Ocean Sentry Over Fairhope

A US Coast Guard CASA HC-144B Ocean Sentry makes a low pass along the eastern shore of Mobile Bay AUG 9TH 2026. Moving at a ground speed of 159 knots or 182 mph, the aircraft is captured about 1,325 feet up as it passes over the Fairhope pier. The Ocean Sentry is considered particularly effective at surveillance, including locating objects in large search areas, allowing law enforcement or other military entities to approach the target. A rear ramp allows the aircraft to be reconfigured for different types of missions, including passenger transport, medical evacuation, or carrying pumps, rafts or other rescue equipment to assist vessels in distress. With secure and non-secure voice and data communications capability, the Ocean Sentry can also be used for command and control functions. In JUL 2017, the aircraft pictured was assigned to the Coast Guard’s Aviation Training Center in Mobile after serving as a prototype for Minotaur, the name given a mission project integrating upgraded sensors, radar, intelligence and other systems to allow processing and sharing of information to operators on shore for homeland security, disaster response, search and rescue and other missions. Originally built by Spain-based CASA and now Airbus Military, eighteen Ocean Sentrys are on active duty for the Coast Guard. Unit cost for an original model Ocean Sentry before upgrades and modifications is estimated at between $34 million and $40 million. Photo shot from Fairhope, roughly one half mile from the aircraft…