///AMG
Well-Known Member
Won't know until after I wing, but I'm hoping for VAQ (either Prowlers or Growlers). If I don't get that, then it will either be F/A-18C, or F/A-18E/F.
2/05/10
- Thread starter ///AMG
- Start date
Won't know until after I wing, but I'm hoping for VAQ (either Prowlers or Growlers). If I don't get that, then it will either be F/A-18C, or F/A-18E/F.
Allow me to translate for Max.....
Will you be playing volleyball on the beach at Miramar with your cool shades under the hot California sun....
:rotfl:
Maximilian_Jenius
Super User
Are pilots who fly the 18's allowed/able to fly all types 18C's E/F's?
Or just one type, and how long are the C models going to be around for?
///AMG
Well-Known Member
You go to the FRS initially for one or the other, but to transition between Supers and Hornets or vice versa is not that involved (short syllabus at the FRS beforehand). There are lots of guys out there who have flown both platforms, just depends on where big Navy sends you on follow on tours. Legacy Hornets (C's for the Navy) will be around for a while longer. The word is that the JSF will start to replace them in a few years, but that program has been continually pushed back as long as I have been following it.
Maximilian_Jenius
Super User
///AMG
Well-Known Member
Looked good to me, though the only other boat I have been on was the Kitty Hawk so probably not much of a comparison. We really didn't get much time to wander around unfortunately.
juan valdez
Well-Known Member
Congratulations. Really am happy for and envious of you!
Out of curiousity, why prowlers/growlers? Flying around in squares all day seems boring.
Well at least that was the way their mission was described to me, though I guess a lot of the fighter platforms pretty much do that all day too until called in for help.
As of this afternoon, I am a carrier qualified aviator. 5 traps yesterday and 5 today got me a qual on the USS Stennis off the coast of San Diego. Just thought I'd post a "yay me" thread
I saw some pics of the Stennis just last week on my friend's facebook. He's an NFO in the prowler.
///AMG
Well-Known Member
Yes, the RAGs were bouncing before we all went hook down on Wed/thurs/fri. Also VAQ-131 was doing work up/deck cert bounces on the Lincoln just after us this last weekend (may still be out there).
As for why Prowler/Growler, part of it is the location....my home is the PNW so it would be awesome to go back. Secondly, I kind of think I'd rather be the master of one or two different missions rather than competant at many (speaking to Hornets/VFA here). Prowlers do tons of low levels and tacform stuff in training which is totally my jam, so I think that would be awesome, and as much as I like burning JP and pulling G's, I wouldn't mind getting to enjoy the scenery a little more than that. We'll see though....I have ACM coming up as my last 15 flights before wings, and that may change my mind. In the end, even if I end up in Hornets, it would still be a great job! I agree though.....in my limited experience (both flying T-45's as well as trunking a bunch of Super Hornet flights back when I was a middie), flying mil jets isn't nearly as dynamic as one might think the majority of the time. At the end of the day, we still spend a lot of time transiting straight and level to and from a working area/MOA/Restricted area/target/etc. Perhaps one of the experienced jet guys around here can speak more to this, but that is the impression that I have anyway.