[Dobber]

Dang, I was hoping it would be the Black tail one with the shark mouth.



Chris

[Panther10]

Originally Posted by SKUNKY

It'll the pretty, bright red-tailed CAG mount, Panther.....You can count on it..

I'm not so sure....Those markings were hardly used. maybe 4-6 months tops. In fact, Im pretty sure that only one test plane had that set of markings, (if I recall the cag was 101) and it only posed for publicity photos.

I think if anything Century will choose the markings that they inherited from their transfer from the F-14A. Which were the standard gull grey scheme with the low-viz markings. Mostly because VF-101 had over 15 planes with those particular markings, so they saw the most combat/training hours, they were used in airshows across the country, and the low viz planes were used for at least 15 years before the their transfer to their hi-viz markings. They used those markings ever after their hi-viz phase up until 2003 when they changed the squadron insignia altogether (Which in the end had two versions (the squadron leaders had the hi-viz versions and the pilots had the low-viz version, which is basically shown in the photo below)

[David Hingtgen]

I *wish* it was the red-tail one, that's my all-time fave F-14. Also, since it was AD101, it's the CO, not the CAG. (You can't even really have a CAG plane for VF-101, since they almost never belong to an air wing). Also, from what I can tell it was around for 2, possibly 3 years, with at least 2 main variations. That's longer than the Jolly Rogers or Black Aces wore their super-famous first F-14 schemes.

It's supposed to be the final demo one. Black tails, large reaper.

[Panther10]

When you say the large reaper, are you talking about the winged reaper, or the bust? Because both were used for the final demonstration. (Though I think the bust was on the F-14D if I'm not mistaken.

[David Hingtgen]

Winged reaper was gone after the 2003 demo season, 2004 brought about the larger reaper on all. From what I can see, 101, 163, and 164 have all worn both types of reaper on black tails for demo shows.

[SKUNKY]

Originally Posted by David Hingtgen

Also, since it was AD101, it's the CO, not the CAG. (You can't even really have a CAG plane for VF-101, since they almost never belong to an air wing).

Okay, when I use the term CAGbird it denotes any aircraft painted in a flamboyant scheme generally attributed to a CAG, Deputy CAG, CO or whatever. From now on I'll just refer to them as "Pretty Birds" - which in case I haven't mentioned, I'm tired of seeing.

[David Hingtgen]

If you want a semi-official term for the colorful/pretty ones, try "show birds".

(Because CAG and CO planes can have VERY different, yet equally colorful schemes---VF-31 is the best recent example---their CO and CAG planes looked like they were from different squadrons--can easily cause confusion if the incorrect term is used when talking about them) And there's also the issue when the squadron does "modex matching" instead of the "proper" CO plane----VF-102 and VF-103 are great examples---instead of painting up plane 101, they use 102 and 103 respectively. "Show bird" encompasses any/all colorful planes within a squadron, regardless of who/why/how it's painted.

[zed550]

i think its going to be one of the black tailed sharkmouth show birds.will try and ask yoshi for the exact details

[Dobber]

Originally Posted by zed550

i think its going to be one of the black tailed sharkmouth show birds.will try and ask yoshi for the exact details

Gosh I hope so!! David you where the one that first pointed out that scheme to me over at MW. Personally I like the Red Tail too, but I prefer the black tail shark mouth more. Hell, I love these century birds so much I'd buy them both! I already have both of the first release Jolly Rodgers, and I have VF-21 and VF-154 '101' on order with the Mule. Looking forward to any news and pictures of the upcomming Tomcats you can post Zed.

Chris

[Dobber]

In the picture that Panther posted, is '101' a A and '164' a D? Not sure about that second number sounds kind of high.

Chris