More Awesome Retro Paint For The Centennial Of Naval Aviation
Thursday, February 10, 2011 at 08:31PM 
Could this F-18 derivative (EA-18G) in 'three-tone blue' look any better? Hot stuff!
(9 pix)
I really don't know how I feel about the way we've created so many U.S. coins with 'modernized' graphics and commerative designs... I'm not sure it's really the best way to honor the heritage of where we've been. But these retro paint schemes that the Navy has put on a wide variety of aircraft for the Centennial of Naval Aviation seems to be the perfect way to acknowledge and honor the past. Plus, they make our modern aircraft look better than they ever have! The first batch I posted with 9 retro Navy paint jobs hit the nail on the head, but this second batch is no less awesome. I can't think of anything they could have done to be more effective in calling attention to the rich history of Naval aviation while also stirring up the passion of civilians and inlisted at the same time. Bravo!
I hope you enjoy looking at these beautiful airplanes as much as I do. And I also hope you'll find an event near you this year where some of the airplanes will be on display. Keep in mind that several of them are scheduled to be at Oshkosh (July 25-31) - and while I always look forward to Oshkosh regardless of what airplanes are sceduled to be in attendance, knowing that several of the 'retros' will be there has me counting the days. 164 days to be exact!
P-3 Orion in a 'White over Seaplane Gray' scheme used from 1957 to 1963
T-39 (North American Sabreliner) in an 'ENTERPRISE Air Group' scheme of the late 30's
T-6B Texan II in the 'Yellow Peril' paint from the 40's and 50's
Another great looking F-18! This one in a 'China Lake' scheme from the 1960's
EA-6 in stunning 1942 'Battle of the Coral Sea' paint
Another P-3 - this one in 'Battle of Midway' colors
T-44 Pegasus with a paint scheme of the Curtiss NC-4 of May 1919
T-34C in US Marine Corps markings circa 1938
Reader Comments (5)
The top photo is that of an EA-18G Growler not the FA-18F Super Hornet.
Pods on the wingtip are for the electronic attack mode.
Glenn Mark Cassel AMH1(AW) USN Retired- You are exactly right (but you already knew that : ) Thanx for straightening me out! It's an EA-18, a derivative of the F-18.
I have to say that the pick of the bunch is definitely the Sabreliner. Such a well proportioned aircraft with a simple but effective colour scheme... perfection!
Sandrat- The Sabreliner doesn't quite top the list for me, but it's waaayyyy up there! Really makes a great looking package.
The T-45s are really sharp in the prewar paint! Just wish Chase was open and Meridian was closed. Did two years at Chase in VT-26 maintaining the venerable North American T-2C Buckeye!