Sunsets? Already did that. Afterburners? That is
So last week. Therefore, along with the usual grab-bag of plane-pr0n how about some cool,
and not-so-cool airplane paint jobs? Let me know in the comments which you like best- or just post a link to your own favorites.
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| I've always liked the big and bold Union Jack, and slapping it on a jet works for me. |
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Another British Hawk, but I like the first one better.
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| Saab Draken looking good. |
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| And another one |
The Saab Draken intrigues me. I haven't seen many of them, and of those- all of them online of course. It's a relatively older aircraft however, built between 1959 and 1974, before the interwebs, so that might explain it. Modestly exported from Sweden to Finland, Denmark, and Austria, and the one above is Austrian. The Draken reminds me of
something out of Star Wars.
How about some Hornets? The first is pretty slick- Canadian I believe. I can tell because of the red marijuana leaf on the wing. The second is a retro paint scheme from the Naval Aviation Centennial a few years back.
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| The VFA-195 Dambusters have had some great CAG birds over the years. "Chippe Ho!" must not be PC anymore. More here |
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I put this Hornet picture down under the other ones. Get it? Down under the other ones?
Sometimes I crack myself up. |
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| I know it's supposed to be a tiger, but it just looks like one of those weird moths to me. |
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| I'm sorry, a paint job featuring Cherry Blossoms and Mount Fuji on an F-15 Eagle? Unlike the Brit symbol of their national identity, the Japanese version just doesn't work for me. |
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| A British Hawker that makes me think of those 1970's posters in my cousin's room- a room that had a lot of weird smells emanating from it. |
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| A German F-4 with unusual paint. This could be a theme all to itself...(that's some foreshadowing by the way.) |
This one is pretty unique- an F-4 Phantom that has both an F-104 and an F-86 painted on the underside.
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| Not a real unusual paint job, but it makes a tough-looking jet even more so. |
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| Speaking of tough looking, this one is showing its teeth. Not sure what this one is carrying, but it's got a bunch of 'em. How many weapons stations did this bird have anyway? |
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| Had to add this one. It's my Dad's last unit- VF-302- a Reserve Squadron where he served as a TAR. |
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Not an interesting paint job picture, but a very interesting load-out picture.
Any ordies available to help me out here? |
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The Germans have found a way to make some Phantoms look ugly.
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| Did we take a cue from the Germans for these paint jobs? Only the black one deserves praise here. |
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| Speaking of German's making things ugly, this plane doesn't even look like it's flying right side up! |
Time to cleanse your palate with a couple nicer looking aircraft and paint-jobs.
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Did you know that Blue is my favorite color? I'm more partial to the '67 convertible Mustang, but this one is a beauty too.
Here's another Angel. I threw this one in for Sarge. |
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Yeah, it's a painting, but a Scooter loaded for bear deserves some room in this post.
I like the stars on the blue paint. |
How about no paint at all? I really love these polished silver (
or is it chrome?) aircraft. B-25, P-51, P-38, it doesn't matter, they're all gorgeous when they're shined up all nice and pretty like this.
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| I've never seen A-7's in this configuration before- speed-brake out, hook down. Makes for a cool picture though. I like the subdued paint on these. |
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| These Marines are having a very good day. |
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And they're still having a very good day. Some Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders
showing up at your base tends to break the monotony. |
Yes, I know I'm getting off track here, but they're professional Cheerleaders! I'm sure you understand. Here's a couple more before I pull some leftovers out of the fridge.
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| Forgive my lack of unquestioned patriotism here, but this one is a little gaudy if you ask me. Looks more like those vinyl wraps on cars these days, vice some good hard work by the squadron paint shop. |
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| This one from Texas is a little better. |
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Look, a bunny! There's two of 'em- just in time for Easter!
I wonder if any "Bunnies" ever got a ride in one of these? |
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I don't think there's a special paint job here, but the vapes are cool and colorful.
A rainbow Raptor if you will. |
And now for the leftovers I promised- some sunset pics I found in a file deep in the bowels of my computer.
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| Lady Lex |
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| The elusive Prowler sunset pic. If you find more, let me know. |
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| The Truman Show |
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| Might be a repeat, but it's a good one. This picture reminds me of this. |
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Wrap up the bow, wrap up the waist, the fly day is over, as is this post.
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If you have any suggestions for the next "And now for something completely different!", let me know.
How about some Hornets? The first is pretty slick- Canadian I believe. I can tell because of the red marijuana leaf on the wing. The second is a retro paint scheme from the Naval Aviation Centennial a few years back.
Nice Job, Tuna! I'm not real big on gaudy, so if you take out the show jets (Blue Angels, Red Arrows etc.), I'd say my favorite pic in this collection is the B-25. A little color for some identity, but still functional.
ReplyDeleteThose A-7's sure look like the AF version, which would explain the hook/speed-brake combination, they're trying to look Navy and didn't know better... :-)
ReplyDeleteConcur Pogue. That's a USAF tail code (PT - though which base it is I don't know) - also looks like the Air National Guard "Minuteman" shield as well.
DeleteMr Google failed me in my (admittedly half-hearted) efforts to find more info.
I think it's Puerto Rico, but I can't confirm it either. I know they had some A-7s destroyed by a Puerto Rican separatist organization a while back.
DeleteWell of course my favorite has the Phantom. That four ship flying towards the camera, no fancy paint jobs, just muscle. As to the ordnance being carried (and Juvat, Virgil or Dave can correct me if I'm wrong) but the bird in the foreground is carrying two AGM-142s: "Popeye is the name of a family of air-to-surface missiles developed and in use by Israel, of which several types have been developed for Israeli and export users. A long-range cruise missile variant of the Popeye Turbo has been speculated as being employed in Israel's submarine-based nuclear forces.[1] The United States operates the Popeye under a different designation according to US naming conventions as the AGM-142 Have Nap."
ReplyDeleteThe second bird appears to have an AGM-65 Maverick under the wing. The jets further aft appear to be carrying AIM-9 Sidewinders.
Oh and that "ugly" German aircraft which appears to be upside down? That's the Heinkel He-111, Luftwaffe medium bomber which equipped many (most?) of the German bomber units during the Battle of Britain. An unusual photo, the aircraft flying with it is the Heinkel He-100: "The Heinkel He 100 was a German pre-World War II fighter aircraft design from Heinkel. Although it proved to be one of the fastest fighter aircraft in the world at the time of its development, the design was not ordered into series production. Approximately 19 prototypes and pre-production machines were built. None are known to have survived the war."
Once again, an awesome post Tuna. FWIW you're getting some great numbers in the stats department too. Keep 'em coming!
Thanks!
DeleteGreat pics. I'm always up for plane pr0n.
ReplyDeleteGreat ones, and I 'think' the multiple Phantoms was back in the day when they were trying to find a 'less visible' paint scheme...
ReplyDeleteGreat post. Shiny is nice for show but this is my favorite color. http://www.navycthistory.com/BobEdwards01.html
ReplyDeleteWanna see some wild paint schemes, see the annual NATO "Tiger Squadron" Meet/fly-ins. (The very first one was held at my old base RAF Woodbridge, iirc, but before my time there)
ReplyDelete