Warbird Information Exchange

The Department of the Navy has anounced that approximately 12 squadrons of the F-35B JSF will be based at MCAS Miramar (San Diego) and MCAB Yuma. The F-35B will replace the F/A-18 Hornet and AV-8B Harrier. The transition is set to begin in 2012.


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So this means the withdrawl of most of the current flying aircraft..

So does this open up museums to more exhibits or not? Under the Demil act in place they will be scrapped potentially alot more than in past i am hearing thru US military channels at moment.

Since alot of F-18 and AV-8Bs have been used in war operations - will they get preserved?

Ive seen a few harrier and hornets with many mission and kill markings in GW1 and 2 and Afghanistan work. Be shame to see such hard work to be forever gone.

I dont think anyone will have the hide to save a F-35 as they are so boring and ugly... or i could be wrong

Modern military airshows sure are going to get boring. It will just be a combination of Hornets and F-35s with an occasional F-22. All the more reason to feature Warbirds at shows!

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Jeff

One note - The F/A-18s being replaced are the A/B/C/D models, not the new E/F/G "Super Bugs", so there will still be Hornets plying the skies for some time to come.

...they are almost out F-4's to BLOW UP as drones so I'd guess hornets are next. The harriers will most likely be blown up as ground practice targets.......EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE MY PLANES AS I PAID FOR THEM!!!!

F-16's, BAE is currently working on the proposal.

Mike

The Navy is out of the full scale drone business - they scrapped or placed the QF-4s out on the target ranges with a precious few making it into museums. Consequently, you'll not see any F/A-18s ending up as flying targets though I'd not be surprised if they end up out on the target ranges. When they need a full scale flying target, they contract with the USAF.

The USAF is working on a QF-16 proposal though QF-4s should be in use up to at least 2014 and longer if the QF-16 stuff drags on.

I was down to Tyndall back in August and there were 48 Phantoms on base - All QF-4Es save for a few QRF-4Cs. No QF-4Gs left to shoot down.....

HTH! Mark

HTH! Mark

And how many has the USAF preserved?

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

NONE !........... flying

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"You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass..."
Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto

I know of at least two that they are keeping on the warbird circuit. That is not meant to take anything away from the beautiful example that you maintain.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

winnar! if its not flying make it out of plastic...most wouldn't know the difference

Spoken like one of those who wouldn't know the difference.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

PILOTS know the difference.....clowns wear big red rubber noses and big shoes!
(before you run to mama please note that I didn't say anything RUDE to you UNLIKE your post)

Please tell me what two flying F-4s the NMUSAF has preserved for the airshow circuit ?

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"You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass..."
Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto

Not the NMUSAF but the USAF has two that they said have been set aside for the Heritage flights, and are not going to be destroyed.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

Sorry, all Heritage painted F-4s are first and foremost drones. The USAF is not going to expend more than a million dollars to convert an aircraft to drone status and then not have it in the rotation.

Fancy painted drones have already been expended in live fire exercises.

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"You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass..."
Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto