combat aircraft

SFARP standards

A training officer pretty much runs the

show when it comes to preparing a

squadron to deploy. All the ducks need

to end up in a row, so that as the unit

heads out of the door it has the requisite

number of correctly trained aircrews

and maintainers to do the job effectively

on the road. Describing the details

of SFARP, Craig says, ‘This is all about

getting the fundamental, foundational,

skill sets built. It starts with things like

simply dropping a bomb on target in an

uncontested environment and building

from that to an advanced air-to-air

employment scenario. Every aircrew

member — pilot and WSO [weapons

systems officer, ‘whizzo’] — that’s going

This image: LCDR

Will Craig at the

controls of VFA-103

F/A-18F ‘Victory 12’.

Below right: VFA- 103

skipper CDR

Westphall and his

WSO arrive at the

CAG jet for an urban

close air support

mission. VFA-103

was awarded the

coveted Mutha

Trophy, awarded

to ‘the best fighter

squadron’ at

Oceana.

The ‘Jolly Rogers’

CAG-bird, BuNo

168493/AG-200,

in its new

markings on the

SFARP ramp at

NAS Fallon.

UNIT REPORT // VFA-103

44 July 2018 //^ http://www.combataircraft.net

42-51 VFA-103 C.indd 44 20/05/2018 11:30