The Great Growler Gallery

[Lairdjp]

Jorts- The RAG had actually worked out a ton of the kinks since we've started the transition. Things are running fairly smoothly right now. Two of the flights during the fighter weps phase actually focus on G defensive manuevers. We are finishing up the AEA syllabus and they have done a great job during this phase of bringing everything together...creating scenarios where you execute an EA mission and are then forced to transition to an Air-to-Air mindset. Considering that there really isn't a fully functioning G weapons school yet, the 129 phase heads are basically acting as the end-all-be-all for G tactics and are making changes as they get positive and negative feedback.

Big Navy and CVWP want the G in the fight ASAP, so the exped thing (at least for 132) is going to happen.

If I were coming out of the training command right now I would have to place Gs at the top of my list. I think the community will be able to keep its relatively laid back atmosphere while flying the best machine the Navy has to offer. I had a blast flying the Prowler, but now I get my hands on the weapon system

 

[Short]

If people with first hand experience flying both TMS and making the transition continue to offer up insight and answers based on something more than rumor and conjecture, what will this thread devolve into?

 

[MIDNJAC]

So I have heard rumors (from the student RR all the way up to our old commodore) that the G FRS will be looking for a few more single anchor heads sometime in the near future......anyone in the know care to expand on this?

 

[nittany03]

Jorts- The RAG had actually worked out a ton of the kinks since we've started the transition. Things are running fairly smoothly right now. Two of the flights during the fighter weps phase actually focus on G defensive manuevers. We are finishing up the AEA syllabus and they have done a great job during this phase of bringing everything together...creating scenarios where you execute an EA mission and are then forced to transition to an Air-to-Air mindset. Considering that there really isn't a fully functioning G weapons school yet, the 129 phase heads are basically acting as the end-all-be-all for G tactics and are making changes as they get positive and negative feedback.

Big Navy and CVWP want the G in the fight ASAP, so the exped thing (at least for 132) is going to happen.

If I were coming out of the training command right now I would have to place Gs at the top of my list. I think the community will be able to keep its relatively laid back atmosphere while flying the best machine the Navy has to offer. I had a blast flying the Prowler, but now I get my hands on the weapon system :icon_mi_1

Good to hear . . . I was being facetious about the chaos; you know how the military is. I talked with Bucky back in June at the Brown, and he had nothing but good things to say about the syllabus and the jet. We talked a little about the A/A side since he'd just gotten done with that part. I'm going back Prowler-side, but I'm hoping to get my hands on the G sooner or later. Time will tell. They sure have managed to cram a bunch of NATOPS changes into the past year.

Oh, and welcome to AW! Hope the little one isn't tiring you out already.

 

[Brett327]

If people with first hand experience flying both TMS and making the transition continue to offer up insight and answers based on something more than rumor and conjecture, what will this thread devolve into?

You'r standard, MK 1 Mod 0 AW thread? What else?

Brett

 

[badger16]

What's the pace for squadrons transitioning? I know -132 is operational and -141 is in the process. Are they going to keep it around 2 per year?

 

[alpha6]

EA-18G Wings

I noticed that the EA-18G Growler has strips on the wing, while the F/A-18E/F models do not. Anybody know why? I didn't think there was a big different between the airframes. Just curious why Boeing added the wing fence.

I know the basic aerodynamics of a wing fence and swept wing, but if the EA-18G has it, why don't the F/A-18E/F models have it?

 

[HeyJoe]

I noticed that the EA-18G Growler has strips on the wing, while the F/A-18E/F models do not. Anybody know why? I didn't think there was a big different between the airframes. Just curious why Boeing added the wing fence.

I know the basic aerodynamics of a wing fence and swept wing, but if the EA-18G has it, why don't the F/A-18E/F models have it?

Is this what you are talking about?

060802-N-0000X-001 Patuxent River, Md. (Aug. 2, 2006) - A new era in Naval Aviation begins with the first EA-18G Growler aircraft. The EA-18 Growler is being developed to replace the fleet's current carrier-based EA-6B Prowler. The next-generation electronic attack aircraft, for the U.S. Navy, combines the combat-proven F/A-18 Super Hornet with a state-of-the-art electronic warfare avionics suite. The EA-18G will feature an airborne electronic attack suite based on Northrop Grumman's Improved Capability III system, a radically new jamming and information warfare system. The EA-18G is expected to enter initial operational capability in 2009. U.S. Navy photo (RELEASED)

100304-N-3038W-174 PHILIPPINE SEA (March 4, 2010) An F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to the Black Aces of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 41 launches from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Nimitz and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11 are deployed in the western Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class John Philip Wagner Jr./Released)

 

[alpha6]

That's exactly what I'm talking about, just inside of where the wing folds.

Russian aircraft are pretty big into this
see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wing_fence_sukhoi-22m-4.jpg

While for example the Citation X wing is very well designed and does not require any wing fences, even though it has a very high sweep back angle.

 

[HeyJoe]

That's exactly what I'm talking about, just inside of where the wing folds.

Wanted to make sure that was what you meant because a "strip" is not a "fence", which is a design feature to control span-wise airflow.

 

[alpha6]

Wanted to make sure that was what you meant because a "strip" is not a "fence", which is a design feature to control span-wise airflow.

Yea you're right, sorry.

I'm just curious why the G model has it while the E/F do not.

 

[HeyJoe]

Boeing has dealt with a legacy aileron buzz issue on the Super Hornet by modifying the wing with a saw tooth mod and "tripper strips" (visible at the aileron hinge line) hence my comment as to which feature you meant. The wing fence that you noticed is the most obvious of the changes to the G model and principal benefit is during high-g maneuvering, which is why the Citation doesn't need them. A byproduct was elimination of the perforated hinge fairing over the wing fold that was added during Super Hornet testing to address the infamous "wing drop". As why it is only on the G variant, Boeing offered to add it to the E/F production line, but the Navy opted not to adopt it so late in the production run. It will be interesting to see if the Australian Super Hornets have it as they will be plumbed for upgrade to G capability. Good question by the way.

 

[badger16]

Doesn't look like the first ones off the line for OZ have them. This photo was taken about a week ago in Auckland on their way home.

 

[jmcquate]

VAQ-141, Shadowhawks, video. Sorry if it's a re-post.

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

100713-N-5528G-758 PACIFIC OCEAN (July 13, 2010) An EA-18G Growler, assigned to the Vikings of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129, performs the 200,000th trap on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Carl Vinson is underway conducting fleet replacement squadron carrier qualification operations off the coast of Southern California. (US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Patrick Green/Released)