Show Reports

Cherry Point 2018

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MCAS Cherry Point, NC (USA)

Air Show

5 May 2018

Static:
156126 CT-156 NFTC  
07-7187 C-17A 437th AW  
89-0495/SJ F-15E 336th FS  
03-3677/CB T-6A 41st FTS  
65-10324/WM T-38A 394th CTS  
70-1561/CB T-38C 87th FTS  
166243/E-243 T-6B TAW-5  
166255/E-255 T-6B TAW-5  
163524/MD-04 EA-6B VMAQ-3  
166474 UC-35D MCAS Cherry Point  
166472/BH-472 KC-130J VMGR-252 CAG c/s
164276/DW-10 F/A-18C VMFA-251  
168728/VM-20 F-35B VMFAT-501  
164575/HF-68 AH-1W HMLA-169  
169239/HF-83 UH-1Y HMLA-169  
161386/UT-02 CH-53E MHMT-302  
164562/CG-01 AV-8B+ VMA-231 CAG c/s
165452/WH-00 AV-8B+ (R) VMA-542 CAG c/s
163860/KD-16 TAV-8B VMAT-203  
168605/EG-02 MV-22B VMM-263  
N3703G B-17G as USAAF 41-24485/DF-A ex USAAF 44-83546
B27493 TB-25K as USAAF 43-27493 ex USAAF 44-29869
N1156V L-5 as USAAF 42-98758 ex USAAF 42-990444
NL10601 P-51D   ex USAAF 44-73843
N382FW FwP-149D   ex WGAF 90+58
N500EJ R5D-4 as USN 27370 ex USAAF 44-9144
NL826A SBD-5 as/ex USN 54532/'5'  
N29963 T-6G as USN 85077/PA-4 ex EdA
N40402 TBM-3E as/ex USN 91426/'P-87'  
N44953 U-10B   ex USAF 62-3603
68-15095 AH-1F VHPA ex US Army
66-15217 UH-1M VHPA ex US Army
64-13767 UH-1H VHPA ex US Army
68-16263 UH-1V VHPA ex US Army
65-12958 OH-6A VHPA ex US Army
69-16242 OH-58C VHPA ex US Army

Also present on the static were the oldest Dakota still flying in the world (DC-3C, NC17334 with c/n 1920) and the cockpit section of an A-7D (71-0295). And for those who care Civil Air Patrol (NC Wing) Cessna 172S N908CP was also present.

Hangar (VMGR-252):
168069/BH-069 KC-130J VMGR-252  

The VMGR-252 hangar was on the far west side of the static show and not open to the public. The doors were partially opened.

Hangar (MCAS Cherry Point FLRCE):
(69-6627) UH-1N nb 31033
(162)496 CH-53E nb, bare metal  

The FLRCE hangar also contained two unknown stripped CH-53E helicopters. This hangar was behind the static show and partially open since a stage was built inside for some music performers.

Hangar (VMAT-203):
164546/KD-25 AV-8B+ VMAT-203  
164152/KD-30 AV-8B VMAT-203  
163864/KD-34 AV-8B VMAT-203  
164114/KD-00 TAV-8B VMAT-203  
163207/KD-02 TAV-8B VMAT-203  
162963/KD-05 TAV-8B VMAT-203  
163858/KD-07 TAV-8B VMAT-203  
164138/KD-15 TAV-8B VMAT-203  

This hangar, at the east side of the static, was only open for a very short period during the early morning hours. Some vehicles and other stuff was taken out, and it was closed again. At least two additional (T)AV-8 aircraft were also inside but managed to escape identification.

Hangar (MCAS Cherry Point):
166715 UC-35D USMC Cherry Point  

Also located at the east side of the static. The F-35B on the static was inside during the morning and pulled out lateron for display. The doors remained partially opened allowing the UC-35,  which remained inside, to be identified.

Flightline (West Side – Behind VMGR-252 Hangar):
162885/7 F/A-18B Blue Angels  
166380/BH-380 KC-130J VMGR-252  
168071/BH-071 KC-130J VMGR-252 air demo
Flightline (West Side – Across Runway):
165737/BH-737 KC-130J VMGR-252  
166764/BH-764 KC-130J VMGR-252  
168070/BH-070 KC-130J VMGR-252  
Flightline (Along Static Area):
168059/VM-03 F-35B VMFAT-501  
168060/VM-51 F-35B VMFAT-501  
NX217SH Lim5   ex Polish AF 1611
N49NA T-6G as USAF 49-3376/TA-376 ex EdA E.16-84/C.6-84
N791MH T-6G coded '1' ex AdlA 51-14791
N3267G SNJ-5 coded '2' ex USN 51971
N7462C AT-6F coded '3' ex USAAF 44-82489
N601JF AT-6C coded '4' ex Mexico 709
N9109R T-7   ex USAAF 43-33403
N23105 Vampire Mk55 as RAF WB188 ex Swiss AF U-1222
F/A-18C/D* of the Blue Angels:
163766/1, 163451/2, 163493/3, 163464/4*, 163462/5 and 163444/6      
CT-114 of 431sq/Snowbirds:
114013/1, 114051/2, 114109/3, 114145/4, 114050/5, 114058/6, 114141/7, 114033/8, 114054/9, 114131/10 and 114161/11      
Flightline (Next To Fire Station):
165767/HU-717 MH-60S HSC-2  
166294/HU-724 MH-60S HSC-2  
AV-8 Flightline (Sun Sheds – East Side):
165309/CG-02 AV-8B+ (R) VMA-231  
165575/CG-04 AV-8B+ (R) VMA-231  
164552/CG-05 AV-8B+ VMA-231  
165574/CG-06 AV-8B+ (R) VMA-231  
163879/CG-24 AV-8B VMA-231  
166288/WH-04 AV-8B VMA-542  
164555/WH-05 AV-8B+ VMA-542  
165428/WH-07 AV-8B+ (R) VMA-542  
163877/KD-23 AV-8B VMAT-203  
163880/KD-28 AV-8B VMAT-203  
164141/KD-31 AV-8B VMAT-203  
163196/KD-06 TAV-8B VMAT-203  
162971/KD-10 TAV-8B VMAT-203  
163859/KD-11 TAV-8B VMAT-203  
164122/KD-14 TAV-8B VMAT-203  

Despite being a Saturday work was still being done here by maintenance crews. At least one Harrier was seen being towed towards the maintenance area during this day.

North Side (Across Runway):
(ZG507)/78 Harrier GR9 std, ex RAF  
164140/20 AV-8B VMA-542  
Marines Air Ground Task Force Demonstration:
161242/MD-02 EA-6B VMAQ-3  
164265/DW-06 F/A-18C VMFA-251  
164876/WK-11 F/A-18D VMFA(AW)-224  
160804/TV-31 AH-1W HMLA-167  
169287/TV-00 UH-1Y HMLA-167  
162010/HH-08 CH-53E HMH-366  
165389/CG-07 AV-8B+ (R) VMA-231  
164557/CG-10 AV-8B VMA-231  
168653/EH-00 MV-22B VMM-264  
168023/EH-11 MV-22B VMM-264  
Elsewhere:
147865/”CY-00” EA-6A pres behind static  
162969/”VL-01” AV-8B pres outside main gate  
Storage Compound (Southeast Side, Across FLRCE):
(86)21, (86)23, (86)28 MH-53E dumped, ex JMSDF  
162511 CH-53E dumped  
165844 MV-22B dumped, rear fuselage  

Plus 2x AH-1W and at least four H-53s which all remained unidentified.

MCAS Cherry Point Fleet Readiness Center East (Southeast Side):
164768 MH-53E nb  
(164)791 CH-53E nb, Bare metal  
(169162)/NJ-123 F-35C VFA-101  

Plus one MH-53E (USN), two CH-53E (USMC) and one MV-22B (USMC). Most of these helicopters were inside one of the two hangar which were open but poor light conditions inside prevented identification. The F-35 was in one of the two sun sheds. The MH-53E which was identified was doing engine runs most of the morning.

Admin Area (South Side, viewed from outside the airfield):
(163242)/110 SH-60B stored  
165444 MV-22B stored  
166386/GX-01 MV-22B stored  

Based on the quantity and quality of the aircraft present, the air show at MCAS Cherry Point was well worth a visit. It however was a typical US air show with no fences around most aircraft so for photographers probably not the best place to be. It was important to be on time. The gates opened about thirty minutes early, allowing quick access through security. Close to lunch there was a huge line and waiting time to be cleared on the show grounds grew to over an hour.

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