Fly-n-hi Posted October 8, 2019 Share Posted October 8, 2019 Specifically, I'd like to know what color AIM-9M Sidewinders would have been on Bitburg F-15Cs in 1983. I'm guessing grey but I'd like to be sure. I've google searched a million different phrases but I never really get any solid answers. And photos of the planes back then aren't really clear. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mstor Posted October 9, 2019 Share Posted October 9, 2019 You are definitely right. Finding F-15C pics from back then with Sidewinders loaded was like looking for hen's teeth. The few I could find showed grey bodies and dark anodized metal forward sections. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Murph Posted October 9, 2019 Share Posted October 9, 2019 The base color by that point was Light Ghost Gray, but you could still find missiles with white warhead sections or aft fins. When we loaded up our jets in 1991 for Desert Shield I was amazed how many of the AIM-9Ms still had white fins. Regards, Murph Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ikar Posted October 10, 2019 Share Posted October 10, 2019 (edited) Back in the early 80s, when Empire Strikes Back arrived on base this is what our ships looked like: This was the only ship I saw with its side tanks. I spent most of my time in the Ops. building, I knew when they flew with live missiles but rarely got to see them loaded. Edited October 10, 2019 by ikar Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fly-n-hi Posted October 10, 2019 Author Share Posted October 10, 2019 So iKar, is it safe to assume the BT Eagles would also have the same color load out? And thx to rest for all of the replies! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GW8345 Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 Back in the early 80s, when Empire Strikes Back arrived on base this is what our ships looked like: This was the only ship I saw with its side tanks. I spent most of my time in the Ops. building, I knew when they flew with live missiles but rarely got to see them loaded. Just want to make a few comments; For the top pic, the missiles are Inert Training Missiles (i.e. CATM's) and are not indicative of what live missiles would look like. Also, the Sparrows are ground training missiles only (gold bands are for ground training missiles) and are not cleared for flight. (the Sidewinders are CATM-9L's and the Sparrows are CATM-7F-3's) For the bottom pic, again, the missiles (and the bomb) are inert training rounds, the Sparrow are (again) ground training rounds and not all the wings/fins are installed. FWIW: I didn't join the USN until 84 but all the AIM-9M's I saw back then were light ghost grey. Rarely there would be one or two with different color sections but normally, all the components were the same color (except for the CCG) just my $0.02, ymmv Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fly-n-hi Posted October 16, 2019 Author Share Posted October 16, 2019 I ended up building it as a 1991 bird so its a moot point now. Thanks for the pics and info guys!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stalal Posted October 17, 2019 Share Posted October 17, 2019 Looking at those old pictures of missiles in 1980s, the color looks more like white but with gray undertone. I think Gunze H316 captures that color very well. Its neither totally white nor gray. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Michael A. Posted October 17, 2019 Share Posted October 17, 2019 stalal This is all I am able to pull up! Sorry, the requested page does not exist. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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