Stokes Bay 29th July 2017

After a two year wait since the last carrier visit, we were eager to get down to Stokes Bay to see the 'Avenger' CVN77 USS George Bush.

Buster and Nay decided on an afternoon visit to coincide with the 4pm tide. We didn't have to wait long for the mighty ship to start turning. Arriving at the Diving Museum car park we soon found Pogo who had arrived some half hour earlier.

The weather however was very wet, and at times it was hard to see the aircraft let alone read them off! But with breaks in the weather we managed to read most of the codes on board.

The list below is a complete inventory of aircraft aboard, all in white were read, those in blue were reported as on deck but not confirmed by us. Any in yellow were reported as below deck and not seen.

Stokes Bay 29-7-17



CVN77 USS George Bush

CVW-8

VFA-31 'Tomcatters'
166776/AJ-100 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18E Super Hornet E-122
166777/AJ-101 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18E Super Hornet E-123
166778/AJ-102 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18E Super Hornet E-124
166779/AJ-103 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18E Super Hornet E-125
166780/AJ-104 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18E Super Hornet E-126
166781/AJ-105 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18E Super Hornet E-127
166782/AJ-106 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18E Super Hornet E-128

166783/AJ-107 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18E Super Hornet E-129
166784/AJ-110 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18E Super Hornet E-130
166785/AJ-111 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18E Super Hornet E-131
166786/AJ-112 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18E Super Hornet E-132
166788/AJ-113 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18E Super Hornet E-134
169120/AJ-151 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18E Super Hornet E-294

VFA-213 'Black Lions'
166663/AJ-200 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18F Super Hornet F-141
166674/AJ-201 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18F Super Hornet F-152
166679/AJ-202 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18F Super Hornet F-157
166681/AJ-203 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18F Super Hornet F-159
166682/AJ-204 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18F Super Hornet F-160
166683/AJ-205 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18F Super Hornet F-161
166684/AJ-206 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18F Super Hornet F-162
166672/AJ-207 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18F Super Hornet F-150
166636/AJ-210 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18F Super Hornet F-129
166638/AJ-212 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18F Super Hornet F-131
166639/AJ-213 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18F Super Hornet F-132
166640/AJ-214 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18F Super Hornet F-133

VFA-87 'Golden Warriors'
168910/AJ-300 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18E Super Hornet E-269
168911/AJ-301 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18E Super Hornet E-270- marked CO on tail
168912/AJ-302 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18E Super Hornet E-271
168913/AJ-303 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18E Super Hornet E-272
168914/AJ-304 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18E Super Hornet E-273
168915/AJ-305 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18E Super Hornet E-274
168916/AJ-306 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18E Super Hornet E-275
168917/AJ-307 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18E Super Hornet E-276
168918/AJ-310 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18E Super Hornet E-277
168919/AJ-311 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18E Super Hornet E-278

VFA-37 'Ragin Bulls'
165187/AJ-400 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet C-412
164632/AJ-401 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet C-261
164976/AJ-402 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet C-391
165526/AJ-403 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet C-466
165221/AJ-404 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet C-446
165174/AJ-405 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet C-399
165200/AJ-406 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet C-425
165176/AJ-407 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet C-401
165171/AJ-410 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet C-396
165182/AJ-411 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet C-407

VAQ-131 'Lancers'
168772/AJ-500 McDonnell Douglas EA-18G Growler G-086
168773/AJ-501 McDonnell Douglas EA-18G Growler G-087
168774/AJ-502 McDonnell Douglas EA-18G Growler G-088
168775/AJ-503 McDonnell Douglas EA-18G Growler G-089
168776/AJ-504 McDonnell Douglas EA-18G Growler G-090

VAW-124 'Bear Aces'
165507/AJ-600 Grumman E-2C Hawkeye A52-173
165300/AJ-601 Grumman E-2C Hawkeye A52-171
165298/AJ-602 Grumman E-2C Hawkeye A52-169
164483/AJ-603 Grumman E-2C Hawkeye A-149

HSC-9 'Tridents'
167901/AJ-610 Sikorsky MH-60S Seahawk 703786
167878/AJ-611 Sikorsky MH-60S Seahawk 703648
167888/AJ-616 Sikorsky MH-60S Seahawk 703872
168581/AJ-620 Sikorsky MH-60S Seahawk 704451
168577/AJ-621 Sikorsky MH-60S Seahawk 704432
167892/AJ-622 Sikorsky MH-60S Seahawk 703712

HSM-70 'Spartans'
167063/AJ-700 Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk 703940
168125/AJ-701 Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk 704815
168132/AJ-704 Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk 704827
166552/AJ-706 Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk 703145
168131/AJ-710 Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk 704826



Over in Portsmouth were the following support ships, unfortunately all hangar decks were closed with no visible helicopters.

DDG75 USS Donald Cook - landing pad only
CG58 USS Philippine Sea - HSM-70 embarked
166547/AJ-705 Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk 703118
167064/AJ-707 Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk 703945

Also in dock was the Norwegian frigate, part of the flotilla for the upcoming exercise.

F313 HNoMS Helge Ingstad

An NH-90 is embarked on this, but again was hangared.

A single AW189 was conducting a rescue practice in the bay.

G-MCGO Agusta Westland AW189 92002 HM Coastguard


All in a good day out, let's hope it's not too long until the next one :-)

Northern Poland 30th June - 3rd July 2017

The original plan was for a weekend bash over to Swidwin for the airshow. However, flights were not great so it was decided to make a long weekend of it. Not the busiest part of Poland aviation wise especially when you've done most of the area before...

Once Pogo had driven down and parked at Chez Clarke we cabbed it in to to the local and went airside for a bite to eat. Frank and Bens all day brekkie didn't really cut the mustard as an early dinner.

Nothing exciting in Luton so time to board HA-LYR on the W62164 to SZZ. It was about 1700L by the time we'd picked up the car so not a lot on the schedule for today.


Not as many Dromaders out as there was on our last visit here.

Szczecin-Goleniow 30-06-17
SP-FFC PZL-Mielec M-18 B Dromader 1Z023-25 Aerogryf
SP-FFD PZL-Mielec M-18 B Dromader 1Z023-26 Aerogryf
SP-FFW PZL-Mielec M-18 B Dromader 1Z023-20 Aerogryf - fuselage
SP-FLK Cessna 172 P 172-75030
SP-FOG PZL-Mielec M-18 B Dromader 1Z024-06 Aerogryf
SP-FON PZL-Mielec M-18 B Dromader 1Z025-15 Aerogryf

Over at Szczecinski it was all locked up. Nobody about, well, it was raining and the grass was more like a lake. We'll have a look on the return in a few days.

Just a couple of bits of charity for the Pog left for today

Goleniow-Tech School 30-06-17
9353 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 UM 516999353 Polish Air Force

Police 30-06-17

(SP-SDM) Mil Mi-2 530322047

We then drove over to within a couple of miles of Swidwin for the nights lodging. A nice little place called Miodowy Dwor. The owners English was as good as our Polish but another guest acted as a translator. Turns out he was off to the show as well tomorrow so a nice little chat was had where he showed us the show schedule and the local weather forecast. It said rain.

After retiring to our room for the night Pogo learnt a very valuable lesson. He now knows why locks are put on doors :-)

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A nice lay in until about 0700 and then up for brekkie, with our new friend, before heading off to the show via a quick stop at the train station for a Lim

Swidwin-Town 01-07-17

1976 Mikoyan-Gurevich Lim-5 P Unknown Polish Air Force

Swidwin AB 01-07-17
011 CASA 295M S-009 Polish Air Force
65 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 A 2960526365 Polish Air Force

66 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 A 2960526366 Polish Air Force
305 Sukhoi Su-22 UM-3K N17532366305 Polish Air Force

0501 PZL-Swidnik W-3 RL Sokol 0501 Polish Air Force

0502 PZL-Swidnik W-3 RL Sokol 0502 Polish Air Force
1017 PZL-Mielec M-28B1R AJG-001-03 Polish Navy
1504 Lockheed C-130 E Hercules 4415 Polish Air Force
1613 PZL-Mielec TS-11 200SBbisD[F] Iskra 3H16-13 Polish Air Force

1920 Mikoyan-Gurevich Lim-2 1B01920 Polish Air Force

(2105) Mikoyan-Gurevich Lim-2 Unknown Polish Air Force - GG
(3617) Sukhoi Su-22 M-4 23617 Polish Air Force - GG
3713 Sukhoi Su-22 M-4 37713 Polish Air Force

3715 Sukhoi Su-22 M-4 37715 Polish Air Force

3829 Mil Mi-2 D 513829104 Polish Army
4047 General Dynamics F-16 C Fighting Falcon JC-8 Polish Air Force

4081 General Dynamics F-16 D Fighting Falcon JD-6 Polish Air Force
6107 Mil Mi-8 MT 93289 Polish Army

8309 Sukhoi Su-22 M-4 28309 Polish Air Force

9102 Sukhoi Su-22 M-4 29102 Polish Air Force
9483 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 bis N75089483 Polish Air Force
D-EZUW Extra 300S

D-GZXC Piper PA-44-180 Seminole 4496266
I-6584 Alpi Aviation Pioneer 200 2
SN-05XP/W-018 Mil Mi-2 541918051 Polish Police

SP-FLP Reims-Cessna F.172 P 2170
SP-FOT Piper PA-28 R-200 Cherokee Arrow II 28R-7635273
SP-FPA Reims-Cessna FR.172 J Rocket 0395
SP-MLM Cessna 172 M 172-60974
SP-SCOM Aeroprakt A.22 L2 Vision 487

SP-YPB Polikarpov CSS-13 420-76

SP-YSS PZL-Mielec TS-8 Bies 1E-0921 - also marked 0921


Due to the rain a lot of the flying program was cancelled though the SU-22s and MiG-29 still did their slots. Low, fast, loud, burners, flares. Ohhh yes.


Not knowing what to expect we'd allocated most of the day at the show but were done by lunchtime so a decision had to be made as what to do. Pruszcz was a good 3 hour drive hour away but was unfinished business for Buster and Nay. Sorted then.

Miastko 01-07-17
409 Mikoyan-Gurevich Lim-5 1C-04-09 Polish Air Force


We passed the Lim above a couple times today and also passed the GA drome at Korne which was closed and squinnyproof.

At Pruszcz we headed for the GA area first, which was gated, to read the Mi-24s. Then to a spot to read the Mi-2s, we didn't stop near the housing area this time!

Pruszcz Gdanski AB 01-07-17

169 Mil Mi-24 D 110169 Polish Army

271 Mil Mi-24 D 340271 Polish Army

461 Mil Mi-24 D 410461 Polish Army

585 Mil Mi-24 D 410585 Polish Army

735 Mil Mi-24 V 410735 Polish Army

740 Mil Mi-24 V 410740 Polish Army

2706 Mil Mi-2 RM 552706122Polish Army
4543 Mil Mi-2 T 544543016 Polish Army

5823 Mil Mi-2 R 565823128 Polish Army

6003 Mil Mi-2 Ch 516003039 Polish Army

6004 Mil Mi-2 Ch 516004039 Polish Army

6005 Mil Mi-2 Ch 516005039 Polish Army

6006 Mil Mi-2 Ch 516006039 Polish Army

6432 Mil Mi-2 R 566432129 Polish Army
7333 Mil Mi-2 URP 567333111 Polish Army

Then it was the drive back to tonights bed at Czaplinek...another 3 hours but we were happy now Pruszcz had been revisited.

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Again not an early start as there was no rush on this trip. A nice cooked brekkie was on offer this morning at the Stary Drahim Hotel so of course we'd partake in that.

First stop was another Lim for Pogo

Czaplinek 02-07-17

102 Mikoyan-Gurevich Lim-6 M 1D-01-02 Polish Air Force


We were passing Borne and a quick look enabled just the one to be confirmed.

Borne Sulinowo 02-07-17
OK-BUU 10 TL Ultralight TL-232 Condor Plus 96C02

Next up was Nadarzyce. We decided to go for the gate guards first and navigated our way through the forest to them. The route we took in was not gated and we somehow ended up on base. We were then directed to the main gate (Tomtom) as the exit point. After a very long chat with the officials, and a stern warning, they opened the gate for us. It was pure luck that this route took us past the line of stored MiG-21s and Iskras ;-)
Noted in the scrap area were the 6 MiG-23s which it seems have been replaced on the ranges by MiG-21s. Also there were 4 Mi-2s in the scrap area. Obviously we did not get the cameras out here!

Nadarzyce 02-07-17
Preserved by tower
0629 Mil Mi-2 P 510629038 Polish Air Force
(1015)/7 PZL-Mielec TS-11 100SBbis[B] Iskra 1h10-15 Polish Air Force - Team Iskra
1407 PZL-Mielec TS-11 200SBbisD[F] Iskra 3H14-07 Polish Air Force
1912 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 M 961912 Polish Air Force

Storage area

(210)/7 PZL-Mielec TS-11 100bis[B] Iskra 1H02-10 Polish Air Force - Team Iskra
614 PZL-Mielec TS-11 100bis[B] Iskra 1H06-14 Polish Air Force
1203 PZL-Mielec TS-11 200SBbis[F] IskDra 3H12-03 Polish Air Force
1225 PZL-Mielec TS-11 200SBbis[F] IskDra 3H12-25 Polish Air Force

7812 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21MF 967812 Polish Air Force
9501 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 bis N75089501 Polish Air Force
9524 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 bis N75089524 Polish Air Force

9507 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 bis N75089507 Polish Air Force
9703 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 bis N75089703 Polish Air Force

9745 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 bis N75089745 Polish Air Force
9763 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 bis N75089763 Polish Air Force

Scrapping area
(050) Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23MF 0390224150 Polish Air Force
(062) Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23MF 0390224062 Polish Air Force
(065) Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23MF 0390224065 Polish Air Force
(101) Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23MF 0390224101 Polish Air Force
(102) Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23MF 0390224102 Polish Air Force
(110) Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23MF 0390224110 Polish Air Force
(3049) Mil Mi-2 Polish Air Force
(3729) Mil Mi-2 Polish Air Force
(4511) Mil Mi-2 Polish Air Force
(4717) Mil Mi-2 Polish Air Force

Time to move on to some new poles at last.

Debrzno 02-07-17
1618 PZL-Mielec TS-11 200SBbisD[F] Iskra 3H16-18 Polish Air Force

(7906) Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 MF 967906 Polish Air Force - marked 3779


Just a couple of gliders noted at the next stop, which was a couple more than the last time we were here.

Slupsk-Krepa 02-07-17
SP-3360 PZL-Bielsko SZD-50 -3 Puchacz B-1611
SP-3463/4S PZL-Bielsko SZD-51 -1 Junior B-1837

Another stop for Pogo

Slupsk AB 02-07-17

(301) Mikoyan-Gurevich Lim-5 1C-03-01 Polish Air Force - marked 1952

(908) Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19 PM 650908 Polish Air Force - marked 1958

(1815) Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 PF 761815 Polish Air Force - marked 1973

(024004602) Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 M 024004602 Russian Air Force - marked 1979


There was a fair bit of building work on the ramps at Darlowo. It looks as though new hangars are going up which will not be good for views. As a result there were just two visible.

Darlowo AB 02-07-17
0906 PZL-Swidnik W-3 WARM Anakonda 0906 Polish Navy
1009 Mil Mi-14 PL A1009 Polish Navy

The Kruk is still here though it has moved position.

Malechowo 02-07-17
SP-WUS PZL-Okecie 106 A Kruk 37016

The Iskra still sits by the road.

Koszalin-Town 02-07-17
(1222) PZL-Mielec TS-11 200SBbisD[F] Iskra 3H12-22 Polish Air Force


Another new lot for us next. The Yak-40 and Iskra belong to the museum. The SU-22 is in the grounds next to the museum and the Mi-2 on another gate.

Koszalin-Barracks 02-07-17
047 Yakovlev Yak-40 S2 9021560 Polish Air Force
1226 PZL-Mielec TS-11 200SBbisD[F] Iskra 3H12-26 Polish Air Force
5247 Mil Mi-2 D 515247077 Polish Army
9306 Sukhoi Su-22 M-4 29306 Polish Air Force

We were staying in Koszalin tonight at the Hotel Formula. From the outside and right up until you opened the room door it resembled something from Carry On Abroad. Inside was nice though.

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After another decent brekkie it was time for the last day. Very little to do in the area bar a couple of museums we'd already done. Pogo hadn't.

A tin drome, or is just a strip, first up. One more seen here than last time.

Bagicz 03-07-17
SP-CAM Cessna R.172K Hawk XP R172-3005


Kolobrzeg 03-07-17

(64) Ilyushin IL-28 B5 2113 Polish Air Force - marked 52

1807 PZL-Mielec TS-11 200SBbisD[F] Iskra 3H18-07 Polish Air Force

3010 PZL-Swidnik SM-2 W S2-03010 Polish Army

7308 Sukhoi Su-22 M-4 27308 Polish Air Force

SP-BFA Polikarpov CSS-13 8-0511

The TS-8 has moved from Kolobrzeg to Rogowo.

As half expected nobody around at Rogowo. The inner door by the entrance was open
enabling a view inside and more views from the gaps in the front of the hangar.

Rogowo 03-07-17
(0103) PZL-Mielec I-22 Iryda 1ANA001-03 Polish Air Force
(706) Sukhoi Su-22 UM-3K N17532369706 Polish Air Force
0710 PZL-Mielec TS-8 Bies 1E-0710 Polish Air Force
(1411) PZL-Mielec TS-11 200SBbisD[F] Iskra 3H14-11 Polish Air Force
(1705) Mikoyan-Gurevich Lim-2 1B01705 Polish Air Force
1806 PZL-Mielec TS-11 200SBbisD[F] Iskra 3H18-06 Polish Air Force

Still waterlogged here but a Rallye was sat outside

Szczecinski 03-07-17
SP-GCE Socata MS.880B Rallye 110ST Galopin 3253

Then it was time to drop off the car and join the queue for security. Two minutes later we were airside.

Szczecin-Goleniow 03-07-17
D-IBBS Cessna 525A Citation Jet 2+ 525A-0313 Corporate
HA-LYR Airbus A320-232SL 6631 Wizz Air
SP-FOF PZL-Mielec M-18B 1Z024-05 Aerogryf
SP-HXN Eurocopter EC135 P2+ 0907 Polish Medical Air Rescue
SP-LDF Embraer EMB-170-100LR 17000035 LOT Polish Airlines

A late afternoon departure, again on HA-LYR, saw us home at a decent time ready for work the next day. Joy.