init4fun

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franklin_m

We called the KC135 "The Iron Maiden" because it's easy to rip off a probe (very bad thing on a trans-oceanic flight). KC10 is a nice and stable mushy basket. KA6 was the best, A6E or S3 with a buddy store weren't bad. But those were organic tankers working off the ship.



None are fun at night and / or bad weather / or both. KC135 much less fun than the rest.

Hydro Junkie

What's up with that E and a Buddy store? I know every A-6 squadron had four "K" types assigned.

porcia83

My Feedback: (8)

Great pic. Always loved the look of the S3.

Hydro Junkie

That isn't an S-3 Viking, it's an A-6E Intruder. The shot was taken from the right front seat of a Prowler or the right seat of another A-6 as shown by the fuel probe over the nose of the lower aircraft.
The picture linked is an A-6E from VA 52, based at Whidbey Island while attached to Carrier Air Wing 15 on the USS Kitty Hawk. It is an old picture since the plane still has the gull grey over white paint scheme, phased out in the early 1980s. CAW-15 was disestablished March 1995
The Prowler in the second picture is from the VAQ-132 Scorpions, base again at Whidbey Island while deployed with CAW-17 On the USS Kennedy
The last picture shows an S-3A from VS-37 while attached to CAW-14 while deployed on the USS Constellation
https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/df/A-6E_Intruder_VA-52.JPEG&imgrefurl=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_A-6_Intruder&h=1912&w=2836&tbnid=G7RH5qQQ4QsYSM:&tbnh=135&tbnw=200&docid=hTEEam9FvjNRLM&itg=1&usg=__b52K40AhMF89k-wOZ3yvpC7D9ME=

https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...act=mrc&uact=8

https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...OgmjrMvJNg9X8=

porcia83

My Feedback: (8)

I didn't say that was an S3, I'm aware what that looks like from the front and rear (but not from that perspective for sure). I said it was a great picture, and I said I liked the look of the S3. I'm a military brat, spent my life around many of these aircaft for 20 plus years. Got to see what I think were some of the best ones in the 70's and 80's.

Hydro Junkie

Fair enough. Your post had me thinking you thought the upper plane was an S-3

Sport_Pilot

The systems used for most ground GPS is not as accurate as aviation GPS. Also the surface or trees or buildings will block out one of the three (or is it four) satellites required for the most accurate triangulation.

franklin_m

Yep. Right seater shot the photo. Daytime around the ship it's almost always done "zip lip," or no talking on the radios. Done so that we're always proficient in EMCON (EMissions CONtrol) operations. Once in a while we'll even do zip lip tanking at night. - for practice.

Speaking of "zip lip," whenever we have 3000/5 or better at the ship, all launches and landings are also done "zip lip." Again, practicing EMCON so that we're always good should it be needed. I've done nighttime zip lip a couple times during exercises. As you might imagine that's just a bit more difficult.

franklin_m

VAQ131, the Lancers, I deployed twice with two A-6 squadrons and no A7 (or Hornets). First time was with VA-145 Swordsmen and VMA(AW)-121 Green Knights. Second time (Desert Storm) was with VA-145 again, and VA-155 Silver Foxes. Both times on Ranger with CAG2. None of those had KA6's. I want to say they were retired from most squadrons a couple years prior in favor of more all weather capable bomb droppers.

My next sea tour was on Kennedy. By then it all the A6's were gone (or nearly so). At that time, CAG8 had just Hornets for bomb droppers. All tanking done by the S3. We preferred the A6 though, as the S3 cruised quite a bit slower than the rest of the strikers when doing organic tanking for strike support.

Chris P. Bacon

My Feedback: (4)

Where exactly did I say Franklin was wrong?

Still waiting for your response.

Hydro Junkie

Okay this has me laughing a bit since my two cruises were with VAQ-130, both on the Kitty Hawk. We had, in the CAW with us:
1984 CAG-2 VF-1 & 2( 12 F-14As), VA-146 &147( 12 A-7Es), VA-145(included four Ks and 12 A-6E-TRAMs), HS-2, VAW-116( 4 E-2Cs), VS-38( 10 S-3As) and the VQ-1 Whale.

1985 CAG-9 VF-24 & 211, VA-165, VA-146 &147, HS-2, VAW-112(with 5 E-2Cs), VS-33 and the ever present VQ-1 Whale

franklin_m

When I was on Ranger ('89-'92), CAG2 had also HS2, VS38, VAW116, and VF1 & VF2 for both deployments, flying the F14A still. KA's were gone, as were the Whales. Both A-6 squadrons were 12 planes

VA's all transitioned to VFA's, flying baby Hornets at first. VF1 was decom'd, VF2 transitioned to 2-seat Rhino's. Ironically we had VFA's 146 & 147 at NASL when I was there. Blue Diamonds were flying some of the oldest Hornets in the fleet - I think they transitioned to E's by now. Maybe even moved to CAG5 - I don't remember the shuffle that was supposed to take place about a year after I left.