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Scramble 467
89-2143/HO 56th FW ex HL/421st FS 1C-296 feb18
F-35A-2B
12-5053/OT 422nd TES AF-64 mar18
F-35A-3I
15-5151 to Israel as 904 AS-3 apr17
15-5152 to Israel as 905 AS-4 apr17
15-5153 to Israel as 907 AS-5 apr17
15-5154 to Israel as 908 AS-6 sep17
15-5155 to Israel as 909 AS-7 sep17
15-5156 to Israel as 911 AS-8 nov17
15-5157 to Israel as 913 AS-9 nov17
15-5158 to Japan as 79-8705 AX-5
15-5159 to Japan as 79-8706 AX-6
15-5160/OT 422nd TES ‘422TES’ mar18 AF-135 mar18
F-35A-4
15-5164/LF on order AF-139 jan18
15-5165/HL on order AF-140 jan18
15-5168/WA on order for 6th WPS AF-143 mar18
15-5169/LF on order for 63rd FS AF-144 mar18
15-5170/HL on order for 4th FS AF-145 mar18
15-5171/LF on order for 63rd FS AF-146 mar18
15-5211 to Australia as A35-003
15-5212 to Australia as A35-004
15-5213 to Australia as A35-005
KC-135R
62-3573 91st ARS 18556/T0624 mar18
Mi-171E
15-5207 171E.00....10.5207.U mar18
RQ-4B-40
10-2043 AF-36 feb18
United States Navy (NY)
The US Navy is set to equip its Super Hornet and Growler
fleet with bigger fuel tanks in the upcoming years. Boeing
will receive $219.6 million for work on the F/A-18E/F and EA-
18G. The new conformal fuel tanks (CFT) can hold 515 gallons
of fuel in a low-drag configuration, an increase from the
current tank’s 480-gallon capacity. While existing fuel tanks
are mounted under the wing, the new CFTs will sit on top of
the wing. Super Hornets will start coming off the production
line with the new tanks in FY2021, while upgrades of existing
jets will commence in FY2023. Equipping the Rhino’s with
CFTs means the carriers they launch off can float farther
out at sea, out of range of increasingly-formidable weapons
systems in the hands of enemy forces.
President Donald Trump visited mid-March 2018 the Boeing
St. Louis (MO) facility and received a tour at the company’s
new F/A-18E/F Block III Super Hornet. The Block III Rhino
will be equipped with an internal infrared search-and-track
(IRST) sensor, enclosed weapons pod, enhanced mission
computers, conformal fuel tanks and an improved low-
observable (LO, stealth) coating and radar-absorbent material
improvements in certain locations on the airframe. With
these changes, Boeing (and Trump) hopes to get the Block
III flying alongside the F-35C as the backbone of a Carrier Air
Wing (CVW) embarked a carrier into the 2040s and beyond.
The US Navy will begin procuring the first of a proposed
(proposed!) 110 additional Hornets from FY19 with a
24-aircraft buy, the first of are planned coming of the
production line in 2020. The last ones are planned for FY24.
From FY24, every CVW has one Block III squadron, from FY27
it will be two. This will be realized with an extensive upgrade
programme on the existing F/A-18E/Fs Block II, starting next
month at St. Louis (MO). The legacy Hornets will be up-speed
replaced by Super Hornets. The last Fleet baby Hornet will
see its sundown during 2018. VFA-34 Blue Blasters (‘NE-xxx’),
VFA-37 Bulls (‘AJ-xxx’), VFA-83 Rampagers (no code) and
VFA-131 Wildcats (‘AC-xxx’), all based at NAS Oceana (VA),
are the last operational fleet squadron operating the F/A-18C.
The USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), off coast Virginea
Capes, completed Carrier Qualifications (CQ) for the F-35C
with aircraft of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 101 Grimm
Reapers (‘NJ-xxx’) from Eglin AFB (FL) and VFA-125 Rough
Riders (‘NJ-xxx’) from NAS Lemoore (CA). The US Navy pilots
accomplished day and night qualifications with 140 traps in
anticipation of F-35C operational testing later this year. One
of the major milestones for this carrier qualification evolution
was the operational use of the F-35Cs foldable-wing feature.
This feature is a critical component of the integration of
F-35Cs with F/A-18C Hornets, F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and
EA-18G Growlers, facilitating the movement of the different
platforms on the flight deck and rehearsing for operating as
part of a full air wing aboard the carrier.
The F-35C Lightning II is on track to reach for initial
operational capability (IOC). All Lightning IIs must be Block
A PC-21 for the Red Baron “Richthofen” geschwader? Nope, this stylished “R” is the trademark of the Australian Roulettes display team, which
is converting to the type. (A54-019/HB-HWS, Stans, 23 March 2018, Stephan Widmer)
