M Pave Low IV, AF serial number 73-1652, was retired 5 September 2008 and placed on display at the Air Force Armament Museum next to Eglin AFB. This MH-53M was involved in operations shortly after the Jonestown Massacre.
- MH-53M Pave Low IV, AF serial number 73-1649. It was retired and intended for a museum when it erroneously ended up in the "Boneyard" of the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group. Its last dedicated Crew Chief discovered it and "rescued" it. It is on display at the Pima Air & Space Museum.
- MH-53M Pave Low IV, AF serial number 69-5785, on display at Maxwell AFB. It was dedicated on June 8, 2009, and is in the base's Air Park.
- MH-53M Pave Low IV, AF serial number 68-10369, on display at the Hill Air Force Base Museum. Its last flight was on 18 September 2008 to Hill Air Force Base and was placed on display shortly there after in the museum.
List source
Sikorsky manufactured the Pave Low series with the capability to perform missions in all weather, day or night, in order to covertly enter enemy territory. This allowed them to conduct
long-range, low-level missions to insert, extract, and resupply special operations forces.
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To learn more about these helicopters:
Panavia Tornado ADV (Air Defense Variant)
First flying in 1979, the ADV version of the Panavia Tornado didn't enter service with the RAF until 1986. During the Gulf War it was also used by Saudi Arabia and Italy as a long-endurance interceptor. source
For more information, this article is a comprehensive look at the history and uses of this multi-nationally designed interceptor. There are many variants to the Tornado, each with a different improvement or capability based on the needs of the many nations that have contributed and used this aircraft.
Unidentified #1
Unidentified #2
This is one of few amphibious vehicles that was available to explore
unidentified #3
Had to include this one, my daughter was just not happy that her dad was at the turret and she wasn't.
Some more in-flight photos: (if you are able to ID any of these, please feel free to comment!)
I hope that you have enjoyed this series and have possibly learned something new. Throughout my life I have had many experiences that I have begun to share on Steemit and will continue to do so. Feel free to follow me 