Today's US Navy Photos & Videos
- Thread starter bd popeye
- Start date
Hello, Bonjour Popeye
can you pls explain to us for this nice paint Job thinking for the Boss and color change sometimes ?
Yes, notice the CAG on the right vertical stabilizer?Hello, Bonjour Popeye
View attachment 23681
View attachment 23682
That is the Commander of the Air Group's aircraft.
A “CAG” is the head of a Carrier Air Wing’s command staff. One aircraft from several fighter/strike squadrons that make up a CVG is selected and assigned a number ending in Zero-Zero. The tail (and perhaps other areas) of that aircraft is painted with a distinctive design that depicts the squadron’s nickname and/or colors, and to distinguish that aircraft as the squadron’s lead aircraft.
That aircraft is then referred to as the squadron’s “CAG bird.”
Here's another of that VFA-41 CAG bird:
And here are some others:
VFA-11 CAG Bird:
VFA-27 CAG bird:
VFA-113 CAG bird:
VFA-137 CAG bird:
Wow, Forbin, we both "learned" something today from "Professor Head"?? and while in the USAF the Squadron Commander, would likely have some unique markings on his aircraft? the USAF doesn't enjoy the institutional camaraderie that Naval aviators enjoy with everyone receiving a "nick-name", good or bad based on their name, physical attributes, or good or bad aviating off the boat, such as "VON TRAP"?? for someone who nailed all his traps, all the time??? or "BOLTER", for a brother who just can't seemed to get hooked up on his traps?
I love the idea of CAG birds and their lovely paint, I do know that our old buddy Max Moga, Squadron Commander of the 95 FG there in Alaska, did get the very last F-22 off the line. He was the first Raptor Demo pilot, and also a TV star on the Military channel, he was a host of the show "Air Combat"??
I have lost track of Max, as he used to make regular posts on the old "Air Show Buzz", and also had a Face Book. Very nice guy, and very good at what he did.
It is powerful medicine when the BOSS, has a very clear vision of what he will accomplish, and is able to communicate that in a substantive way, with the proper emphasis on the price of failure, and why that is un-acceptable in the culture!
Love it, and like to hear that annunciated clearly and forcefully!
Specials paint job exist in all AF : Tiger Meet by example or special occasions : units birthdays when a aircrfat get much years in service etc... but USN is the specialist.
USAF do but it is much rarer.
In more no painting as it possible on Stealth fighters for military operations normaly.
And Agressors get unusual and nice cammos ! but it is for their missions, completely different, despite stealth matter very possibe a day we have F-35 with Agressor 's cammo for replace F-5/16.
In France no special painting for Unit commander.
USAF do but it is much rarer.
In more no painting as it possible on Stealth fighters for military operations normaly.
And Agressors get unusual and nice cammos ! but it is for their missions, completely different, despite stealth matter very possibe a day we have F-35 with Agressor 's cammo for replace F-5/16.
In France no special painting for Unit commander.
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Yes, the Aggressors always got the fancy paint jobs, and had the Soviet markings, helmets, flight suits etc, and had a separate ops area were they attempted to mirror the "evil empire"! which they were very good at, even to the point of having GC vector and give instructions on the intercept!
At one time over forty years ago all CVW aircraft displayed colorful paint schemes..until it was discovered that radar reflected said paint schemes..Thats no good..
So..this is how Carrier borne aircraft looked back in the day.
So..this is how Carrier borne aircraft looked back in the day.