Something you dont see everyday

Something you dont see everyday

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R988

Original Poster:

7,495 posts

228 months

Friday 16th September 2005
quotequote all
[pic]http://www.patricksaviation.com/uploads/med/1000000666.jpeg[/pic]

[i]A decommissioned F-14A Tomcat, is towed from San Angelo Regional Airport to Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas. [/i]

Only just clears that bridge :)

[pic]http://www.patricksaviation.com/uploads/med/1000001065.jpeg[/pic]

Love the way the hummers look like toy cars stuck under those Stallions :) Hi Res available [url]here|http://www.patricksaviation.com/uploads/1000001065.jpeg[/url]

[pic]http://www.patricksaviation.com/uploads/med/1000001188.jpeg[/pic]

B-1B on the move, notice how all the street lights had to taken down [url]Hi Res|http://www.patricksaviation.com/uploads/1000001188.jpeg[/url]

More cool Hi Res aircraft photos available here
http://www.patricksaviation.com/photographs.php

Eric Mc

121,779 posts

264 months

Friday 16th September 2005
quotequote all
Like the time they towed the Space Shuttle Enterprise by road to Edwards AFB in 1976 - or when they towed a Douglas DC-3 through the streets of Washington DC at the dead of night prior to installing it in the National Air and Space Museum.

The F-14s will be withdrawn from service by the end of the year.

vixpy1

42,620 posts

263 months

Friday 16th September 2005
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Is that near Los Angeles?

scared but happy

24,110 posts

228 months

Friday 16th September 2005
quotequote all
If you like military hardware checkout
www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/.www/digital.html
there are some very good photos there including some hi-res ones (i use one as computer wallpaper)

R988

Original Poster:

7,495 posts

228 months

Friday 16th September 2005
quotequote all
scared but happy said:
If you like military hardware checkout
www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/.www/digital.html
there are some very good photos there including some hi-res ones (i use one as computer wallpaper)



Cool, I can never seem to have enough aerospace porn

Eric Mc

121,779 posts

264 months

Friday 16th September 2005
quotequote all
Although since the early 1980s US Navy aircraft (with the odd exception) have carried achingly dull grey colour schemes. Especially compared to the highly colourful and individual schemes carried in the 60s and 70s.

BliarOut

72,857 posts

238 months

Friday 16th September 2005
quotequote all
vixpy1 said:
Is that near Los Angeles?


Bit further south I think, Texas?

R988

Original Poster:

7,495 posts

228 months

Friday 16th September 2005
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
Although since the early 1980s US Navy aircraft (with the odd exception) have carried achingly dull grey colour schemes. Especially compared to the highly colourful and individual schemes carried in the 60s and 70s.


Check out the Iranian F-14s then, nice and colourful. The US did paint one of theirs up exactly the same for a little while as an agressor aircraft

I have a model F-14A and originally it was in boring US Navy grey markings until I found an Iranian decal pack and prompty repainted it and made an Iranian 'Cat, looks much more interesting now (God I am such a nerd ).

Eric Mc

121,779 posts

264 months

Friday 16th September 2005
quotequote all
The Iranian F-14s were in a two tone sand and brown camouflage scheme if I recall.

When the F-14s entered service in 1973/74 the US Navy still had very colourful squadron markings. I remember seeing an "AB" coded F-14 at Greenham Common in 1976 with bright yellow and white tail fins. And of course, the "stars and bars" were red white and blue, not shades of grey.

All through the Vietnam War, the Navy's combat aircraft sported really nice colours. Take a look at period pictures of Skyraiders, Skyhawks, Vigilantes, Phantoms etc from the years 1962 to 1972 and you'll see what I mean.

It was in the Reagan era that the Navy started toning down their colours as the US raised the stakes against the Soviets in the Cold War.

kennyGti

1,598 posts

244 months

Friday 16th September 2005
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
Although since the early 1980s US Navy aircraft (with the odd exception) have carried achingly dull grey colour schemes. Especially compared to the highly colourful and individual schemes carried in the 60s and 70s.


I think there were a couple of Tomcat squadrons that were painted black. It suited them so much! I think one of the squadrons may have been VF-114 (or 141). I stand to be corrected though

Eric Mc

121,779 posts

264 months

Saturday 17th September 2005
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I know the US Navy test squadron at Naval Air Station Patuxent River often had all black aircraft. They originally had an all black F-4 Phantom with the Playboy logo on the tail. In later years, they painted an F-14 in similar colours.

However, it was the operational carrier borne squadrons that were the most colourful.

kennyGti

1,598 posts

244 months

Saturday 17th September 2005
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I'll need to dig out some of my old aircraft books and magazines. I used to be totally nuts about military aircraft and I'm sure some of the stuff I have will have some cracking pictures. I bet there will be some pictures from the 60s and 70s. I've got some pretty good pics of F-5 Tigers and F-104 Starfighters for sure.

R988

Original Poster:

7,495 posts

228 months

Saturday 17th September 2005
quotequote all
F-14 was also a Black Bunny



Israelis have some nice camo, also the Ruskies on their Mig 29s and also their Su-35s have had some nice schemes.




I dont remember too many exciting schemes during the 'nam era though, mostly just which, with touches of red and full colour USAF markings. Like this.


The agressor A-4s were always heavily camoflages though, and most othe countries also ran their skyhawks in interesting schemes


oh and while I'm here some Iranian F-14s (I have seen them in about 3-4 different schemes but this is the most common)

kennyGti

1,598 posts

244 months

Saturday 17th September 2005
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Now that brings back memories. I remember seeing some of the Russians at Leuchars wearing great schemes. Few schemes beat an F-16 in Tiger Stripes though.

anhamgrimmar

1,024 posts

230 months

Saturday 17th September 2005
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kennyGti said:
Now that brings back memories. I remember seeing some of the Russians at Leuchars wearing great schemes. Few schemes beat an F-16 in Tiger Stripes though.


you see some nice colour schemes at the "tigermeet" as well.

kennyGti

1,598 posts

244 months

Saturday 17th September 2005
quotequote all
I can believe that. Talking of meets, Many many years ago my Dad took me up to Lossiemouth for a few days to watch the aircraft. What we didn't know was that there was some kind of meet or exercise on and there were lots of visiting aircraft from all over the world. The great thing was they weren't doing airshow flying, they were doing psychotic deathwish flying. It was amazing to watch! I don't think I've ever seen so many F-16s in my life.

R988

Original Poster:

7,495 posts

228 months

Saturday 17th September 2005
quotequote all
Few more colourful 'cats






Tigermeets! Now there is some stunning artwork on some of those beasts, then there are those that barely seem to make an effort, there was a great Puma in AFMs June(05) issue... here are some of my favs












As you can see some of the clowns also do their cars

kennyGti

1,598 posts

244 months

Saturday 17th September 2005
quotequote all
Fantastic pictures R988!!!!

I've always really liked F-14s. It's probably because its the first model I ever made. They're really handsome planes.

>> Edited by kennyGti on Saturday 17th September 01:14

towman

14,938 posts

238 months

Saturday 17th September 2005
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Personal Favourite....

towman

14,938 posts

238 months

Saturday 17th September 2005
quotequote all
R988 said:

Cool, I can never seem to have enough aerospace porn



www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=141&t=172493