Wintery Scene F-16's Taxi for Takeoff 1680 x 1050 Widescreen Wallpaper

Getting you ready for Winter (in the Northern hemisphere), here's two F-16s taxiing for takeoff. Just makes you cold looking at it...

F18C Hornet Cat Launch 1680 x 1050 Widescreen Wallpaper

Excellent shot here of an F-18C Hornet getting shot off the bow of the USS Ronald Reagan. Great framing with the F-18F on the deck.

Navy F-5N Adversary Fighters 1680 x 1050 Widescreen Wallpaper

Here's a sight, two retired Swiss F-5s converted to US Navy Adversary aircraft. The Navy is going to use these F-5N's to train fleet pilots in adversary tactics.

I'm kinda surprised on the plane choice but I'm sure they have their reasons. The F-5 used to pull adversary duty with USAF Aggressors but now F-16s and F-15s do it. The Navy definitely won't be simulating SU-30's with these completely outmatched F-5s.

EA-6B Prowler Show Pass 1680 x 1050 Widescreen Wallpaper

Gotta love show passes! Nice shot of the soon to be retired EA-6B Prowler. It's definitely not a plane you call sexy, but you can admire its bug-like qualities.

EA-18G Growler 1680 x 1050 Widescreen Wallpaper

Update: Excellent work guys. You got it right, it's the EA-18G Growler, replacement for the EA-6B.

It's a modified F/A-18F that packs the EW equipment where the gun used to be and on the wingtips. Whereas the EA-6B was a four-man crew, the stipulation on the EA-18G was it had to work with two just two crew members (read: lots of automation).

It's going to go through ops testing this year and should be in the fleet in 2009.


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Ok, let's see how good you guys are. Here is one of the newest F-18s in the Navy. Can you name it?

I'll reveal more when you guess the correct aircraft.

F16s Flightline Lineup 1680 x 1050 Widescreen Wallpaper

I'm back from my Chicago trip. Had a great time, but more on that below. Here's a nicely composed shot of Minnesota F16's. Go Bulldogs!

So for the Chicago pics, the first one is from the Drake Hotel grand ballroom where I gave my presentation.

The second shot was taken from the Milton Lee Olive Park area looking back toward the city.

The third shot is from Millennium Park looking toward downtown Chicago.

If you visit, you have to take a walk along Michigan Avenue in the area called the Magnificent Mile. Just amazing, clean, great shops, and great food.

Of course, I had to get a famous deep dish Chicago pizza from Geno's East. Good stuff.

I'm definitely going back. Great city.

F18 Hornet Sunrise 1680 x 1050 Widescreen Wallpaper

Excellent shot of an F-18C Hornet at Sunrise. Check out the vivid colors and the night glow strips. Love it.

FYI, I'll be in Chicago for the next three days and won't be back to Saturday. This is my first trip to the windy city so I'm hoping to experience some of the highlights but I am going on "business" (I have to do a presentation). At minimum, I'll need to find me a deep dish pizza and visit at least one site where they filmed the Blues Brothers.