Niels Posted December 15, 2023 Share Posted December 15, 2023 Hi Just stumbled upon this photo of Bu.no. 166889 AG202 with black tails. Anyone know if VFA-103 is re-introducing the all black tails fleet wide? Looking damn good, so absolutely hoping for this 😄 166889 | Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet | United States - US Navy (USN) | Michael Place | JetPhotos FWIW, 166677 AG203 was photographed at the same time but with the "standard" gray tail 166677 | Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet | United States - US Navy (USN) | Michael Place | JetPhotos Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted December 15, 2023 Share Posted December 15, 2023 Niels, although we can't tell what the modex # is, I did notice this the other day on the Navy site ... Its dated Dec. 5th ... -Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Niels Posted December 15, 2023 Author Share Posted December 15, 2023 Nice one @GreyGhost - sees to be AG202, bu.no. 166889 as the paint chipping on the left of the "pizza box" correspond to the same on the photo I linked to? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
achterkirch Posted December 15, 2023 Share Posted December 15, 2023 (edited) From what I heard VFA-103 also had some E’s assigned to them https://www.reddit.com/r/WarplanePorn/s/12lGYKs6DH also in the photo I linked the tail appears to be black as well. Edited December 15, 2023 by achterkirch Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Niels Posted December 15, 2023 Author Share Posted December 15, 2023 The Skull and Bones actually look very good on the F/A-18E 😄 Now imagine that on an F-35C 😍 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RCarlson Posted December 15, 2023 Share Posted December 15, 2023 I like that the E's skull and bones has a patch over one eye! I guess single seat compared to double Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Niels Posted December 15, 2023 Author Share Posted December 15, 2023 Supposedly so - one eyed vs. two eyed, E vs. F Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted December 15, 2023 Share Posted December 15, 2023 I wonder if this has anything to do with transferring CVN-73 to Japan ...? -Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Niels Posted December 15, 2023 Author Share Posted December 15, 2023 The assignment of E's are due to a shortage of F's, so likely shortlived. But still looking gooood 😄 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted December 15, 2023 Share Posted December 15, 2023 Here's the CAG jet, note the new phrase on the centerline tank ... -Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Alternative 4 Posted December 15, 2023 Share Posted December 15, 2023 (edited) Edit: Grey Ghost beat me too it. Edited December 15, 2023 by Alternative 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
southwestforests Posted December 17, 2023 Share Posted December 17, 2023 On 12/15/2023 at 12:03 PM, Niels said: The Skull and Bones actually look very good on the F/A-18E 😄 To me that is still the best fighter plane tail art ever. 🏴🎨🖌️ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ST0RM Posted December 17, 2023 Share Posted December 17, 2023 I've read on a few forums about a move to an all Block III Echo fleet. The F's will be used as parts for the Growlers, also going to a Blk III standard. Apparently, the new software and avionics suite allows the work load to be managed by a single pilot, making a WSO redundant. I've not seen anything on official forums, so... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Niels Posted December 17, 2023 Author Share Posted December 17, 2023 I'm not surprised that WSO's will be gone in the future, but surprised that they may be introducing this already now? Still it makes sence to optimize if the Block III allows this? Mr. Bones looks good on either tail anyway. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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