• Hey Guest!
    British Car Forum has been supporting enthusiasts for over 25 years by providing a great place to share our love for British cars. You can support our efforts by upgrading your membership for less than the dues of most car clubs. There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Upgraded members don't see this banner, nor will you see the Google ads that appear on the site.)
Tips
Tips

USS Midway, San Diego and MGs

Share this page

Steve_S

Steve_S

Yoda
Offline
I've been out of town on business in San Diego. Yesterday I spent the afternoon aboard USS Midway which is a relatively new attraction for the city.

We loaded our equipment with a huge forklift up onto the hanger deck of the ship, except for a car we were shooting which went up on a crane. Then that section of the hanger deck raised up to the flight deck where we were working.

On board were many types of aircraft including a Mig (23?), F4 Phantom, A-6 Intruder, F-14 Tomcat, TBM Avenger and many other aircraft and helicopters. I also got to wander around below deck and see a few sites the public doesn't get to.

I didn't have much of a chance to take photos but here are a few snapshots...

DSCN2879.jpg


DSCN2883.jpg


DSCN2886.jpg


DSCN2887.jpg


DSCN2888.jpg


DSCN2889.jpg


Today I was at another location north of San Diego. There, I spotted a familiar car near the parking lot. It was a silver '59 MGA. I left the owner a note on the windshield to say hello and went on my way. Later that day we went to another location a few miles away. The same MGA was parked there when I arrived! I figured the owner must be on our crew, but no one knew whose car it was.

While we were working I looked over and saw a bunch of guys in the engine bay of the MGA. I walked over to the car and it turns out that the car being at both locations at the same time as us was a complete coincidence. I talked with the owner, and with another guy who had just walked up before me to say that he also has an MGA. What are the odds? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

DSCN2893.jpg


DSCN2892.jpg


DSCN2891.jpg


Beautiful coastline of San Diego...

DSCN2894.jpg
 
This was not an everyday job. I wish it was though! San Diego is a great place and it was a real treat to see Midway. If you ever make it to SD, I recommend taking a tour of the ship. And a short walk away is the complete opposite... a famous sailing ship, The Star Of India.
 
Oh I have seen the The Star Of India boy that brings back some memories.
 
[ QUOTE ]
... Mig (23?) ...

DSCN2889.jpg



[/ QUOTE ]The aircraft with the red star on the tail appears to be an F/A-18 Hornet, painted to look like a Mig. I would guess it's an ex-aggressor squadron (VFC-12 maybe?) adversary.

Definitely got to get down there! Thanks for the post!


/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
PC.
 
You know, that could be. Do F18s have folding wings? This one does, you can see them folded up. Here's a higher resolution version of the aircraft...

(I was in such a hurry I never looked at the thing up close, but in the photo I now notice a US mark under the cockpit and Navy written on the engine)

f18mig.jpg
 
[ QUOTE ]
...Do F18s have folding wings? ...

[/ QUOTE ]Absolutely, it’s a Navy thing.

An that’s absolutely an F/A-18. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/patriot.gif


PC.
 
I also forgot to mention... when I was driving between locations, I saw a late model yellow MGA make a left turn, then drove by a parked 70's MGB GT. Then I pulled up to the beach and saw that same silver MGA. La Jolla is an MG mecca! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Back
Top