[Panther10]

Originally Posted by 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

Um from what I can tell in the pic, 101 is either a B or a D due to the larger General Electric F110-400 Engines that were later used rather than the A's standard TF30 engines. I can't tell which variation is being used for 164

[Dobber]

You sure about that....I initially figured it was a B, because of the ejection seats, but after looking closer at the picture it didn't look like it had the GE engines but rather the old PW TF30's. I'm refering to '101' on the right.

Chris

[David Hingtgen]

VF-101 was the training squadron, so they needed to have every type that was in use. Modexes were generally thus near the end:

10x and 11x were B's
13x were A's
16x were D's

Ack, I didn't even realize that was an A model in Panther's pic (never looked at the back half, just assumed it was a B since AD101 was a B model for 95, 96, 97, and 2004 and 2005--in those colors) . Kinda amazed they had a demo A-model painted up like that, and that it was designated 101, years after they'd pretty much settled on 101 being a B. (and it doesn't fit the modexes) Which is good, because I never saw the B-model 101 wearing that reaper with black tails, only the later reaper. Also interesting that the A-model 101 has such a large sharkmouth. (compare to 164 next to it)

Makes me wonder if it was painted up just for that photoshoot--wouldn't be unheard of. Maybe the "real" B-model 101 was unavailable for some reason, and they needed a stand-in.

[Panther10]

Originally Posted by David Hingtgen

. Also interesting that the A-model 101 has such a large sharkmouth. (compare to 164 next to it)

Actually both 164 and AD101 have the shark mouth. Look again.

And are you sure that's not a B? I'd bet the farm that those are F110-400 engines. Look how wide they are. The TF30 engines, despite the name, had a nozzle which was only about 36" in diameter

[Dobber]

The more I look at it I'm certain that it's an A model. There isn't anything large about the nozzle. Plus the forward portion is a bare metal color instead of the black color that the GE engines have.

Chris

[Dobber]

David didn't say that the D didn't have a Shark Mouth just that the A model's is larger, which I agree it appears to be. Look at the upper portion of the mouth an how high the arch of it goes.

Chris

edit: does the vertical stab on the A seem odd, almost like it was photo-shopped. Not saying it was, it's just the bottom of the stap seems to be a perfectly straight line. It's probably just the resolution of the picture is all. Just couldn't help but notice it after all of the examining of the engine :P

[SKUNKY]

Mercy, I'm exhausted...... ......

[Panther10]

Originally Posted by SKUNKY

Mercy, I'm exhausted...... ......

[David Hingtgen]

Dobber--I was wondering about a possible photoshop too. The stab just looks weird---and I've never heard about an A model that wore final/near-final demo colors. Much less numbered 101. That should be decently documented if it existed recently. I'll probably go ask on ARC later, plenty of guys who should know.

The back end of the plane is clearly an A-model. The color of the shrouds alone proves it---they're not black.

I was mainly going by the engine/shroud fairing shape actually, also an A's.

[Old Crow]

The most recent issue of Flight Journal has an interesting article and quite a few pics of the last Tomcaats to see combat in Operation Iraqui Freedom- VF-31 and VF-213. I, for one, would love to see some models based on those birds.