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F-18E/F and EA-18G


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A couple notes:

CVW-14 had to be re-instated because the FY12 Budget as passed explicitly said the Navy had to maintain 10 CVW's. Essentially, the Navy jumped the gun.

You'll see more C squadron's moving to the E/F as the C's are timing out, E/F's are still in production (and cheap) and JSF is nowhere on the horizon for the Navy. As for 151....22 had always been a single seat squadron (their whole history) until late 2006. So, not unheard of or does it really matter.

HTH

Spongebob

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Does anyone have a picture of F/A-18A VFA-161 Chargers with NF tailcode? I have just one pic of NF101 and I can not find other. Superscale made decals for this jet (72-551).

Probably I saw it - but it was just a tail drawing, not a photo - somewhere in "Hornet" by Lou Drendel, published around early 1990s by Squadron/Signal. However, I am not sure the drawing was based on a real bird, because also I saw a tail of VFA-192 or VFA-195's F/A-18A with "NM" code letters there, so there might have been some overinterpretation/misinformation.

As far as I remember, according to "Dictionary of Naval Aviation Squadrons" by Mr Roy Grossnick of U.S. Naval Historical Center, CVW-5 was VF-161's last assignment on Phantoms, but after the transition VFA-161 was never assigned to any other wing than CVW-10. There is a chance they temporarily carried their old tail code during the transition, but Mr Drendel had his orientation flight at VFA-106, so how could he know what was going on then at Lemoore...?

BTW, IIRC VFA-161's Hornet (with "NM" code letters) was starring in a B-class VHS movie called "Supercarier".

Edited by Jacek Z.
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I agree 151 transitioning to the F seems wired. But CVW-1 has VFA-11 and VFA-211 both flying the F/A-18F. I read it in a magazine published late last year. Maybe its a typo.

Please, be aware of the fact that one of CVW-1's Foxtrot squadrons is taken over from the tenth (usually dormant) CVW ;) There were 10 F/A-18F squadrons, one for each of 10 CVWs. Not so long ago there was a typo saying that VFA-86 would get the F model...

I guess main effort on a double-seater production line is now for EA-18G. If they're any F/A-18Fs produced, they must be either for export, or as a replacement for the aircraft lost in accidents etc. BTW, operating double-seater squadrons in these "cheap" times of today is less cost-effective, apart from the fact that double-seaters are the best choice for FAC(A), deep interdiction or EW sorties.

Edited by Jacek Z.
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Probably I saw it - but it was just a tail drawing, not a photo - somewhere in "Hornet" by Lou Drendel, published around early 1990s by Squadron/Signal. However, I am not sure the drawing was based on a real bird, because also I saw a tail of VFA-192 or VFA-195's F/A-18A with "NM" code letters there, so there might have been some overinterpretation/misinformation.

As far as I remember, according to "Dictionary of Naval Aviation Squadrons" by Mr Roy Grossnick of U.S. Naval Historical Center, CVW-5 was VF-161's last assignment on Phantoms, but after the transition VFA-161 was never assigned to any other wing than CVW-10. There is a chance they temporarily carried their old tail code during the transition, but Mr Drendel had his orientation flight at VFA-106, so how could he know what was going on then at Lemoore...?

BTW, IIRC VFA-161's Hornet (with "NM" code letters) was starring in a B-class VHS movie called "Supercarier".

Jacek, please see my post #1365 above in regards to the VFA-161. #101NF Hornet ...

-Gregg

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Does anyone have a picture of F/A-18A VFA-161 Chargers with NF tailcode? I have just one pic of NF101 and I can not find other. Superscale made decals for this jet (72-551).

Although this really needs to be in the Legacy Hornet thread, I'll throw in an answer to this one.....

The December 1986 issue of Koku Fan Magazine has four photos of VFA-161 Hornets, NF 101 included:

kf86dec-002b.jpg

kf86dec-003b.jpg

A link to the full gallery is here: Koku Fan Magazine Articles on MidwaySailor.com (bottom of page)

Edited by Midway Sailor
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Yes, they've had it for this entire current Cruise ...

I believe it was due to a major maintenance issue with one of their Echoes just before they left for the boat and the Foxtrot was all that VFA-122 could could give up at the time ... Or something to that effect ...

-Gregg

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Although this really needs to be in the Legacy Hornet thread, I'll throw in an answer to this one.....

The December 1986 issue of Koku Fan Magazine has four photos of VFA-161 Hornets, NF 101 included:

A link to the full gallery is here: Koku Fan Magazine Articles on MidwaySailor.com (bottom of page)

Thanks for pics, Troy! Why I have not found them earlier on your web...? :doh::doh::doh:

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web_120718-N-XL102-453.jpg

ATLANTIC OCEAN (July 18, 2012) An EA-18G Growler assigned to the Zappers of Airborne Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 130 lands aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Harry S. Truman is underway conducting flight deck certification. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Tyler Caswell/Released)

>>> Hi Res <<<

-Gregg

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I saw this mentioned earlier, but didn't catch any replies to it (I was traveling and away from the boards for a couple weeks). But as to CVW-17 cruising in the Pacific with 'AA' - they've already done one like that. In fact I just flew in AA-502 today...

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I saw this mentioned earlier, but didn't catch any replies to it (I was traveling and away from the boards for a couple weeks). But as to CVW-17 cruising in the Pacific with 'AA' - they've already done one like that. In fact I just flew in AA-502 today...

Garudas!!!!!!! One of my favorite VAQ squadrons!

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I saw this mentioned earlier, but didn't catch any replies to it (I was traveling and away from the boards for a couple weeks). But as to CVW-17 cruising in the Pacific with 'AA' - they've already done one like that. In fact I just flew in AA-502 today...

What ship are you aboard currently?

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What ship are you aboard currently?

I'm not. Shore duty, which is why I fly with random squadrons (though the pool of random squadrons I fly with is shrinking because they keep turning them in for the 'plastic fantastic').

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Again this year VFA-106 came up to Detroit for the APBA Gold Cup Hydroplane races on the Detroit river. Here's a few shots of the “Gladiators' tearing it up in the "Big D"

VFA-106_demo_1.jpg

VFA-106_demo_2.jpg

VFA-106_demo_3.jpg

VFA-106_demo_4.jpg

VFA-106_demo_5.jpg

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So will you be flying in the Growler someday? How many Prowler squadrons remain at this point?

Remaining E/A-6B Prowler Squadrons:

VAQ-131 Lancers/CVW-2

VAQ-133 Wizards/CVW-9

VAQ-134 Garudas/CVW-17

VAQ-137 Rooks/CVW-1

VAQ-140 Patriots/CVW-7

VAQ-142 Grey Wolves/CVW-11

VAQ-209 Star Warriors (NAF Andrews)

VAQ-136 Gauntlets and VAQ-139 Cougars are currently transitioning to the Growler

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A quick heads-up...a new issue of The Hook magazine arrived today. It says that the VFA-94 Mighty Shrikes just joined CVW-17 last month. Not sure which squadron they are replacing. Also saw pics of an HSC-4 helo on the Navy's website with an 'ND' tailcode a few days ago. I'm wondering if that could be a new CVW-17 tailcode? I think the last time 'ND' was used was with CVWR-30.

Jeff

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So will you be flying in the Growler someday? How many Prowler squadrons remain at this point?

I'm told there's no FRS transition spots open for me for the foreseeable future, but I'm OK with that. There's an OUTSIDE chance I might get to 2000 Prowler hours, so I'm perfectly happy flying the old girl as long as there's squadrons still around for me to fly with ;)

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A quick heads-up...a new issue of The Hook magazine arrived today. It says that the VFA-94 Mighty Shrikes just joined CVW-17 last month. Not sure which squadron they are replacing. Also saw pics of an HSC-4 helo on the Navy's website with an 'ND' tailcode a few days ago. I'm wondering if that could be a new CVW-17 tailcode? I think the last time 'ND' was used was with CVWR-30.

Jeff

Thats very interesting! I imagine VFA-94 would replace either VFA-25 who is converting to the F/A-18E or more likely VFA-113 which is the only remaining legacy Hornet squadron left in CVW-17. HSC-4 was or is assigned to CVW-14. unless with the movement of the wing to PACFLT, the former ALTFLT helo squadrons are being replaced by CVW-14's. But I don't understand the photo you speek of is from RIMPAC '12. Only CVW-11 participated, not 14 or 17. So why is HSC-4 out without its airwing and flying an oddl tail code.

Oh how I miss the days when I could go into my local hobby shop and buy the Hook. I keep dropping hints about what a great gift a membership would make, but nobody seems to understand.

Edited by Moffettflyer
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Thats very interesting! I imagine VFA-94 would replace either VFA-25 who is converting to the F/A-18E or more likely VFA-113 which is the only remaining legacy Hornet squadron left in CVW-17.

My guess is they replaced VFA-25: If "Fists" already entered the transition pipeline, they are not deployable until they are given the safe-for-flight status and reach the Initial Operational Capability (IOC) with F/A-18E. And CVW-17, who just returned from the cruise, might be in some post-deployment emergency readiness, what was to become a common practice since the Navy extended deployment cycles from 24 to 27 months, so filling the gap after a missing squadron is required.

BTW, anyone knows the story behind this NF-101? Or can translate from Japanese...:) I wonder how it happened when VF-161, being a CVW-5 squadron, became a CVW-10 one. In the article they also mention VFA-151, -192, -195, and VA-93 and VA-56 who were CVW-5's A-7 squadrons, according to some sources expected to transition to F/A-18 (sadly disbanded instead).

Edited by Jacek Z.
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Others have explained VF-161. But as far as I read, VF-161 was flying Phantoms with CAG 5. When it came time to transition to Tomcats it did not happen. I guess they ran out of money or had enough squadrons by then. They were not the only ones, VF-151, VF-92, VF-96, VF-191 and 194 also did not get the call to transition and all became history.

Later someone found a few bucks laying around, and CVW-10 was breifly formed but sadly disbanded again before their schedualed cruise on USS Indepndance with NM codes. Since its nice to remember history (apart from the first Tomcat squadrons VF-1 and 2 which as far as I am concerned should have become VF-92 and 96....but no one asked me) recently retired squadron numbers were used to form the "new" airwing. VF-191 and 194 got the Tomcats , VF-161 and (was it?) 151 got the Hornets.

Shortly after this came the BIG cuts when near half the Tomcat squadrons disbanded.

Now keep in mind that 74% of all statistics on the internet are pulled out of ones butt :monkeydance: or questionable memory so take my info with a bag of salt........ But I think I am mostly right. :rolleyes:

Edited by phantom
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Also don't overlook that all the Essex class carriers went away post-Vietnam, which lead to the deactivation of several airwings and a slew of light attack squadrons as the Navy got out of the A-4 buisness. As for VF-1 & 2, it's always better to stand up a couple new (old?) squadrons to start the fleet introduction as you don't have to fill holes in airwings if things go slower than planned to getting a reasonably mature product out there. Remember back in the '80's it was felt that the Hornet was fielded prematurely (only 1 cleared A/G weapon) but politics come into play.

HTH

Spongebob

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