What the hell!??
An F-16C Fighting Falcon from the Texas Air National Guard’s 111th Fighter Squadron flies with a special paint job in honor of the squadron’s 90th anniversary. All the colors and markings have specific meanings, reflecting the unit’s nine-decade history. (Photo courtesy of John Dibbs)
OMG I want to shoot it down just to save my eyes the stress.
I dunno…other than all the junk going on in the tail area making it look a little busy, I kinda like the scheme. It looks very ’20s, like something you’d see on an old Peashooter.
My other thoughts here.
From the Article:
11/23/2007 – AUSTIN, Texas (AFPN) — An F-16C Fighting Falcon from the Texas Air National Guard’s 111th Fighter Squadron is flying with a special paint job in honor of the squadron’s 90th anniversary. All the colors and markings have specific meanings, reflecting the unit’s nine-decade history.
The rudder is painted like a JN-4 Jenny, which the squadron flew in the 1920s. The schemes for the wings and flaps recall the paint schemes of the pre-World War II era.
The blue fuselage represents the Korean War, in which the squadron earned credit for two air victories. The gray underside represents the jet age.
The “N5 A” was the insignia the squadron’s P-51 Mustangs sported during World War II, in which the squadron claimed 44 air victories. Also representing World War II is the star on the fuselage, while the star on the wing represents the pre-World War II era.
“Ace in the Hole” and the star on the tail replicate the markings of the squadron’s F-84s during the Korean War. The ventral fin, partially obscured, reads “Est. 1917.”
Today the 111th FS is part of the 147th Fighter Wing, based at Ellington Field in Houston.
Found at:
hxxp://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123076954
Those colors are so bright they make the image look photoshopped.
I guess that’s one less F16 that’s operationally a fighter.
I think that paint scheme looked a whole lot better on a biplane!!!
I was thinking that they should have used a two-seater model for it. Sure as heck looks like a WWII trainer paint job…
Oh Man this is a cool paint scheme!
Considering that modern fighter aircraft are engaging targets well beyond visual range, why do we even camo the planes anymore? I say leave it!
CPT Rainmaker,
We camo aircraft because it’s the guy on the ground with an SA-16 that we fear now…
…and as for the BVR fight, has any war actually been fought yet where BVR was allowable under the rules of engagement?
I’m pretty sure that Desert Storm, Deny Flight, and Allied Force had some BVR kills.
My tax dollars paid for that?!?!?!?!
Hmmm… kind of looks more like the
colors of the Venezuelan flag than a USA/Texas
scheme.
Ugh!
It’s about damn time the military was allowed to show some espirit de corps!
For years the military was allowed to have nose art and special markings to celebrate milestones and anniverseries. Suddenly, because of political correctness, it was all taken away.
Screw all the PC Bull S#*t! These people put their lives on the line for all of us. If they want to show some pride in who they are, and what they do, by God, let’em!
I think the plane looks really good id be proud to fly a plane like that.