Beale AFB Open House 2018 (Post your pics)

Blackbirdfan · **Posted:** Thu May 03, 2018 12:09 am

For the first time in 7 years, Beale AFB hosted an open house. I know a few WIXers were present, so lets see the pics.

In no order...

That should be a good start.

Will

wendovertom · **Posted:** Thu May 03, 2018 8:16 am

wow - who brought the unpainted Raptor?

Tom P

Blackbirdfan · **Posted:** Thu May 03, 2018 1:15 pm

Its painted, same plane in all the pics. The pic of the one on the ground looks like its unpainted because I was trying to pull the pilot doing a "raise the roof" as he taxied past out. In doing so, it screwed with the overall look of the plane. ( I can shoot a cool pic, but sometimes my post processing leaves a bit to be desired.)

Will

Triplane102 · **Joined:** Wed Oct 15, 2014 12:55 pm **Posts:** 491

Thanks for the posting Will ! :supz:

Rick65 · **Posted:** Fri May 04, 2018 4:10 am

I knew the Hellcat was big and the Yak isn't but photo 3 underlines it clearly.

Blackbirdfan · **Posted:** Wed May 09, 2018 10:07 am

I shot some cool F22 pics.

Will

Pogo · **Posted:** Wed May 09, 2018 8:46 pm

Fan-tastic! Thanks for the most excellent pix posts!! :supz:

sandiego89 · **Joined:** Mon May 21, 2012 12:28 pm **Posts:** 1196

Blackbirdfan wrote:

Its painted, same plane in all the pics. The pic of the one on the ground looks like its unpainted because I was trying to pull the pilot doing a "raise the roof" as he taxied past out. In doing so, it screwed with the overall look of the plane. ( I can shoot a cool pic, but sometimes my post processing leaves a bit to be desired.)

Will

I propose that that F-22 Raptor shown here is indeed unpainted, or at least not with the special low observable paint. I am close to Langley AFB in Virgina and I can assure you the operational F-22s here do not look like that. The tail code is "OT" which would suggest an Operational Test F-22 from Edwards- which is the most logical place for a F-22 visitor to Beale to come from.

On operational F-22's you can not see the panels and screws like on display here. I propose we have an unpainted, non-stealthy, test F-22 here.

Great photographs!

sandiego89 · **Joined:** Mon May 21, 2012 12:28 pm **Posts:** 1196

Blackbirdfan wrote:

Its painted, same plane in all the pics. The pic of the one on the ground looks like its unpainted because I was trying to pull the pilot doing a "raise the roof" as he taxied past out. In doing so, it screwed with the overall look of the plane. ( I can shoot a cool pic, but sometimes my post processing leaves a bit to be desired.)

Will

I propose that that F-22 Raptor shown here is indeed unpainted, or at least not with the special low observable paint. I am close to Langley AFB in Virgina and I can assure you the operational F-22s here do not look like that. The tail code is "OT" which would suggest an Operational Test F-22 from Edwards- which is the most logical place for a F-22 visitor to Beale to come from.

On operational F-22's you can not see the panels and screws like on display here. I propose we have an unpainted, non-stealthy, test F-22 here.

Great photographs!

Blackbirdfan · **Posted:** Wed May 09, 2018 11:46 pm

sandiego89 wrote:

Blackbirdfan wrote:

Its painted, same plane in all the pics. The pic of the one on the ground looks like its unpainted because I was trying to pull the pilot doing a "raise the roof" as he taxied past out. In doing so, it screwed with the overall look of the plane. ( I can shoot a cool pic, but sometimes my post processing leaves a bit to be desired.)

Will

I propose that that F-22 Raptor shown here is indeed unpainted, or at least not with the special low observable paint. I am close to Langley AFB in Virgina and I can assure you the operational F-22s here do not look like that. The tail code is "OT" which would suggest an Operational Test F-22 from Edwards- which is the most logical place for a F-22 visitor to Beale to come from.

On operational F-22's you can not see the panels and screws like on display here. I propose we have an unpainted, non-stealthy, test F-22 here.

Great photographs!

Ok, I'll take your word on that. I was wondering what the "OT" stood for. I can't say I've seen an operational one (Scratch that, I might have a few years ago at Reno, they needed 3 to get through 3 days of show.... I'll have to double check my pics, but I think they looked just like this one. I could have sworn they said one of them flew down from Alaska early that sunday morning.) Honestly, the F22 is cool looking, but it doesn't do much for me. I'd rather see U2s and T38s doing their thing instead.

Will

Blackbirdfan · **Posted:** Tue May 15, 2018 11:22 pm

A few more.

Will

Pogo · **Posted:** Wed May 16, 2018 8:17 pm

More spot-on superb bird photos - wow!!

(What is it about the canopy bubble that makes it look gold-ish on F-22s?)

phil65 · **Posted:** Wed May 16, 2018 8:34 pm

A metallic coating of indium-tin-oxide (ITO) is added to the canopy to reflect the radar waves, giving it a gold tint.

BTY – I love the black and white photo of the B-25…

Phil

Blackbirdfan · **Posted:** Wed May 30, 2018 12:31 pm

I finally finished my album and got it posted. Have a look here. https://www.flickr.com/photos/47309961@ ... 9563091918

for some more quick highlights,

Will

Xray · **Joined:** Fri Sep 24, 2010 1:25 am **Posts:** 533

sandiego89 wrote:

Blackbirdfan wrote:

Its painted, same plane in all the pics. The pic of the one on the ground looks like its unpainted because I was trying to pull the pilot doing a "raise the roof" as he taxied past out. In doing so, it screwed with the overall look of the plane. ( I can shoot a cool pic, but sometimes my post processing leaves a bit to be desired.)

Will

I propose that that F-22 Raptor shown here is indeed unpainted, or at least not with the special low observable paint. I am close to Langley AFB in Virgina and I can assure you the operational F-22s here do not look like that. The tail code is "OT" which would suggest an Operational Test F-22 from Edwards- which is the most logical place for a F-22 visitor to Beale to come from.

On operational F-22's you can not see the panels and screws like on display here. I propose we have an unpainted, non-stealthy, test F-22 here.

Great photographs!

Aircraft with OT tail codes are based at Cannon and Englin AFB, though I imagine they may float through Edwards and other bases fairly often.

I agree the patchwork appearance of this aircraft is non standard, could well be they are simply cutting costs by keeping them from proper livery, these dedicated demo units are extremely expensive.

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Beale AFB Open House 2018 (Post your pics)

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