Planespotting / Planelopnik, December 7

"BringBackTheCommodore" (bringbackthecommodore) 12/09/2015 at 12:42 • Filed to: V-22, Osprey, planelopnik

2

17

I was out and about Monday, and spotted these on approach:

Kinda hard to tell from the pictures, but there were 3 of them total.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > BringBackTheCommodore 12/09/2015 at 12:46

1

That’s cool! They fly over my office all the time, and I mean directly over it. Always makes me hope they solved the reliability issues.

Also, what base are you at?

BringBackTheCommodore > Snuze: Needs another Swede 12/09/2015 at 12:48

0

Southeast Virginia, great big naval base there. I don’t work on the base anymore (I departed the service in June), but make regular visits there as the new job requires.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > BringBackTheCommodore 12/09/2015 at 12:50

1

Haha, which one? I was stationed at Naval Station Norfolk for my last 2 years, but I know there’s NAS Oceana, Dam Neck, Little Creek... etc.

BringBackTheCommodore > Snuze: Needs another Swede 12/09/2015 at 12:51

0

NOB. (N-O-B?) Either way. I prefer the other ones to NOB, because TRAFFIC. Yuck. I mean, when it takes 1.5 hours to go 2 miles...

Ash78, voting early and often > BringBackTheCommodore 12/09/2015 at 12:56

1

I’ve seen a few of these fly overhead in central Alabama, which is nowhere near a Naval/Marine base. I think they go to a lot of airshows and have a relatively low cruise altitude, which make it awesome for spotting. Plus

DAT SOUND!

Snuze: Needs another Swede > BringBackTheCommodore 12/09/2015 at 12:56

1

Same one - When I was there they had some kind of initiative to get people to stop calling it Naval Station Norfolk since the name was changed back in 1999 or something. But I guess old habits die hard.

And you’re right, traffic is the worst. I used to live at Breezy Point Apartments, its right on Hampton Blvd, like 1/4 mile up from the B street entrance. And it would take me 40 mins to get to work.

BringBackTheCommodore > Ash78, voting early and often 12/09/2015 at 12:57

0

As an earthquake made by 6 blades shakes the whole house... I’ve almost confused them with the MH-53E from time to time.

Ash78, voting early and often > BringBackTheCommodore 12/09/2015 at 12:59

0

You and me both, except I rarely see a Stallion. The only other big chopper I see is the Chinook, which also causes me confusion with these (maybe it’s the dual rotors that make a somewhat similar sound). That’s a lot of air to move!

EL_ULY > BringBackTheCommodore 12/09/2015 at 13:03

0

COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!!!!!!!!

BringBackTheCommodore > Snuze: Needs another Swede 12/09/2015 at 13:08

1

Yep, it’s still referred to as Naval Station Norfolk these days. I doubt that name will ever change, but at least it’s better naming than Naval Submarine Base New London, which is actually in Groton, CT.

BringBackTheCommodore > Ash78, voting early and often 12/09/2015 at 13:09

0

Indeed it is! These things need a ridiculous amount of lift in any configuration except cruise.

ttyymmnn > BringBackTheCommodore 12/09/2015 at 13:18

0

I grew up in Norfolk. I lived in Ghent, and my future wife lived in Larchmont. Her dad was a USMC Colonel. True story.

BringBackTheCommodore > ttyymmnn 12/09/2015 at 13:43

0

Crazy how these things happen.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > BringBackTheCommodore 12/09/2015 at 13:53

0

Whoops, my first statement was backwards - it used to be Naval Operations Base (NOB) but in the 90’s it was changed to Naval Station Norfolk. Either way.

Also, my first permanent assignment was in Groton. Now I work with a bunch of former Electric Boat engineers - I don’t think a day goes by that I don’t hear something about “Rotten Groton.”

What was your rate while you were in? Former EM2(SS) here. I was later force converted to SK, which became LS just as I got out, but I prefer my original rate. Now I work for a naval architecture firm - the company that designed the original DDG-51 and the LCS Freedom variant.

ttyymmnn > BringBackTheCommodore 12/09/2015 at 14:46

0

It’s a small world.

T5Killer > Snuze: Needs another Swede 12/09/2015 at 16:42

1

Yeah I get them over my office all the time. In fact I think I hear one now LOL. Kirtland AFB.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > T5Killer 12/09/2015 at 16:57

1

I work in Crystal City, VA, not far from the Pentagon. I assume the direction they are always heading, its out towards Andrews AFB. Sometimes they come the other way, but usually towards Andrews. Just not sure where they’re coming from.