The Great, Constantly Changing Picture Gallery

[Schnugg]

That and Doc Martens.

In 2002, the French "carrier" was alongside us in the JCS (CVN-74) off Afghanistan.

When we cross decked an E-2C, they moved their Rafales to the hangar so we couldn't see them, image them or "spy" on them. They were pretty anal then.

Seem to have loosened up some if they're detting out of NTU.

 

[CWJones411]

I'd like to be the first to say that those Frenchmen look ridiculous.

 

[HeyJoe]

I'd like to be the first to say that those Frenchmen look ridiculous.

AH, he heard you and is sending something in your general direction....

 

[MasterBates]

Am I the only one that finds it odd that an aircraft as "slick" looking as the Rafael has a fixed refueling probe?

 

[Hozer]

Rafale? Reminds me of these gems...

 

[Single Seat]

Are they actually deploying with CVW-8? It was a rumor last year when they visited us at sea.

 

[A4sForever]

Maintainers .... '60/'70's style .... only we didn't call 'em "maintainers" ... we called 'em "the troops".

Left to right .... the Dude, His Dudeness, the Duder, and last but not least, El Duderino .... :icon_rast

photo by A4sForever

^^ We still call 'em the "Troops," maintainers being a subset thereof.

Brett

All well & good ... but > 30 years ago or so in a FLEET ATKRON ... there were only 3 "subsets/subspecies" extant of the species "Troops" :

1. Maintenance "Troops" ... just what you'd suspect ... no imagination necessary ....

2. YN/PN "white collar Troops"; those of the clean, pressed dungarees, close-cropped haircuts, shined shoes (what ARE steel-toe boondocker's, anyway ) ... i.e., those of the clean hands w/ no callouses or blisters persuasion ...

3. 'ORDIES .... usually not referred to as "Troops" ... as they were their own subset and they defied any other classification or category ...

 

[nittany03]

Yep!

Must be nice to work with your shirt untucked too . . .

 

[Xtndr50boom]

Am I the only one that finds it odd that an aircraft as "slick" looking as the Rafael has a fixed refueling probe?

I think it's sorta stylish. Like on the A-4 and A-6.

Maybe it's fixed because there wasn't enough room/money/not worth the effort to make it retractable.

 

[Pugs]

Rafale? Reminds me of these gems...

Click and Clack call the French Auto industry "Worst use of Marshall plan dollars ever"

 

[Gatordev]

Click and Clack call the French Auto industry "Worst use of Marshall plan dollars ever"

Reminds me of a Top Gear running joke, especially back when the French were rioting. All the cars at the bottom of their viewer generated rankings were French cars. Why were they at the bottom? "Probably because they're all on fire."

 

[BigIron]

Must be nice to work with your shirt untucked too . . .

the whole look is very Austin Powerish..

 

[Uncle Fester]

In 2002, the French "carrier" was alongside us in the JCS (CVN-74) off Afghanistan.

When we cross decked an E-2C, they moved their Rafales to the hangar so we couldn't see them, image them or "spy" on them. They were pretty anal then.

Seem to have loosened up some if they're detting out of NTU.

That's the difference having Sarko "l'Americain" in charge now. 'Tis indeed interesting that we're bringing the Rafales aboard for no-shit combined ops.

 

[badger16]

What squadron is that E-2 from in the Rafale pics? That is a pretty slick CAG bird.

 

[BigIron]

That and Doc Martens.

In 2002, the French "carrier" was alongside us in the JCS (CVN-74) off Afghanistan.

When we cross decked an E-2C, they moved their Rafales to the hangar so we couldn't see them, image them or "spy" on them. They were pretty anal then.

Seem to have loosened up some if they're detting out of NTU.

Some interesting vids of their Rafales and CDG ops.