Back from Beaufort

I'm just back from a business trip to Beaufort, SC - if you noticed I was gone, thanks!  Actually, I had wireless internet access at the hotel and work site, but for some reason I couldn't post to the blog, even though I tried.  I have a few posts to catch up on for the trip - probably do this over the next few days.

The Marine Corps base I visited this time is probably slightly bigger than the Army base I visited in Japan a couple of months ago, and like the Army base, there were nearby installations I needed to visit for some data gathering efforts - one of my trips this time took me to Parris Island, one of the two basic training installations for the Marines.  It's beautiful there - but I'm sure the recruits don't have time to notice and enjoy it!

As you enter the gate at the main base where I worked, there are a half dozen aircraft on display, dating back to the Korean War and Vietnam, although I didn't go over to those and photograph them.  There was some refurbishment and painting going on, and they were just outside the gate - walkable, but with a little bit of logistics, more than I wanted.

These three aircraft were fairly close by the lodging, so I took a quick walk over to them on Tuesday morning to have a look.  The first, and my favorite, is the CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter, done up here in the search and rescue paint scheme.  Second, the A-4 Skyhawk, shown here in Agressor paint scheme, which mimics Warsaw Pact camoflage of the '70's and '80's - besides the tactical missions these planes were used for through the 1980's, they were also used in this important air combat training role (even at the TOPGUN school).  Finally, befitting a Marine fighter base (Beaufort is known as Fightertown East), here is an F/A-18 Hornet. 

Like I said, I have a few more posts to put up from the trip...and then we'll get back to our regularly scheduled programming!