Camus272

Yeah, as an aviation photographer, I can say that tracking and focusing on something like an F4U (or the Blue Angels) is much, much easier than a tactically painted F-16 or F-18 demo. Thunderbirds white is kind of an odd case, as it can blend with the clouds, or can be easily visible, but reflecting so much light that no details are easily detected.

I don't recall that they ever had free shipping. They've had some cheaper surface options, but that's as good as it gets.

Mixing has been the case in a number of aggressor schemes, where the resulting color has no FS number, or 5% darker, etc (and sometimes the result was not intended). I don't believe that paint has to legally match a pre-determined color.

Between 4 and 10 F-22s are damaged. That's going to hurt.

This is true of all airshows. Since 2011 things have been declining (although not as bad as 2013 when there were no teams and 2014 when no static displays were allowed at civilian shows). Things have been getting better, but they aren't the same - the F-18 demo was only at 3 or 4 shows this year. Just last weekend, the F-22 demo cancelled because of "operational requirements." Even at shows like Nellis, which as a kind of Air Force "home" show has been immense, it's not quite the same. They don't usually get the F-18 demo anymore, and they don't have the single AF demos that used to compliment the Thunderbirds (the show has also gone to alternate years). At many civilian shows there are very few statics- maybe two -,there aren't as many fly-overs these days, and if the Thunderbirds are flying there won't be any other AF appearances. As for why: budget. After the Budget Control Act of 2011 the Air Force started making cuts (followed by the full sequester disaster), now it seems that the services are just concentrating on getting higher percentages of aircraft mission-ready and airshow appearances can't be a priority

The Russians have tried that. The first time I found about that was flying Fighters Anthology and as I was closing in on the rear of a Sukhoi fighter I was blown out of the sky. An interesting idea, and if the Russians had a pressing need to make it work, could be useful.

Because there wasn't the need (or budget) for it. The Cold War was over, and large forces of carrier-attacking aircraft have not been anticipated. The F-14 was largely designed around the AIM-54 long range missile, a weapon whose role has not been filled with a replacement either, but eventually outlived its mission anyway. The SH was conceived as a stop gap to keep the carrier decks capable until the Navy could get a fifth-generation fighter. From what I hear from Hornet pilots (And engineers from PAX River), the prominent deficiency in the Super Hornet is the under-powered engine which they would like to see upgraded. The legacy Hornets have better performance, and it seems weird that the Navy has not addressed this in all these years. But, the SH is not a bad fighter and a decent attack plane, (jack of all trades but master of none) and it's done its job for nearly 20 years now (and we haven't lost any carriers).

Well, NFWS is gone, but doesn't Topgun remain as a course within NAWDC?

The difference with the F-16 is that the newer model had better performance in the same airframe. Now, the Blues will have somewhat reduced performance with a significantly different size in the airframe. I'm sure (as I've seen stated) that they would very much prefer to keep the legacy model. But, you're right that maintenance issues will soon necessitate a change. At least we have a few more years. After this summer's show, I was wondering if that was the last time I would see a legacy F-18.

The plan now is to transition at the end of the 2021 season.

No, I don't know of one, and I assume from my own research that there isn't one. I've been thinking about it though. I have some schedules from the late 80s/ early 90s, and years from this century should be on the internet. I'd be happy to put a page together, if anyone has any Thunderbirds / Blue Angels schedules (most likely in print), I could work on adding them together.

B-2 flyovers are a bit different- its very quiet, It just kind of appears and then its gone. With the B-1 flyovers Ive seen they come by fast and loud and then quickly disappear.

Back in the 80s I built 1/48, 1/72, and 1/32 equally (and so my displays were a bit mismatched). When I returned to the hobby around 2000, I put some thought into scale. I wanted to keep everything the same If I could, to make everything comparable. 1/32 was clearly out because of space and availability. Between the other two, I don't really like the look of 1/72 - shape is usually a bit off, especially with things like missiles- and given the wider range of available kits and decals in 1/48, as well as the better detail I went with that. So far there is only one subject that hasn't been easily available in 1/48 is the B-2 (and maybe the Su-47 now that I think about it), everything else I've wanted I've been able to get.

For the B-2, I've seen flyovers at a few shows. I've only seen it as a static at Nellis, and I imagine Whiteman would always have one. ACC usually has a page with the flyover schedule, but it doesn't seem to be working right now (or there is nothing scheduled other than demo teams). 2019 is definitely not scheduled yet, they usually announce around March, but the flyovers can change - so shows probably only know a few months beforehand. For the teams together, I've heard of it happening two or three times in recent decades (one being the Columbus show mentioned above), so it's exceedingly rare (requiring DOD approval). Next year's Thunderbird's show in Fargo the same weekend as the Blues in Duluth might be about as close as they can get.

Exactly, the Star Wars story films are obviously done much better than this whole sequel trilogy. I think it was a really good film, and I never had any thought that I wasn't watching Han Solo. I couldn't find much to criticize, there are two or three small things, but not necessarily worth nitpicking. Regarding Lando, one critique I've heard was that it was a little too close, - the actor was playing Billy Dee Williams playing Lando. In any case, I think it worked. Well, I don't think the story is over yet. The actors are signed on for three films. Who knows after the initial box office returns, but it's clear that there will be a continuing story with Qi'Ra and Darth *****, either in other anthology films or more Solo ones. We still need to find out who that crime lord is on Tatooine.