Jacek Z.

Some unit talk (if you don't mind): Have you seen the news in Air International magazine of April 2013? [bTW, this issue with an appendix about Growler, discussing EA-18G development and its first sea- and shore-based deployments.] Good heavens, they say due to budget constraints some Carrier Air Wings may "stand down" (cease operating) in Fiscal Year 2013 until more funds are found. It was expected to start with CVW-2 to stand down in April, and CVW-7, CVW-9, CVW-17 to follow, leaving only six CVWs operable! If there is nothing to stop the plan, it might all end up with some F/A-18 squadron

AFAIK, Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic or Strike Fighter Wing Pacific, depending on their base. Just like in case of training and 'aggressor' squadrons, except reserve squadrons, who report to a different command. In other words, they're in 'the pool', to be used by any command who needs them (CVW, UDP, other).

By the way... It was mentioned here that ocassionally F/A-18D squadrons flew some single-seaters. Here's the other way round: VMFA-232 having a double-seater assigned. What's more, it's ATARS VMFA-232's F/A-18D WT-03 Jun 2010

The article mentions that the reasons for VMA-211 transitioning are they loses of as many as 6 aircraft recently in combat (I am not sure what is PAA number for USMC Harrier squadrons - 16?). Also, I think some political correctness, with F/A-18 and AV-8B communities starting the transition to F-35B at the same time. I wouldn't be surprised if, beside VMFA(AW)-332, VMFA-212 and VMFAT-101 (someday), some other Hornet/Harrier squadrons, incl. VMFA-112, are "lost in transition". The VMA reserve all vanished with the introduction of AV-8B and retirement of A-4 Skyhawk...

BTW, am I the only one to remember that while VMFA(AW)-332 were deactivated, it was promised they were going to be the first VMFA for F-35B? :blink:

Thanks, Jeff, for sharing the info from "the Hook" (not very easy to take a look at it here in Europe) "Air International" (November 2012 issue) says VFA-151 started their transition to Echo in October 2012 (i.e. FY2013, that makes sense). VMFA(AW)-121, sadly lost to F/A-18 community, is redesignated to VMFA-121 and sent to MCAS Yuma, with their first ugly F-35B expected to arrive this month. Also they mention helicopter squadrons swap between CVW-2 and CVW-5: HSM-77 (MH-60R) and HSC-12 (MH-60S) going to Japan in February 2013(?), HS-14 floating back to CONUS, HSL-51 converting to HSM with

Sorry, I meant no offence to anybody.

I believe at some point of the transition they may receive jets with their insignia painted on straight from Boeing, but anyhow, until they get the IOC status, the jets would be still formally assigned to VAQ-129. Otherwise, they could finally get some of VAQ-129 jets and repaint them with VAQ-139 tailcode/modex and insignia.

I believe I've read a piece of article on that in a Polish aviation magazine "Skrzydlata Polska", or somewhere else, but it was many years ago. The only thing I remember those MiG-23s were used there with both air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons (and a lot of flares, due to high risk of Stingers being fired at them). Air-to-air were e.g. standard AA-8 Aphid (R-60). Air-to-ground: I've heard of small 'dumb' bombs attached even to the small weapon hardpoints under the tail. Maybe also cluster bombs or 23mm gun pods. I am not sure about UB-32 pods with unguided rockets (unlike in MiG-27, the p

A new look of VMFA-122 CAG?

Just imagine how much was I surprised seeing Polish "i" instead of "and" in the title. Pozdrawiam* :) *"Pozdrawiam" is something like "Cheers" in Polish.

VAQ-139 -> CVW-8? VAQ-136 -> CVW-2? EDIT: Or CVW-2 and CVW-17, considering that CVW-17's VAQ-134 is now listed by Go!Navy as a part of CVW-8, and Pacific Fleet is on the priority list now

Have you heard about CVW-14 changing their tail code to "ND" (years ago belonging to CVWR-30)?

BTW, speaking about CVW-17's recent arrival at PACFLT, I was really shocked to see such a piece of info by one of users at Scramble messageboard: A second CVW is due for transfer from the Atlantic to Pacific Fleet in FY14. Can it be true?

For all interested, here is the link to a VFA-81 bird with the new tail code at FenceCheck: NA-207