Blues to Get Supers?

[Beans]

So to speak.

I see what you did there.

 

[Redux]

A5's or F4's would be cooler for sure, the poor ole A4 was a step down for sure.

No absolutely NOT, the Phantom was loud and fast but didn't turn all that well, the A4 OTOH..... plenty fast for a airshow, ew if any do anything supersonic and it's doubtful anyone in a crowd knows the difference between 4 and 600 kts.
Fuel and cost were not the only consideration for pulling the Phantom...... they had SERIOUS wing stress cracks. I remember the Tiger and as a kid the F9 but the A4 was the best of the best in a show..... until current times.

 

[gettysburgerrn]

I'd be surprised if in a few years we don't see the Blues in F-35s. Once all the big blocks of DT/OT on the jet are over give the Blues some LRIP F-35s that don't match fleet configuration.

Dumb question...would they ever switch to f-35s? After all I don't think there is a two seat variety of the F-35 so how would they do their PR flights? <as a total aside, does the absence of a two seat variety of the f-35 make it more difficult to train new pilots on it? ..>

 

[Recovering LSO]

Seriously doubt it.

They wouldn't, or they would keep an F around.

Simulators. LOTS of simulators.

 

[Swanee]

<as a total aside, does the absence of a two seat variety of the f-35 make it more difficult to train new pilots on it? ..>

Talking with a couple of buddies who are down at Beufort now- They say it's not difficult to fly at all (easier than any other airplane they have flown thus far). Plus, realize that even in the Hornet RAG most of your flights are solo, and only a handful require a pilot in the back seat. Most guys second flight ever in the airplane is with a WSO in back on an instrument hop. Once you're a winged aviator it is expected that you know how to fly, now you just learn how to fight/run weapons systems.

 

[rotorhead1871]

Dumb question...would they ever switch to f-35s? After all I don't think there is a two seat variety of the F-35 so how would they do their PR flights? <as a total aside, does the absence of a two seat variety of the f-35 make it more difficult to train new pilots on it? ..>

they would probably handle the RAG operations like they did for the A7, it did not have any 2 seaters. they uses sims plus TA4 flights. Blues in F35's would be cool and noisy!

 

[rotorhead1871]

Talking with a couple of buddies who are down at Beufort now- They say it's not difficult to fly at all (easier than any other airplane they have flown thus far). Plus, realize that even in the Hornet RAG most of your flights are solo, and only a handful require a pilot in the back seat. Most guys second flight ever in the airplane is with a WSO in back on an instrument hop. Once you're a winged aviator it is expected that you know how to fly, now you just learn how to fight/run weapons systems.

sims are so good now that in the airlines when a pilot changes types, its all sims and usually their first flight in the new aircraft is a revenue flight!!...money is the driver