sundowner Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 This F/A-18C 163451 was photographed at NAS Pensacola on 29 06 '08 , maybe the first "C" model for the Blues?? Cheers , Henk Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 (edited) I agree with you Henk ... Looks like it recently went through rework, no standard scheme and has a minimum of stencils on ... Gregg Edited July 31, 2008 by GreyGhost Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mario krijan Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 Nice picture! is that some kind of primer for future blue?? :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Boman Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 Looks like the team is also changing their name from "Blue Angels" to "Puke-green angels" :lol: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
yardbird78 Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 They have been flying the A model for over 20 years, so I guess that it is about time they got the updated version of the Hornet. Darwin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
svaz Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 It's not gray! It's so beautiful :lol: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
niart17 Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 i'd say you're right, it looks like it's lined up to be a BA. it even has their intake covers on it. it's funny that they'd take the time to repaint the warnings and stencils just to be painted over, maybe it was painted that way before it had been designated for them? Great photo and thanks for sharing. Bill Quote Link to post Share on other sites
f14tomcat Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 They are going to the"Charlie" model next year and the birds are in rework now. So, that one looks ready for painting after checkout. The Blue Birds are flying some of the oldest A's in the fleet. And they are beatup. They are flown alot and HARD! Glad they are getting newER birds. But, would have been nice to get "Echo" models. Wayne Quote Link to post Share on other sites
illithid00 Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 But, would have been nice to get "Echo" models. A Blue Angels F/A-18E would be awesome! They'll probably get them eventually, sometime down the road. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wakko807 Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 :P Hee hee that's funny! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SimFixer Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 They have been flying the A model for over 20 years, so I guess that it is about time they got the updated version of the Hornet. As more E/F's enter the fleet, more and more C/D's will become available for such missions. I guess it reached a point where the Blues could finally start takin' C/D's outta D-M (or the active fleet) and start retiring the older jets. ...it's funny that they'd take the time to repaint the warnings and stencils just to be painted over, maybe it was painted that way before it had been designated for them? I think it's a safety issue. Even if there's no topcoat, if it's gonna be operated it needs the basic safety designations applied. Hence the intake and air data component warnings. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brian P: Fightertown Decals Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 (edited) Blues can get the C because the fleet has flown them to the max trap life much faster than planned. Of course, they are also going to have a large portion of the Legacy Hornets reach their airframe life sooner than planned as well... Trust me, having the E/F in the fleet hasn't 'freed' up anything. The Navy has a tough time just meeting requirements and with far less equipment than is required. The E/F is almost more a stopgap measure until JSF comes online. E models aren't even in the planning concept for the Blues, and so far the Navy has made it clear that they won't be getting them. -brian Edited July 31, 2008 by Brian P: Fightertown Decals Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vesper Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 Looks like an NSAWC bird in the works rather than a BA bird. . . Ves :P Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CraigSargent Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 Nice evenly applied wash in those panel lines... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
g0_command0 Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 Kinda O/T Im curious if the marines ever picked a replacement for the F/A-18D Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vesper Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 THink they're still hedging on the JSF to replace everything. . . Ves :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mhoupt Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 I agree with you Henk ... Looks like it recently went through rework, no standard scheme and has a minimum of stencils on ... Gregg It is a model - panel lines are way over done. (just kidding - but being observant) Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stealthy1 Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 Anyone got a BuNo on this? What former squadron, if any, did this bird come from? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Midnight Storm Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 (edited) Anyone got a BuNo on this? What former squadron, if any, did this bird come from? 163451, VMFAT-101 SH-234 :o Edited August 1, 2008 by Midnight Storm Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sundowner Posted August 1, 2008 Author Share Posted August 1, 2008 Anyone got a BuNo on this? What former squadron, if any, did this bird come from? This Hornet 163451 came from VMFAT-101 SH-234 , last noted in 2005 HTH Henk Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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