Sputnik

Seriously?

Isn't "growler" common slang for taking a dump where you're at? It is in the military--at least among everyone I know.

I can't help but snicker every time I hear someone refer to it that way.

Rhinoflyer

I don't think I have ever said "I fly (flew) the Rhino." You're right, most people just say Super Hornet.

Rhinoflyer

A few years ago, when the Growler was not yet online, there was a push by some enterprising young JOs to call it the "Shocker". I think they still have the patch, "Shocker, you'll never see it coming."

vagabond

Rhinoflyer, would you like to change your user name? I'll appeal to HSLD on your behalf for the change. Pro bono, of course.

On a slightly different topic, I think everyone knows that I have said I will pay good money to see a pic of TonyC in spandex shorts. I am hereby offering the same good money to anyone who can sneak me into a real Hornet (Super or otherwise) and let me push a few buttons and flip that Master Mode Switch, which after all was what started this whole thread. I mean, really, what is the point of being a moderator of a pilot's board when I cannot get little special things done for me?

AZFlyer

Seriously?? Thats EXACTLY why its cooler. Think about it.

AZFlyer

What a shame that that didn't catch on. I wonder if there is a way to make a semblance of the hornet out of the shocker hand gesture for the patch. ....Perfect.

Rhinoflyer

The patch is of a Growler from above with 2 missiles under one wing and 1 under the other.

dojetdriver

If they were to label it the Spocker, it would be more symmetrical with 2 underneath each wing.

Rhino Driver

I have to disagree with you Rhino Flyer. If you were a Tomcat transition guy to the E/F, it's the Rhino. If you were a Hornet guy that transitioned to the E/F, it's still the Hornet. If you were an FRS grad new to Naval Aviation, it's the Super Hornet. That's what I came to realize after 4 years as an FRS IP.

Anyway, the name Rhino really has it's purpose. It's all about operating around the boat. We had issues early on in the program with the arresting gear settings. The gear dogs get a setting that has to be dialed into the arresting gear from the tower. For the Hornet, it's 33/34 thousand pounds. For the "Super," it's 44 thousand pounds. You can see how this might be an issue. The gear dogs set the weight setting, the LSO's verify the correct weight setting, and the pilot's call the ball with their aircraft name and fuel weight. "303, Hornet ball, 4.8." This is a final cross-check.

Early on, we were calling "101, Super Hornet ball, 8.0." It's loud up there on the platform and can be pretty hectic at times. Super Hornet and Hornet can sound very similar. In addition, the Rhino has a daytime light that flashes on the nose wheel (can only be seen abeam) so the LSO's will know it's a Super. You know how that goes. Lights burn out, hectic pitching deck day and the fact that the 2 aircraft actually do look almost identical. You can't always see the intakes until they're in-close. Needless to say, when you trap a 44K jet on a 34K weight setting, very bad things can and will happen. And this happened on far too many occasions.

The simple fix is how you call the ball. We started using Rhino in 2002 and it stuck becoming standard for shipboard operations. The name came from the Phantom guys who also called the Phantom the Rhino in the Navy. A few high ranking Hornet guys HATED calling a version of the Hornet, the Rhino. But the Tomcat guys loved ****ing off the Hornet guys, so it stuck. Actually in the interest of safety, but I like to get my jabs in!

Anyway, that's how it came about. BTW, Hornet guys hate when you call the A-D version the "Baby Hornet." Man I miss this stuff!

ExAF

First...For the record...there is only 1 real Rhino and it is the Phantom. Second...I took a huge Growler this morning!