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An Overview
An Overview
Beale Air Force Base sits in the Sacramento Valley, just an hour north of Sacramento. Beale is infamous for housing some of the Air Force's most clandestine operational aircraft. Beale was home to the venerable SR-71 Blackbird when it was operational. On the lesser known side, Beale has also been home to the incredibly secretive U-2 spy plane since it's operational life began.
The 99th Reconnaissance Squadron of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beale operates the U-2, the RQ-4, and the never-before-seen RQ-180. The 1st Reconnaissance Squadron operates the T-38A to keep up proficiency for it's pilots as well as the TU-2 for new deus drivers.
Aside from the super secret squirrel stuff, Beale also houses the 940th Air Refueling Wing. For now, they operate the KC-135, however the 940th is slated to get KC-46's as early as 2025.
Of note, I've only spotted at Beale twice, so this guide is nowhere near as comprehensive as Travis.
Security (VERY IMPORTANT READ VERY THOROUGHLY)
Security (VERY IMPORTANT READ VERY THOROUGHLY)
Beale is a very clandestine base. There is a very high chance you will be stopped by Military Police (MP) while spotting at Beale. As always, carry identification with you when spotting at a military base. In order to make stops by MP as painless as possible, call Beale Public Affairs before heading out to go spotting. Public Affair's number is:
530-634-8887
When calling public affairs, inform them:
You are an amateur photographer
You want to take pictures of the planes from off base property
You will NOT be taking pictures of the base itself
The places you intend to spot from
The timeframe you will be around Beale
Even if the Public Affairs Officer states that they do not need all the information, it is in YOUR best interest to give it anyways. For documentation purposes, ask for the Public Affairs Officer's name in case you are stopped by MP.
Again, Beale is a highly secretive base. MP at Beale are not as sympathetic to spotters. Calling public affairs ahead of time ensures that the worst thing that could happen to you is your shots getting deleted (while this sucks, this is not nearly as bad as other potential outcomes).
As with all military installations, do not loiter at one location too long especially if it is on the base perimeter. Also NEVER park on the side of the road that is next to the base.
General Information
General Information
Amenities
There are no restrooms in the general vicinity of Beale. Yuba City is the closest option for food and restrooms. It is roughly a 20 minute drive into Yuba City from Beale. Plan to get food/use restrooms ahead of times and around the banks.
Lodging is available in neighboring Yuba City, but note Yuba City is not a very large city.
There is no public transportation around.
Weather
The 'best' time to spot at Beale is October through April. Beale can get well above 100°F during the summer. Summer mornings only get to around 90°F around 11AM which can be more bearable.
Beale is a base where mornings are good and afternoons are good for lighting. Late morning and early afternoon do not have good light.
Runway Usage
Beale is a single runway airfield. Runway 15 is the main runway used. If it is summer, you can assume RWY15 will be in use (although checking winds ahead of time is never a bad idea). A mix of RWY15 and RWY33 are used in the late fall, winter, and early spring depending on prevailing winds.
Locations
Locations
There are a many locations on the North side of the base along the Hammonton-Smartsville Road. The locations vary from a more head on angle to a further more side on angle.
West Side of the Field (never spotted from here)
West Side of the Field (never spotted from here)
The west side of the field offers a very good view of the runway and the base. The main downside to this spot is that you are guaranteed to get a visit from base security since you're right next to the Schneider Gate. I've never tried this spot so can't comment on what it's like to spot here.
What Can I See and When Can I See it?
What Can I See and When Can I See it?
T-38
T-38
How Often: T-38's fly pretty much every weekday in 3 banks. Usually 2 -3 T-38's go up per bank and most of the flights work the pattern at Beale. Note all observations are from ADS-B.
When: The banks are:
8AM - 9AM
11AM - 12PM
2PM - 3PM (often this bank is shifted 3PM - 4PM)
Callsigns: ASPEN, ONYX, RECCE, ROPER, SLATE
U-2
U-2
How Often: This is where opsec starts to become a concern, but in general you have a good chance of seeing a U-2 on any given weekday.
When: Again, this is a big opsec concern. In general, you have a higher chance of seeing a U-2 in the morning. For more info, contact me directly.
Callsigns: DRAGON, PINON
KC-135
KC-135
How Often: The KC-135's generally fly everyday
When: They tend to leave around 10AM, but can leave as late as 1PM for training sorties. They will return roughly 3 hours later. Pattern work is not common.
Callsigns: TAHOE
RQ-4
RQ-4
How Often: 🤷🏻♂️
When: 🤷🏻♂️
Callsigns: HAWK
As always, a scanner always helps to let you know what's happening. Scanners will let you know when aircraft are taking off and coming back. That being said, pattern work is pretty easy to follow since you'll almost always have a visual on the aircraft you're trying to photograph. Also if you're sitting close to the field, the amount of noise an aircraft makes on departure will tell you what it is. U-2's are easily the loudest of the aircraft based at Beale.
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