Jayhawk 023

Howdy everyone--
Was departing out of ICT today, a military (presuming USAF) G-III departed in front of us. Call-sign "Trout 98", the jet was painted in the all-gray scheme similar to what is out there on a lot of T-1's and T-6's.

I was just curious if anyone knew who that was or where they're from.

rthompsonjr

I don't know but there was a C-135 they called the Speckled Trout for VIP the SecAF.

C-135 Stratolifter - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Maybe the G was a replacement?

nfnsquared

The AF flightcheck guys used to fly the G3. Might've been them.

USMCFLYR

Really? I didn't know that. I thought they flew the Hawkers that they eventually gave to the FAA when they turned over the mission.

USMCFLYR

TankerBob

I have seen the AF flight check guys "down range" (late 08) in what appeared to be a challenger, but I don't really know what it was. But I know it wasn't a G3.

nfnsquared

Yeah, I stand corrected. It was a Hawker they flew. And they gave up the mission in 1991. Where has the time gone. I had no idea it was that long ago. Damn, I'm an old man!!

http://naco.faa.gov/index.asp?xml=fioo/fihistory

USMCFLYR

I'm pretty sure the AF gave up that mission some time ago but the services have people with the FAA conducting flight checks from the way I understand. There are a few pilots on the forum here who might be able to give more accurate insight. I spoke with a AF O-5 who flew with them last May ('08) at an airshow as he was conducting tours in one of the Challenger 601s (painted all gray)

USMCFLYR

nfnsquared

Yeah, I definitely remember their jets were grey....and I was pretty sure the AF was still doing flight check as of a few years ago, but that faa website has me confused on timeline.

KC10 FATboy

There is a Civilian flight check and a military (USAF) flight check. They interfly when able.

-Fatty

USMCFLYR

If you Google search FAA Flight Check and come across that same website again - look a little further and you'll find a complete FAA Flight Check history written by a guy out of the Sacramento office. It gets a little technical at times but overall it was a good read (skim). The FAA acquired those Hawkers when the military turned over their portion of the flight check services. You see that the website you found also listed the aircraft they currently use - including the Hawkers and Lears. They are slowly replacing those aircraft with Challengers and hope to have an all King air and Challenger (Cl601-605 I heard) fleet in the future.

USMCFLYR

Update. From a VERY reliable source this morning - the USAF still has a mission. Organization is reorganizing from under one acronoym (that I'm unfamiliar with) to fall under AMC soon. Quote "No change in mission - just a chage in patch". They fly all the same aircraft as the FAA except for the Lears (mainly the Challengers and the King Airs). They do have a Gulfstream (4?) based up in Wash DC, but it is part of what they call Hangar 6 (executive transport type of work) and they separated from the flight check office some years ago I understand.