Model Aircraft – August 2019

MCAS Yuma

Airshow March 2019

F-35B slow

approach to

the hover

Paul Bradley reports from sunny Arizona

M

arine Corps Air Station Yuma

is one of the premier USMC

airbases and is home to

Marine Air Group 13 and other

associated units. This year, the

base celebrated its 60th anniversary in Marine

Corps hands with a fascinating display of current

and future Marine air power. Prominent in the

static display was F-35B Lightning II 169589/04

of VMFA-211, the ‘Wake Island Defenders,’

which displayed a variety of mission markings

on its nose gear door, representing JDAM

and Paveway munitions. In September 2018,

VMFA-211 deployed aboard USS Essex (LHD-

2) as part of the Essex Amphibious Ready

Group deployed to the Persian Gulf/Indian

Ocean region. On 27 September 2018, an F-35B

from the squadron carried out an air strike

against a Taliban position in Afghanistan using

a precision-guided bomb – this marked the irst

US combat use of the F-35. Talking to one of the

pilots, he stated that the F-35 was a very capable

aircraft and a huge step up from the F/A-18A+

he had previously lown. Aside from the

Lightning, there were many other Marine Corps

aircraft on display, both static and airborne. New

this year was a demonstration by the USMC’s

sole Aggressor squadron, VMFT-401 ‘Snipers’

with their ex-Swiss Air Force F-5N Tiger II, who

worked with the AH-1Z and UH-1Y of VMX-1 to

demonstrate how helicopters can avoid attack

by fast jets.

The show also featured a MAGTF (Marine Air-

Ground Task Force) demonstration, involving

air and ground assets including the F-35B,

AV-8B, UH-1Y and AH-1Z in roles covering the

insertion of ground troops by a CH-53E to ight

of the nefarious Wasabi Terrorist organization.

Accompanied by lots of explosions and the

iring of blanks, the demo highlighted the close

coordination between ixed- and rotary-wing

air support and boots on the ground. The AV-

8B+ was provided by based squadron VMF-214

‘Blacksheep’ and this also gave a splendid solo

display with an extended period of hovering.

The static display featured the squadron

commander’s specially marked aircraft, BuAer

165001 complete with dark sea blue in and

drop tanks. In speaking with one of the unit’s

pilots, the AV-8B will only be around for a

few more years, with VMF-214 to transition

to the F-35B starting in 2021. The co-based

VMF-311 will begin their transition in 2022 and

Harriers are due to end their lying at Yuma by

2024. The 3.5 hour air display also featured a
      variety of civilian warbirds, including the Tora,
      Tora, Tora display by the Commemorative air
      Force, featuring a B-17 and A6M, D3A, B5N,
      P40 replicas, as well as the Canadian Harvard’s
      of the Yellow Thunder Formation Aerobatic
      Team. With a comprehensive and varied static
      display, the Yuma Airshow is an excellent
      service airshow and well worth a trip if you are
      in the area. Next year, the show will be held on
      February 29th, 2020, with a twilight show on
      the evening of February 28th. MA

(^30) PHOTO RECCE – MCAS YUMA 2019 WWW.MODELAIRCRAFTMAG.COM