[ArmstedFragg]

Out of curiosity....

Those direct flights usually come in from the north-east, taking a course that leads them roughly over Denver, Vegas, then in.

So.... why would they be hanging out west of LAX and refueling at sea, unless maybe their primary focus is Mexicana?

[Central Scrutiniser]

If you notice the map, there is lots of weather around Las Vegas (LAS) and over the mountains into LAX, most likely, they anticipated this and asked for a better routing hours ago that misses most of that and allows them to make up some time lost from the late departure.

[BurbankKarl]

the CAP flights refuel over the Pacific because that is the refueling area for SOCal....

I dont know what base Tanker 64 came from...but they met up with the F16s from Tucson over the ocean...then refueled them...the F16s are now in CenCal I believe...I havent heard anything for a while. I do not know if the tanker is still running circles over the Pacific, or landed at March or somewhere.

For the past several weeks, Montana ANG = Magic and Tucson ANG = Bluto have been flying around LA at various times. Generally we get planes from Lemoore NAS...but I don't think they are available right now. New Mexico ANG = TACO has been heard this fall...

Jan 1st will be some real listening, with the CAP, and the F22, B2 and F117 all flying around.