A6BSTARM Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 The pylons are not installed so you don't see them or any pods. This along with two others were passed on from the EF-18G PMA officer to CVWP and it spread as per the norm. Most of these are distance shots so no walk around yet. Report is that the first production verison is supposed to be at the rock by June 2008. Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 Wow, cool Shocker Shots ! :blink: Thanks a bunch for sharing them ! Gregg Link to post Share on other sites
Karl Sander Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 Thank goodness it looks better than the speculative -129 schemes we've seen. I was deathly afraid those damn googly eyes on the inside of the tail would actually be there. Though I'm already sick of the "Rin Tin Tin" logo. Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 Though I'm already sick of the "Rin Tin Tin" logo. :blink: The logo isn't half as bad as the "Official" name ... Gregg Link to post Share on other sites
Karl Sander Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 (edited) :D The logo isn't half as bad as the "Official" name ... Gregg No, but now that I think about it, they go together nicely - as the logo looks like my neighbor's dog, who really seems to enjoy leaving growlers in my front yard. :blink: EDIT- Oh, and looking at the BuNo - 166855. I KNOW there's lots of 159's, and probably a few 158s in my logbook. Wow! Edited September 13, 2007 by Karl Sander Link to post Share on other sites
David Walker Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 (edited) Nice to see photos of the production version. Thanks for posting them. Edited September 13, 2007 by David Walker Link to post Share on other sites
A6BSTARM Posted September 13, 2007 Author Share Posted September 13, 2007 Talking to a spy I have over at CVWP, they told me the plan of attack with intergration and conversion is this. Q-132 is first then they are slated to head to Japan and CVW-5 Q-136 comes home and will more then likely stay at Whidbey Then when a carrier Prowler outfit comes home from their "extra" 4 month surge deployment they will make the conversion to EF-18's. The best of thier jets, I.E. those that have plenty of flight hours left and pass a planned maintenance inspection level with minimal gripes will be passed on to the concrete squadrons the rest will be given to the USMC or flown to the boneyard (depends on how beat up the airframe is and whether it had been upgraded to either ICAP 2 Blk III or ICAP III status). VAQ-133,134,142,209 will continue to fly the EA-6B up until 2015 maybe 2020 and then those will convert to the inital block of EF-18G's (big maybe here). VMAQ-1,2,3,4 will continue to fly EA-6B's until either a Electronic Attack UCAV comes out or a proposed EF-35 variant comes along. They will convert thier current fleet of ICAP 2 Blk 89 (Single EGI) aircaft to ICAP II Blk III or ICAP III aircraft as needed. To the point that by 2010 nearly all of the USMC jets will be either ICAP II Blk III or ICAP III aircraft. VAQ-129 will split in to two dets by the mid 2010's. There will be a EF-18G only unit at Whidbey and possibly an EA-6B only unit at MCAS Cherry Point. Also for you Prowler model builders out there the USMC just cleared all of thier jets to carry the Litening II FLIR pod on the aircraft. I haven't heard which station the pod is supposed to be on but they are doing it to improve situtational awareness. That way everyone but one of the ECMO's has thier heads looking up and out instead of down and out. Link to post Share on other sites
Karl Sander Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 I've heard enough variations of "The Plan" by now to realize that niether Naval Air Forces nor the wing REALLY know what they're going to do until they actually do it... Link to post Share on other sites
yardbird78 Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 And it will probably change at least once in the middle of the changeover. Darwin Link to post Share on other sites
PBoilermaker Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 Did they retain the wingfold mechanism, or did they use that internal wing volume for antennae? If the wings don't fold, is the wingspan reduced or is it larger than the regular Rhino? Link to post Share on other sites
Spongebob Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 I've heard enough variations of "The Plan" by now to realize that niether Naval Air Forces nor the wing REALLY know what they're going to do until they actually do it... Not to mention there will be a new commodore who feels the need to flex their influence... Link to post Share on other sites
Joe Hegedus Posted September 14, 2007 Share Posted September 14, 2007 Did they retain the wingfold mechanism, or did they use that internal wing volume for antennae?If the wings don't fold, is the wingspan reduced or is it larger than the regular Rhino? The wings are the same as any other Super Hornet, including the fold. The inboard leading edge flap is a bit different at the outboard end, and the fences are added, but other than that it's a Super Hornet wing. Link to post Share on other sites
PBoilermaker Posted September 14, 2007 Share Posted September 14, 2007 The wings are the same as any other Super Hornet, including the fold. The inboard leading edge flap is a bit different at the outboard end, and the fences are added, but other than that it's a Super Hornet wing. Aye, thank you for clarifying. Looking at Darren's build with the orange highlights, I assumed the fold was deleted. -Mike Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted September 14, 2007 Share Posted September 14, 2007 The "dogtooth' notch is different on the EA-18 also ... Gregg Link to post Share on other sites
prowler4 Posted September 14, 2007 Share Posted September 14, 2007 Thanks for the pix 'A6BSTARM' I'll miss seeing them on Whidbey. Hope life in OH is agreeing with you. Link to post Share on other sites
Aggressor Supporter Posted September 14, 2007 Share Posted September 14, 2007 Interesting pics of the first Growler. In that first one, both the pilot and WSO look like their asleep at the controls. :D Link to post Share on other sites
Johnopfor Posted September 14, 2007 Share Posted September 14, 2007 The pylons are not installed so you don't see them or any pods. This along with two others were passed on from the EF-18G PMA officer to CVWP and it spread as per the norm. Most of these are distance shots so no walk around yet. Report is that the first production verison is supposed to be at the rock by June 2008. Now, we wait for the AEW version, ASW version, Helicopter version, tiltrotor version, transport version and submarine version of the Super Hornet (The permanent land based tracked armored version was cancelled when the developmental version was shown to the Army and they said "What the f#@k is that?"). Link to post Share on other sites
Cobrahistorian Posted September 14, 2007 Share Posted September 14, 2007 I'm GOING to build an AWACS version. (Hey Sponge, you still have that radome?) Still, cool Shocker! Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted September 14, 2007 Share Posted September 14, 2007 I'm GOING to build an AWACS version. (Hey Sponge, you still have that radome?)Still, cool Shocker! Darren beat ya to it Jon ... >>> Clicky <<< Gregg Link to post Share on other sites
Johnopfor Posted September 14, 2007 Share Posted September 14, 2007 Darren beat ya to it Jon ... >>> Clicky <<< :) Gregg I was wondering when that......thing was going to show up. Link to post Share on other sites
Aggressor Supporter Posted September 14, 2007 Share Posted September 14, 2007 >>> Clicky <<< Haven't seen this until now. Link to post Share on other sites
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