The recent event at Avon Park Bombing range has brought a few questions to my mind, none of them related to the recent crash there.
1. What exactly is the range used for? This may have an obvious answer, but I want to be on the same page.
2. Can the residents of the town hear the bombing practices?
3. Is the town a great place to see fighters flying around?
4. Is there a place where the public can watch or see the bombing runs? From my understanding there are hiking trails around and throughout the range. Any of them provide vantage spots?
Thanks in advance.
Airplaneguy.
Moderators: richierich, ua900, PanAm_DC10, hOMSaR
RE: Avon Park Range, FL
The Avon Park Air Force Range is used for bombing and gunnery practice. I don't know if the residents can hear bombing or not. As far as seeing fighters flying around I don't know, I work down there several times a year and have never, ever seen anything military flying. In fact I'll be in Sebring, which is literally right next to Avon Park, this Thursday. I doubt there is places for the public to watch bombing runs, just because of the amount of 'buffer' the military would have for safetys sake and because I've never heard of any US installation having something like that, as cool as that might be. There are parts of the Range that are closed to the public permanently, parts that are open permanently, and parts that are open unless there is a military action scheduled, as shown here:
http://www.avonparkafr.net/Military_Only.html
Here's some photos someone posted while flying over the range that I thought were interesting, though of very low quality.
http://www.pbase.com/bstoltz/avon_park_bombing_range
http://www.avonparkafr.net/Military_Only.html
Here's some photos someone posted while flying over the range that I thought were interesting, though of very low quality.
http://www.pbase.com/bstoltz/avon_park_bombing_range
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- NASCARAirforce
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RE: Avon Park Range, FL
I thought I had heard that the bombing range has been closed for a while or at least not used
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- DiamondFlyer
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RE: Avon Park Range, FL
While I don't know anything about the specific bombing ranges, I do know that it seems like quite often the restricted area's seem hot. Perhaps just my luck, but every time I've been down in the area, they have been hot.
-DiamondFlyer
-DiamondFlyer
From my cold, dead hands
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- DiamondFlyer
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RE: Avon Park Range, FL
| Quoting NASCARAirforce (Reply 4): Who uses it? F-15s/22s from Tyndall? |
I don't have a clue. Didn't see anything. Could be that, it could be stuff out of Jax. Really, no idea
-DiamondFlyer
From my cold, dead hands
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- airplaneguy
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RE: Avon Park Range, FL
I live in proximity to MacDill AFB, and I occasionally see groups of fighters flying to and from the general direction of the base at relatively low altitudes. I assume they are sometimes going towards, or coming from, AVON park for practice. Hmmm, never really bothered to look to see if any ordinance was present or not. I know the only permanent squadron at MacDill is the air refueling wing, but perhaps others come to visit and practice.
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- beefstew25
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- NASCARAirforce
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RE: Avon Park Range, FL
| Quoting DiamondFlyer (Reply 5): Could be that, it could be stuff out of Jax. Really, no idea |
Jacksonville as far as I know does not have any based fighter operations after Cecil Field closed and the F-18s moved north. Mayport is all SH-60 and I believe JAX NAS is all P-3.
| Quoting airplaneguy (Reply 6): I know the only permanent squadron at MacDill is the air refueling wing, but perhaps others come to visit and practice. |
I saw F-15s doing touch and goes at MacDill last week.
| Quoting BEEFSTEW25 (Reply 7): I see planes going in there all the time. F-16's mostly. |
I'm not sure about any Florida based F-16s. I think they still fly them out of Eglin. They had a small squad years back at Tyndall. They based some out of Homestead in the past
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- beefstew25
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RE: Avon Park Range, FL
I am pretty certain there is a reserve unit at Homestead of F-16's. A buddy of mine is dating one of their female pilots.
MLB
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- DiamondFlyer
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RE: Avon Park Range, FL
| Quoting NASCARAirforce (Reply 8): Jacksonville as far as I know does not have any based fighter operations after Cecil Field closed and the F-18s moved north. Mayport is all SH-60 and I believe JAX NAS is all P-3. |
Last time I flew in to Jacksonville Intl, there were some F-15's there. Might be FLANG, but there were for sure some fighter jets there, not at an FBO.
-DiamondFlyer
From my cold, dead hands
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- rfields5421
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RE: Avon Park Range, FL
Isn't there still a USAF Reserve or ANG F-15 unit stationed at JAX - the commercial airport, not NAS JAX?
Not all who wander are lost.
RE: Avon Park Range, FL
AFAIK its P-3's at JNAS, F-16's at Homestead, F-15 and 16's at Eglin, F-22 and QF-4's at Tyndall, KC-135's at MacDill, HH-60's at Patricks and Mayport not sure about the 15's at Jacksonville Intl.
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- NASCARAirforce
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RE: Avon Park Range, FL
| Quoting HaveBlue (Reply 12): AFAIK its P-3's at JNAS, F-16's at Homestead, F-15 and 16's at Eglin, F-22 and QF-4's at Tyndall, KC-135's at MacDill, HH-60's at Patricks and Mayport not sure about the 15's at Jacksonville Intl. |
I just read they retired or moved the last F-15 from Tyndall. I am curious what will be at the Daytona 500 in 2011 since it usually gets flybys from Tyndall based F-15s - maybe it will be F-22s in 2011.
Mayport would be a mix of MH-60s and SH-60s. HH-60s are Coast Guard, which are at PIE with HC-130s (plus PIE has some UH-60s too)
I think what is at Patrick are UH-60s or perhaps MH-60s, plus Patrick has some C-130s
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- beefstew25
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RE: Avon Park Range, FL
Yes, JAX has FLANG F-15's. One of them had a Jaguar painted on a vertical stabilizer.
MLB
RE: Avon Park Range, FL
When it comes to helos in Jacksonville- NS Mayport is not the only game in town~
NAS Jax also has H-60s!!! Foxtrots, Hotels, and Sierras.
NAS Jax also has H-60s!!! Foxtrots, Hotels, and Sierras.
Classic planes, Classic trains, and Studebakers~~ what else is there???
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- NASCARAirforce
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RE: Avon Park Range, FL
| Quoting NASCARAirforce (Reply 16): I saw about 3 of them on static display at their airshow in October, but the ones I saw were based at Mayport. |
NS Mayport has SH60 Bravos and MH60 Romeos. NAS Jacksonville has what I posted above.
The Navy is at a point that will make things weird trying to keep up with it all.
Eventualy there will be two H60 types (Sirreas and Romeos) replacing just about every helo they had.
StudeDave
Classic planes, Classic trains, and Studebakers~~ what else is there???
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