| See
these and more photos here. |
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| A T-45 Goshawk
painted in a pre-World War II tactical aircraft paint scheme
flies over Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas. Larger
view |
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| This S3-B Viking is
outfitted in Battle of Midway colors. Larger
view |
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| An MH-60S
helicopter makes its first flight after being repainted in 1950s
Sea Blue livery. Larger view |
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| Perhaps the most
unusual paint scheme of the project: The current Navy Working
Uniform pattern on an F/A-18F. Larger
view |
With EAA AirVenture being a designated Tier
1 event for the Centennial of Naval Aviation celebration next year, get
ready for a host of special appearances and activities in Oshkosh next
July. While many initiatives have yet to be announced, one special treat
is confirmed and well underway: re-painting several current inventory
airplanes in colors from previous eras.
"It's all part of our outreach to
help celebrate the centennial of naval aviation," said Capt.
Richard Dann, Director of History and Outreach for the centennial.
"We're attempting to teach about the heritage, which many people
may not be aware of."
Examples of already completed aircraft
include a pair of T-45 Goshawks painted in yellow-winged, pre-World War
II tactical aircraft schemes; an S-3B Viking done up in the colors of
naval airplanes that fought in the Battle of Midway; an HH-60H Seahawk
helicopter painted like those of Helicopter Attack (Light) Squadron
THREE (HAL-3) Seawolf fire teams from the Vietnam era; and an F/A-18F
with a truly unique scheme modeled after the current Navy Working
Uniform.
These aircraft "in every manner of
heritage paint" will take part in designated Tier 1 events -
including AirVenture Oshkosh 2011 - that will celebrate the naval
aviation centennial, Dann said. Although he could not commit to which
airplanes would be participating at Oshkosh, he indicated that several
of the approximately 26 aircraft will appear.
With 10 planes already completed and
three in the paint shop, another 13 or so are slated to undergo the
classic makeover. Here is a list of the airplanes, schemes they
represent, and status:
Completed aircraft
- T-45C - Yellow Wings (Black Tail)
- T-45C - Yellow Wings (Blue Tail)
- HH-60H - HAL-3 " TH-57C - 1916
with anchor insignia
- MH-60S - 1950s Sea Blue
- MH-60S - 1950s Sea Blue
- T-6B - Trainer Yellow - complete, new
at factory
- S-3B - Battle of Midway
- F/A-18F - Navy Working Uniform
- MH-60R - Three-tone WWII
Currently being painted
- T-39N - Yellow Wings (Blue Tail)
- TC-12B - 1942 with red and white
rudder
- T-44 - NC-4 Flying Boat (1919)
Planned/Not started
- T-34C - USCG 1930s
- T-34C - USMC 1930s
- T-34C - USN 1930s
- F/A-18C - USNR 1950s
- F/A-18 - Three-tone WWII
- EA-6B - Coral Sea
- EA-18G - Three-tone WWII
- F/A-18C - T&E Paint
- F/A-18C - Shangri La Air Group Glossy
Sea Blue (tentative)
- EA-6B - 1970s
- F/A-18C - Mid-WWII
- P-3C - VP-44 Battle of Midway
- P-3C - Seaplane Gray/White
- UH-1N - USMC MoH aircraft
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