ThePhantomTwo Posted August 2, 2007 Share Posted August 2, 2007 (edited) I visited the base today along with Norris Graser(of SuperScale fame)and Nate Leong(aviation photographer)for one of the unit's last photoshoots.Was suprised they were adding finishing touches to the Colt's victory bird(they were applying them when we hit the flightline),I imagine it has to do with the Colt's being in town for thier pre-season training We only have 8 jets left and one leaving in the next week or so,and two in the hanger for periodical maintenance.Sept. 8th is the last official sortie we'll fly,Jake Melampy will be there to document the whole affair as will I(you'll see Jake's pics first most likely,mine suck compared to his! ;) ),should have a good time that day even though it'll be a sad one as well. Jake's jet,85-1511 Vermount ANG F-16C,83-1150, showed up as I was leaving the flightline,our unit will carry out Phase maintenance on other unit's aircraft for the next year or so and this is the second jet we are taking care of(first was a New Jersey F-16C)so at least we'll have a some Vipers in the sky for awhile,even though they won't be ours. Edited August 2, 2007 by ThePhantomTwo Link to post Share on other sites
jmel Posted August 2, 2007 Share Posted August 2, 2007 Jake's jet,85-1511 I had some real reservations about the Colts jet when I saw it, but it looks great. I can't wait to see it in person! Jake Link to post Share on other sites
mycole Posted August 2, 2007 Share Posted August 2, 2007 :wub: I had some real reservations about the Colts jet when I saw it, but it looks great. I can't wait to see it in person! Jake You're not kidding! That blue is eye catching! Nice looking bird. Link to post Share on other sites
jefropas Posted August 2, 2007 Share Posted August 2, 2007 I still think a Bears jet would've looked better...........but I've always liked the Colts too. The jets growing on me, hopefully the Viper out scheme will kick butt, they still have one in the works, right? I know Hills 419th got little to no publicity.... Jeff Link to post Share on other sites
Chappie Posted August 2, 2007 Share Posted August 2, 2007 What unit did 500 go to? Chappie Link to post Share on other sites
jmel Posted August 2, 2007 Share Posted August 2, 2007 What unit did 500 go to?Chappie It hasn't left yet. It'll be around on September 8th, along with the D-model and Colts jet. I think there will be 4 jets left, right Dave? Jake Link to post Share on other sites
twobobs Posted August 2, 2007 Share Posted August 2, 2007 Interesting talking to the NFL about licensing and copyright issues. Hardest part is getting them to understand what we're doing everytime I deal with them. I've never met a group as protective of their licensing as these guys are. OK OK so are we doing the jet in decal form? Only if we can do it legally and that is in the works. The timing of it is all on the NFL. When they say we're cool, then we're cool.. Wait for it guys, it's coming.... Link to post Share on other sites
ThePhantomTwo Posted August 2, 2007 Author Share Posted August 2, 2007 (edited) It hasn't left yet. It'll be around on September 8th, along with the D-model and Colts jet. I think there will be 4 jets left, right Dave? I know 85-1495 will be one as well as 85-1500,I believe 85-1428 and 85-1505 will be the others.85-1511 will also be on the ramp,not too sure if '500 will fly though,it's still in Phase Maintenance at the moment and they'll have to push to get it thru plus do the FCF's and such but given the amount of people I seen work on it yesterday I think it'll be ready B) If it doesn't fly that day I imagine it'll be a static display for the shin-dig,they are estimating 3,000+ people who have been/are in the unit and thier families. What unit did 500 go to? All our jets are being transfered to the New Jersey ANG Viper out scheme will kick butt, they still have one in the works, right? If they do they've kept it a big secret,as far as I know they won't be doing one even though Jake,myself and a few others have shown them some cool schemes to choose from.The big push is to get the base display aircraft painted and looking pretty,the F-100D on the pole will come down for the first time since 1978,painted and put on the flightline from what I understand. They added the "Racers" with the Colt's head at the base of the fin just yesterday when we were on the line,I like it ALOT better now that they did that,it was too plain without it to me. Interesting talking to the NFL about licensing and copyright issues. Hardest part is getting them to understand what we're doing everytime I deal with them.I've never met a group as protective of their licensing as these guys are. OK OK so are we doing the jet in decal form? Only if we can do it legally and that is in the works. The timing of it is all on the NFL. When they say we're cool, then we're cool.. Wait for it guys, it's coming.... I'll e-mail you our new Community Managers e-mail address and phone number,maybe she can help get things going as well for you.The Colt's are in town for thier pre-season training for the next couple weeks as well,I think are planning a photo-op with the team in front of the jet. Edited August 2, 2007 by ThePhantomTwo Link to post Share on other sites
ThePhantomTwo Posted August 3, 2007 Author Share Posted August 3, 2007 Oh,and if anyone knows someone with a Warbird(P-51,F-86,C-47,T-6,T-33),give me a shout,we are trying to get more of the past a/c we flew on the ramp for the last ever sortie of the unit.I'm going to be contacting a bunch over the next week or so on behalf of the unit and if anyone has any contacts I can get a hold of it would be appreciated. Link to post Share on other sites
ThePhantomTwo Posted August 11, 2007 Author Share Posted August 11, 2007 I still think a Bears jet would've looked better...........but I've always liked the Colts too. The jets growing on me, hopefully the Viper out scheme will kick butt, they still have one in the works, right? I know Hills 419th got little to no publicity....Jeff Jeff,somebody on base must have seen our posts here,found out today they actually did a farewell jet!I knew nothing of this until I seen A former MOC co-worker today,hitting the base for pics Saturday morning.I'm told it's tail is one large 113th FS emblem,guess I'll find out in the A.M.! Link to post Share on other sites
ThePhantomTwo Posted August 11, 2007 Author Share Posted August 11, 2007 (edited) Ok,hit the base this morning to take pics of the new scheme on F-16C 85-1552,which unfortunatly they had already dragged into the hanger and took the canopy off to take care of TCTO items,the egress guys were gracious enough to let me get in thier way for a few minutes for my needed walk-arounds. This is the brunt of the new markings for 85-1552,name on the canopy are in red/black as well,gear door names are still in gray.Also had a few suprise visitors on the ramp as well as you'll see: Markings from '552 removed,they were only temporary for the base's pilot reunion.They have been removed as of the week of August 13. Vermount ANG F-16C(83-1150)undergoing phase maintenance on base,we'll do other units as well until we can't support doing so. A New Mexico F-16C on the ramp,the pilot flew in for a pilot get-together this week. A plain vanilla Alabama F-16C,looks to be recently back fro PDM at Hill AFB. Will post more later in the week if anyone is interested,will be taking more shots of 85-1552 after it gets out of the hanger during the week, Edited August 14, 2007 by ThePhantomTwo Link to post Share on other sites
jmel Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 Ok,hit the base this morning to take pics of the new scheme on F-16C 85-1552 Hey, that's the one I drew!! I had no idea they intended to use anything of mine!! I talked to RJ on the phone for almost an hour last week about the upcoming events. My air-airs did cancel , but it sounds like the last weekend will be great. I'm going to come out late next week and shoot the specially-painted jets one last time during an operational sortie. Can't wait! Jake Link to post Share on other sites
ThePhantomTwo Posted August 11, 2007 Author Share Posted August 11, 2007 I talked to RJ on the phone for almost an hour last week about the upcoming events She said that you were pretty bummed about the tanker ride when I stopped by her office,we talked about the happenings on the 8th,sounds like they dumped the plans for the warbirds though but like she said we'll probably have more than a few cross-country's popping in that weekend for the farewell,the govenor,the AG and few other higher ups will be there for the shin-dig.Tried to send the pics thru my GMail but it kept screwing up,will send them when I get to work Monday night if you want,but if you hit the base this week I'm pretty sure you'll do a great set of walk arounds,far better than mine I noticed the scheme looked like yours with a few variations,would have looked cooler with the black tail with the one scheme you had :wacko: They had pilot reunion get-together thursday and friday hence '552 getting in and out so quick,did think it was weird the used TFS instead of FS on the rudder,guess they were going for a retro type of thing.The crew chief of '505 thinks they should do his as 181st FW jet in the same style as the 113th one. Link to post Share on other sites
jefropas Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 Just got back from 5 days in MI, and see what I missed...That farewell scheme looks awesome! It'll be cool to see the whole jet. Jake, I feel bad for you, no tanker ride, that sucks! I know you'll get the pics though, no matter how they fly that weekend. Looks like yet another set of decals in the works.... Jeff Link to post Share on other sites
ThePhantomTwo Posted August 13, 2007 Author Share Posted August 13, 2007 Just got back from 5 days in MI, and see what I missed...That farewell scheme looks awesome! It'll be cool to see the whole jet. Jake, I feel bad for you, no tanker ride, that sucks! I know you'll get the pics though, no matter how they fly that weekend. Looks like yet another set of decals in the works....Jeff Oh,I think Jake will get pics you won't see done by anyone else Link to post Share on other sites
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