[Rush104]

Originally Posted by David Hingtgen

For the A-6E in low-vis, I'd say 99%. The A-6 just barely made it into the "resurgence" of allowing ANY high-vis at all. For many years, there was not a single one with even BLACK allowed, much less any yellow/red/white anywhere in any amount.

Dave,

What years are we talking about here, concerning the banning of black and other colors on the Intruders?

[David Hingtgen]

1983-1989 is probably the absolute worst, many squadrons were forced into pure grey and nothing but, especially the attack squadrons. Brief resurgence of color for Desert Shield/Storm, then started picking up again, but mainly just the fighter/fighter-attack squadrons early. Pure attack and everything else took longer.

They are "tightening back up" again though, we've passed the recent "peak" of color of the past few years. Super Hornets continually get more and more regulations, resulting in even more colorful but shorter-lived schemes, as that's the only way they can do it, so they go all-out for the 5 days a scheme exists...

Frankly, it really all depends on the current admiralty, and how much they value pure functional camoflage over "morale" and public support of the squadrons.

[Rush104]

Originally Posted by David Hingtgen

1983-1989 is probably the absolute worst, many squadrons were forced into pure grey and nothing but, especially the attack squadrons. Brief resurgence of color for Desert Shield/Storm, then started picking up again, but mainly just the fighter/fighter-attack squadrons early. Pure attack and everything else took longer.

They are "tightening back up" again though, we've passed the recent "peak" of color of the past few years. Super Hornets continually get more and more regulations, resulting in even more colorful but shorter-lived schemes, as that's the only way they can do it, so they go all-out for the 5 days a scheme exists...

Frankly, it really all depends on the current admiralty, and how much they value pure functional camoflage over "morale" and public support of the squadrons.

VA-52 Knightriders was one of the squadrons that was immune from this in the 80's. While the majority of the airframes were lo-viz, the numbers near the nose were black. Some of the underwing tanks also had VA-52 stenciled in black.
VA-52's CAG bird was a KA-6D. It retained the blue knight's head on the tail, the blue band around the rear fuselage, and the full color national insignia.
I think the A-7 squadrons might have been hit harder during the "color ban". VA-27 and VA-97 CAG birds did not have any color on them in the late 80's, other than the black numbers near the nose.

[firefighterpilot1]

I was thinking about carrier planes in general, not just Intruders. I wouldn't have guessed that high for intruders either, though.

[JETFAN]

What Is The Fascination With The Toned Down Color Scheme Used By The Usn? I Lost All Interest In Usn Types When This Finish Was Introduced. Generally, The Paint Doesn't Last And Soon Looks Patchy And Worn. Sadly, The Raf Seem To Have Adopted This Drab Scheme Too.

[David Hingtgen]

Rush--are you sure about BLACK numbers being used? Even today, black is fairly rare( but certainly is used). They often use very dark grey.

Regardless, the point remains that many CAG planes had basically(or totally) no color for many years.

[Rush104]

Originally Posted by David Hingtgen

Rush--are you sure about BLACK numbers being used? Even today, black is fairly rare( but certainly is used). They often use very dark grey.

Regardless, the point remains that many CAG planes had basically(or totally) no color for many years.

100% sure about the black numbers. I'm looking at my cruise book now; the numbers on the nose are black. Looks like a flat black. Those numbers are much darker than anything written in grey on the airplanes.
I'll try to scan a pic in for you.

[Kiwi Dave]

Originally Posted by JETFAN

What Is The Fascination With The Toned Down Color Scheme Used By The Usn? I Lost All Interest In Usn Types When This Finish Was Introduced. Generally, The Paint Doesn't Last And Soon Looks Patchy And Worn. Sadly, The Raf Seem To Have Adopted This Drab Scheme Too.

I think many of us don't care about colour or toned downed markings. We want models of standard everyday aircraft, combat veterans first, which usually have toned down markings. I want a model that has some history, not just good looks.

[firefighterpilot1]

Originally Posted by JETFAN

What Is The Fascination With The Toned Down Color Scheme Used By The Usn? I Lost All Interest In Usn Types When This Finish Was Introduced. Generally, The Paint Doesn't Last And Soon Looks Patchy And Worn. Sadly, The Raf Seem To Have Adopted This Drab Scheme Too.

The paint gets patchy and worn because 1. They take a major beating when they're at sea.. 2. There is constant maintenance being done on the planes, and if part of the plane needs to be repainted they will paint the area that needs it, and at times it doesn't exactly match the rest of the plane. 3. from everyone I've spoken to that has spent time on a carrier, maintaining or flying these planes, the carrier is apparently one of the dirtiest places in the world. Grease and dirt get into everywhere and everything. It's inevitable that these planes will get dirty, on top of maintainers having to walk on top of them all the time. (although I believe they are required to wear a sort of bootie over their boots when walking on the planes below deck. I've never seen them wearing them when they're on the flight deck though)

I don't understand why everyone thinks CAG birds are all "eye candy" while the low vis birds are the real workhorses. The CAG birds are a pride/ tradition/ morale thing but they also fight no less than the low vis birds. They're war fighting machines first, eye candy second. The way the US has fought wars, you'd be hard pressed to find a squadron that hasn't seen combat in some way or another.

[Tedongganas]

I don't understand why everyone thinks CAG birds are all "eye candy" while the low vis birds are the real workhorses. The CAG birds are a pride/ tradition/ morale thing but they also fight no less than the low vis birds. They're war fighting machines first, eye candy second. The way the US has fought wars, you'd be hard pressed to find a squadron that hasn't seen combat in some way or another.

Give me CAG, its my "cup of tea". People usually look something that pleases the eyes