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A-4s at Nellis AFB ?


DDELK

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Every once in a while, I see an all-white one doing circuits at Flagstaff Airport - my workplace is under finals. Had an argument with an ex-Navy colleague who swore it was an F-16... Still, I do wonder who it belongs to and why exactly they are doing circuits and bumps here....

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It seems like these civilian contractors are here to stay. I think they provide a great service to our military here in the US. I really like the F-21s that ATAC operates. If they are still st Nellis over the next couple of days, I will try and get some photos of them and post them for all to enjoy..

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Not sure if the White one might be BAE. They were white with a Blue strip. Seen Draken ones which are Black and Grey, while ATSI ones seem to have a two tone grey scheme once refurbished. ATSI are using ex Israeli aircraft. While Draken have some ex RNZAF ones.

There also seems to be a company called Discovery Air Defence Services which operate A-4Ns. Doubt these were at Nellis though.

Seems to be lots of old Scooters about. Seems they were built well.

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The North American contract A-4s tend to break down into two groups these days:

Draken has some ex-RNZAF aircraft still wearing their former green camo, some ex-IAF A-4s which Draken appear to have painted green to match their ex-RNZAF birds (I think some are ex-ASTI and some ex-BAE), and had a couple of birds leased from A-4L, LLC. The black and white cow scheme A-4s are the A-4L, LLC aircraft.

Discovery Air/Top Aces bought some of the ex-ATSI aircraft. They have some grey schemes and a really natty blue/grey scheme. (Google C-FGZS.) It is neat to see that they all carry Canadian flags on their tails. Most of these airplanes are doing a contract in Germany that was formerly serviced by BAE.

ATSI is long defunct. ATAC was operating some A-4s, but I think they use Hunters and Kfirs now.

There are a couple of warbirds and one or two private TA-4s, including one based locally at Boeing Field that I see out and about sometimes. No idea on the ID of your local plane Paul, but being some of the airplanes A-4s were at Mesa, and there is an A-4 restoration shop at Marana, it is possible it is someone out burning some gas. Before they got the sow scheme the A-4L, LLC birds were light grey/white and a few were restored at Marana, so it could be one of those.

Jim

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