#aggressor

Here's a Talon I just finished up.

#866の日 NELLIS AFB Nv

F-5E 64/65thFWS 57thFWW

73-00866 November 1981。

Tiger II. note the cuban marking (b. trombecky) F-5N

Aggressor aircraft, which by their civilian registration must belong to a Navy contractor company that acts as aggressors, along with an early warning aircraft, this one indeed from the US Navy, E-2 Hawkeye.

As of now, Legacy Hornets are all but retired in the US Navy, including the Blue Angels as of 2020 and 2023, respectively. However, Legacy Hornets still remain to be used by the USMC and have over 10,000 flight hours on some airframes due to delays of the F-35B. Bureau Number 162909, pictured here (2012), is retired. Legacy models originally had 6,000 hours total service life.  

So I would imagine some are due up to go to the boneyard, and some are probably having overhauls performed. The current Legacy Hornets in the US Marine Corps aviation inventory will continue to get upgrades and modifications developed for only C and D models. A and B models are not included. Upgrades include radar, advanced targeting FLIR, countermeasures dispenser system, standoff land attack missile systems, and other electronic systems. These appear to be more like replacement parts rather than upgrades, as these are typically standard features among 4th generation fighters typically of American makes and models.

One is a MiG-21, and the other is its “imposter”! In 1969, the U.S. Navy established the TOPGUN training program to prepare pilots for air combat during the Vietnam War.

A-4 Skyhawks were the first aircraft used in the program as aggressors, simulating the flight characteristics of opposing MiG-21s.

📸 Michael O'Leary

#Aviation #MilitaryHistory #FighterFriday #FormationFriday

“Resistenza. Nell’arena non arrendiamoci all’aggressore. Fuori dell’arena affermiamo la compassione” Deng Ming Dao “Resistance. In the arena, let us not surrender to the aggressor. Outside the arena, let us affirm compassion.” Deng Ming Dao