Hadn't heard about that latest rumor. I know lots of Marines at many different locales flying the Rhino. You're right though, I can't think of a better platform to support the guys on the ground than a Lot 30+ Rhino with AESA, and Helmet in both seats. Slap their LITNING (however you spell it) on there, and with 6 hard points and 17K #'s of gas and you've got a phenominal platform. Now if they could just straighten out the pylons to support rockets.

It has been heresy for quite some time now to mention the Super Hornet with respect to Marine Aviation.

As it was said earlier in BDGERJMN's post and the article (Rumor) link, USMCHQ didn't like hearing about Marines flying the Super (in other than test squadrons) because the leadership had put all of its' eggs into the JSF program and it "looked" as if the Marines were waivering on that support if you found them everywhere flying Supers.

BDGERJMN can say for sure, but I thought that for quite sometime the Marine IPs weren't dual qual'ed on the east coast and only the MATSG IPs on the West Coast were dual qualed because they got so little flight time with the Legacy training squadron and the Super training squadron was hurting for pilot IPs at one point (but as I said - it was done on the fairly downlow side so as to not unduely ruffle feathers along the way)

Many people have said for quite some time now that they would lay down a dollar bet that the Marines would see the 'F' at some point with Marine markings on the side. Recent history (and the use during the last 9 years) have put unforeseen pressures on the rest of the Legacy fleet (especially the Missionized Deltas) and the pace of acqusition of the F-35B has not kept up (not that anyone on the line ever thought it would!)

As for the rocket problem Grumble - just a little skidding or slipping down the chute will get those rockets pointed in the right direction won't it :D They are still an area weapon aren't they????

USMCFLYR

East Coast FRS Marines have been flying the Rhino since shortly after the OPS/Training integration of the E/F and C/D sides. At that time it was on the down low not as a product of dudes keeping mum about it, but more as a function of the numbers. VFA-106 for years only had 2 full time Marine IPs and 2 IPs from MATSG-33(CO/XO). At times there was another from the LSO school that would fly part time. So the footprint was very small. Now that the Marine billets at 106 have increased substantially, I think around 10 full time and MATSG/LSO school players, the numbers are much higher. This has made OPS/Training way more efficient across the board, while still putting out the numbers of USN/USMC Hornet aircrew to the fleet that are demanded and by the way, increasing EVERYONE's flight time. This decision by Marine leadership is completley for political reasons and is IMHO a detriment to the Naval service as a whole. I digress...what do I know, I'm just a SELRES!