Spike72 Posted March 10, 2020 Share Posted March 10, 2020 1 hour ago, Darren Roberts said: Do you notice what's different about the EA-18G paint scheme? It's not Dark Ghost Gray over Light Ghost Gray. It's Medium Gray over Light Ghost Gray. That's something I haven't seen before. I wonder if this will be a new scheme? That has been the CAG bird scheme for awhile. Furball had it on their CVW-8 sheet. The other thing to note is the NL tail code now instead of the AJ. I guess CVW-8 is still on limited flying hours so they pulled them out of the air wing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted March 10, 2020 Share Posted March 10, 2020 14 hours ago, Spike72 said: That has been the CAG bird scheme for awhile. Furball had it on their CVW-8 sheet. The other thing to note is the NL tail code now instead of the AJ. I guess CVW-8 is still on limited flying hours so they pulled them out of the air wing. So is that a new camo scheme for all SH’s or just a one-off? I really like it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spook498 Posted March 10, 2020 Share Posted March 10, 2020 14 hours ago, Spike72 said: The other thing to note is the NL tail code now instead of the AJ. I guess CVW-8 is still on limited flying hours so they pulled them out of the air wing. Interestingly enough, VFA-97 is now flying with AJ CVW-8 codes as well. There were flying CVW-9 NG with a mock digital paint job on the vert stabs with a red adversary star. Both are gone now. However, -97 is slated for transition to the -35C. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spike72 Posted March 10, 2020 Share Posted March 10, 2020 2 hours ago, 11bee said: So is that a new camo scheme for all SH’s or just a one-off? I really like it. Probably just a one off for the CAG bird. They get to make it look different without being over the top in color in case another directive comes out to tone it down. 1 hour ago, Spook498 said: Interestingly enough, VFA-97 is now flying with AJ CVW-8 codes as well. There were flying CVW-9 NG with a mock digital paint job on the vert stabs with a red adversary star. Both are gone now. However, -97 is slated for transition to the -35C. Maybe just for admin purposes if CVW-9 was going to start work ups and needed another E model squadron. They could slot -97 into 8 while they begin transition. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shion Posted March 10, 2020 Share Posted March 10, 2020 (edited) 18 hours ago, Spike72 said: That has been the CAG bird scheme for awhile. Furball had it on their CVW-8 sheet. The other thing to note is the NL tail code now instead of the AJ. I guess CVW-8 is still on limited flying hours so they pulled them out of the air wing. The last Growler unit, VAQ-143, is coming, and will fill the gap in the CVW-8. The need for more purple squadrons is more present, so VAQ-131 became an expeditionary sq one year (or more) ago. Edited March 10, 2020 by shion Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted March 10, 2020 Share Posted March 10, 2020 Anyone ever notice the yellow band across the aft belly of the Blues before? I've never noticed it before. -Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ESzczesniak Posted March 10, 2020 Share Posted March 10, 2020 I had not noticed those stripes. A helpful catch as I'm getting ready to embark on building a number of blues birds. I'm ready to be corrected, but I suspect they may have some use for the pilots "flying the paint". It seems too delicate to serve any decorative purpose and odd to be a warning. But I know these tight formation groups tend to hold position by fixing some marking or paint reference on their bird on a reference of the other aircraft, hence "flying the paint". Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted March 10, 2020 Share Posted March 10, 2020 3 minutes ago, ESzczesniak said: I had not noticed those stripes. A helpful catch as I'm getting ready to embark on building a number of blues birds. I'm ready to be corrected, but I suspect they may have some use for the pilots "flying the paint". It seems too delicate to serve any decorative purpose and odd to be a warning. But I know these tight formation groups tend to hold position by fixing some marking or paint reference on their bird on a reference of the other aircraft, hence "flying the paint". Turbine warning stripe? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ESzczesniak Posted March 10, 2020 Share Posted March 10, 2020 (edited) 8 minutes ago, 11bee said: Turbine warning stripe? I'd expect to see a similar stripe on the fleet birds then. I'm in the midst of building a legacy Hornet and am not finding a similar line on any of them (reference pics). Edited March 10, 2020 by ESzczesniak Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Finn Posted March 10, 2020 Share Posted March 10, 2020 Fancy tails: Prowlers, Intruder, Skyhawks and a Hornet: Jari Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Collin Posted March 11, 2020 Author Share Posted March 11, 2020 2 hours ago, ESzczesniak said: I had not noticed those stripes. A helpful catch as I'm getting ready to embark on building a number of blues birds. I'm ready to be corrected, but I suspect they may have some use for the pilots "flying the paint". It seems too delicate to serve any decorative purpose and odd to be a warning. But I know these tight formation groups tend to hold position by fixing some marking or paint reference on their bird on a reference of the other aircraft, hence "flying the paint". Forms a nice bearing line for the slot aircraft in that first picture seems to me. Trailing edge of wings lined up continuous with the yellow strip would tell me I’m on the correct bearing line and in position. Never saw this on a legacy bird, but ours were so dirty it could be easily missed. Cheers Collin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
eraucubsfan Posted March 11, 2020 Share Posted March 11, 2020 I wonder if it's only on the Blue's aircraft during their practice sessions in the desert? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted March 11, 2020 Share Posted March 11, 2020 (edited) From late last season: #5 jet. #5 jet has it, #6 appears to not have it ... -Gregg Edited March 11, 2020 by GreyGhost Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Finn Posted March 11, 2020 Share Posted March 11, 2020 A couple of F-14s from the same squadron with different shades of grey: also note 207 has a missing panel even though it has a full missile load. Jari Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Darren Roberts Posted March 12, 2020 Share Posted March 12, 2020 Nice shot of the Sluggers. There were a couple of squadrons during the transition from overall Gull Gray to TPS that had a mix, much like back in the 50's when they transitioned from Dark Sea Blue to Gull Gray/White. I always thought it was weird to see the gray markings on a Gull Gray Tomcat. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Whiskey Posted March 12, 2020 Share Posted March 12, 2020 Love the VF-11 and 103 pics. Don't think I've ever noticed them before. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Collin Posted March 13, 2020 Author Share Posted March 13, 2020 And a little USMC Hornet love: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Slartibartfast Posted March 13, 2020 Share Posted March 13, 2020 Re-BA underbody stripe: That's a turbine warning stripe to let the slot guy know where the FOD came from. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Collin Posted March 17, 2020 Author Share Posted March 17, 2020 CAPT Scott Speicher scheme. Looks like under the stb LEX there is a pic and narrative which I assume tells the story of CAPT Speicher and his MIA situation. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 Awesome shots of CAG9 A+ Tomcats! Thanks Whiskey! -Gtegg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mstor Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 56 minutes ago, Whiskey said: Where were these F-14s photographed? Was this temp camo for Top Gun type exercises, or for Desert Storm? Looks like they are parked on a tarmac not a carrier. I don't remember seeing decals for these schemes, though my memory is trying to jog me about Thief of Baghdad. That one sounds familiar somehow. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Whiskey Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 9 minutes ago, Mstor said: Where were these F-14s photographed? Was this temp camo for Top Gun type exercises, or for Desert Storm? Looks like they are parked on a tarmac not a carrier. I don't remember seeing decals for these schemes, though my memory is trying to jog me about Thief of Baghdad. That one sounds familiar somehow. https://flic.kr/s/aHsiSZmW2n https://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/Rev1/001-100/rev020-Twobobs48025/00.shtm https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/hyperscale/f-14b-camel-smoker-and-thief-of-baghdad-from-vf-24-t243423.html https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=236946 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mstor Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 Thanks Whiskey! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Collin Posted March 27, 2020 Author Share Posted March 27, 2020 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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