tsquared030

Just curious what any current/former Hornet drivers think about this change.

The Blue Angels Are Getting a Super Upgrade

Farva01

To the casual observer the show will not look any different.
What I am curious about is the Blues have always prided themselves on not taking from the fleet. I do not think we are at the point where we can afford to give up 8-10 Rhinos given the state the fleet is in.

Otterbox

The Rhino fleet is a lot healthier than the baby hornet fleet...

There are a bunch of new Rhinos sitting at the factory allegedly... Maybe that's were they're ultimately going to go.

Grumble

There are some worn out LRIP rhinos out there the Blues can use.

FlewNavy

I think that is the plan. LRIP rhinos are nothing more than baby hornet avionics in a super hornet airframe.

BDGERJMN

Farva, this transition has been planned for quite some time and the LRIP jets that will go to the team are part of that plan. I'm not sure what impact you think that will have on the fleet?

badflaps

For a non fleet guy, what is an LRIP?

Yoda2

Low Rate Initial Production

FlewNavy

Its not really a "fleet" term but more acquisition speak. LRIP is a phase of the cycle. First articles are Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD), then System Development Test Articles (SDTA) followed by Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) and then Full Rate Production. LRIP jets are likely the oldest articles ever to get time in the fleet and usually never see significant time in fleet squadrons.

The super hornet program is very unique as our LRIP jets were used to "sell" the super hornet program to congress as an "upgrade". Most of the LRIP jets were just new airframes with legacy avionics/radars. The next set of jets after the program was started has all new avionics and is essentially a "new" airplane that congress never would have approved if the Navy had asked for a "new" airplane at the time.

Either way - the blues flying EF jets will likely not change anything from the perspective of the audience. Solo pilots will have to adjust but otherwise they are the same. The software will require a couple of tweaks but the blues have had their own software for awhile.

Farva01

I am sure the devil is in the details i.e. parts support, but a LRIP Rhino still has some use especially training and adversary support. VFA-122 is usually on their ass. At NAWDC there is one up Rhino for 60 aircrew, and they are sending one to replace the VFA-211 jets (106 is replacing the other one). CVW-2 showed up to SFARP with each squadron bringing 3 to 5 jets (and were augmented with LRIP jets). We are getting rid of Charlie squadrons so the Rhinos at Boeing that were alluded to above are for those squadrons or Australia.
I know the Charlie fleet is on its ass, but the future of the fleet is the Super Hornet so taking away 8-10 of them is not going to help the problem. Give me a LRIP Rhino to augment my tanker fleet on the boat.