Caught an F-18E making the "Jedi Transition" at Star Wars Canyon (Updated with Video)

We made a quick trip to LA a few days ago and on the way back we ventured up through Palmdale, Plant 42, and the Mojave airport. Nothing much was brewing so decided on the fly to drive through Death Valley (our initial intent was to drive out to the Racetrack Playa which much to our disappointment the road was way to rough for our MDX) however, we did venture up Hwy 190 and made a stop at one of my bucket list aviation sites. Rainbow Canyon. It was hot well over 100, no shade and a lot of really hot wind. We waited for about 25 minutes and we were soon rewarded: The pictures were taken with a Nikon D3100 and a AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED lens The time stamp in the metadata is off as the batteries died and I forgot to set the date. Resolution was also downgraded to post. It looks to me to be the same F-18E and the second pass was lower than the first so I may have been the pilots first time though..... Edit: The video was shot by my son on an Iphone 6S

a reply to: FredT

I really want to stop at one of those places that have cabins and spend about two days there catching stuff going through. That's a fun place, other than baking while you're there.

Well caught, excellent photography. I am thoroughly enjoying viewing this.

Thanks and admiration.

Second Pass

a reply to: Zaphod58

Yeah its brutal there

No other aviation types were there and that was all we witnessed. You may be better suited renting an RV and parking it at the overlook which is paved and has a bathroom. Down the hill on the Playa is a place but it looks pretty spartan

Will post a video once i get it off my sons phone

a reply to: FredT

Wow. What a job to have.

And Nice photos!

a reply to: FredT

I want to catch something like this.

a reply to: Zaphod58

yeah I was hoping. But felt lucky to catch anything. we had about an hour there before the family runs out of patients. The road at the base in the C-17 pic can be driven out of from the rest area its about 100 yards and it gets you away from the selfie types

a reply to: CulturalResilience

Thanks Ill have a video up soon

a reply to: FredT

We left the car in the lot, and walked about halfway down that road and parked our butts on some rocks. Caught a Viper or two, and a Hornet dropping in. One of the Vipers was out of Edwards and looked to be testing AGCAS.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: FredT

I really want to stop at one of those places that have cabins and spend about two days there catching stuff going through. That's a fun place, other than baking while you're there.

They have those? For hire/rent? That sounds like a perfect get away. Oh the heat? I'm sure a case or two of cold beers can sort that out

a reply to: ThePeaceMaker

They're not at the Transition, but they're not too far away. They have several places that have small cabins that you can rent.

a reply to: Zaphod58 thanks gives me something to look into for further travelling ideas. I follow a guy on facebook who's a radio controlled plane flyer and aviation photographer. He sent me some details on a place in Switzerland. The apartment over looked a Swiss airforce base and he spent all day watching F-18s take off

a reply to: ThePeaceMaker

They're expensive, but worth it to spend a couple days at the Transition. Especially during an exercise.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: FredT

I want to catch something like this.

Now thats an awesome picture

A+ on that video! You win the internet for today.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Caught an F-22 landing at Opa Locka Airport.

There as an air show on Miami Beach that weekend.

a reply to: grey580

Nice! The F-22 is a loud sucker

originally posted by: LanceCorvette
A+ on that video! You win the internet for today.

My son gets the credit. First time shooting aircraft and he really kept it in frame!