NAS Oceana Air Show 2016

[bigcrow]

Hi All

It was my 50th Birthday at the begining of the month so a couple of weeks ago for a birthday present I attended the airshow at NAS Oceana in Virginia, I also attended it for my 40th to sse the Tomcat for one last time. Yes this time there were no F-14's but they certainly still know how to put on an airshow. One unit I really wanted to capture was VFC-12 'Fighting Omars. they didn't disappoint...

#1

163342\AD-302 FA-18C VFA-106 'Gladiators' NAS Oceana, Va by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#2

166620\AG-200 FA-18F VFA-103 'Jolly Rogers' NAS Oceana, Va by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#3

164239\AF-06 FA-18A+ VFC-12 'Fighting Omars' NAS Oceana, Va by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#4

162867\AF-08 FA-18A+ VFC-12 'Fighting Omars' NAS Oceana, Va by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#5

164239\AF-06 FA-18A+ VFC-12 'Fighting Omars' NAS Oceana, Va by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#6

160355\AN-431 MH-53E HM-12 "Sea Dragons" NAS Norfolk, Va by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#7

6006 MH-60T USCG, Air Station Elisabeth City, NC by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#8

166358\HW-67 MH-60S HSC-26 Det.1, NAS Norfolk, Va by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#9

162867\AF-08 FA-18A+ VFC-12 'Fighting Omars' NAS Oceana, Va by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#10

163451\NA-403 FA-18E VFA-81 'Sunliners' NAS Oceana, Va by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#11

163451/1 FA-18C US Navy, Blue Angels, NAS Pensacola, Fl by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#12

6006 MH-60T USCG, Air Station Elisabeth City, NC by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#13

163342\AD-302 FA-18C VFA-106 'Gladiators' NAS Oceana, Va by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#14

163451/1 FA-18C US Navy, Blue Angels, NAS Pensacola, Fl by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#15

163482AD-401 FA-18D VFA-106 'Gladiators' NAS Oceana, Va by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#16

165202\AG-300 FA-18C VFA-83 'Rampagers' NAS Oceana, Va by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#17

164239\AF-06 FA-18A+ VFC-12 'Fighting Omars' NAS Oceana, Va by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#18

164239\AF-00 FA-18A+ VFC-12 'Fighting Omars' NAS Oceana, Va by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#19

166840\AB-410 FA-18E VFA-81 'Sunliners' NAS Oceana, Va by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#20

166665\AJ-100 FA-18E VFA-31 'Tomcatters' NAS Oceana, Va by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#21

163093\4 FA-18C US Navy, Blue Angels, NAS Pensacola, Fl by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#22

165202\AG-300 FA-18C VFA-83 'Rampagers' NAS Oceana, Va by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#23

1634421\5 FA-18C US Navy, Blue Angels, NAS Pensacola, Fl by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#24

166797/AB-200 FA-18F VFA-211 'Checkmates' NAS Oceana, Va by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#25

162867\AF-08 FA-18A+ VFC-12 'Fighting Omars' NAS Oceana, Va by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#26

166841\AB-413 FA-18E VFA-81 'Sunliners' NAS Oceana, Va by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#27

162867\AF-08 FA-18A+ VFC-12 'Fighting Omars' NAS Oceana, Va by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#28

164239\AF-06 FA-18A+ VFC-12 'Fighting Omars' NAS Oceana, Va by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#29

162143\44 C-2A VRC-40 'Rawhides', NAS Norfolk, Va by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#30

164111\621 E-2C VAW-120 'Greyhawks' NAS Oceana, Va by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#31

162878/116 TH-57C TAW-5 NAS Whiting Field, Fl by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#32

N51JB\44-73029 P-51D "Bold Eagle" Jim Beasley, Philadelphia, Pa by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#33

05-4101\FF F-22A 1st FW\27th FS Marked '1st FW', Langley AFB, Va. by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#34

166639\AJ-213 FA-18F VFA-213 'Black Lions, NAS Oceana, Va by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#35

166834\AB-404 FA-18E VFA-81 'Sunliners' NAS Oceana, Va by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#36

163342\AD-302 FA-18C VFA-106 'Gladiators' NAS Oceana, Va by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#37

163093\4 FA-18C US Navy, Blue Angels, NAS Pensacola, Fl by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#38

165202\AG-300 FA-18C VFA-83 'Rampagers' NAS Oceana, Va by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#39

163342\AD-302 FA-18C VFA-106 'Gladiators' NAS Oceana, Va by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#40

164239\AF-06 FA-18A+ VFC-12 'Fighting Omars' NAS Oceana, Va by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

[Red Dragon]

excellent stuff, always love the Hornet

[st24]

As discussed on twitter, rip-roaring stuff Stu.. (and welcome to the half-century plus gang!! )

[capercaillie]

50! I'd never have put you down as that old Stu, you've certainly aged better than Mr st24.

Some stu-pendous (see what I did there) Hornet action there. Are all VFC-12's jets in that scheme now? While its a great scheme, I'd miss the blue and brown camo jobs.
Lots of nice CAG birds and the Sea Ranger is very sweet too. Great stuff.

[AlexC]

Very nice! I assume that you had some sort of special access?

[Blackbird]

Really great set

Andy

[Ledhead27]

Lovely stuff Stu, the legacy Hornet Aggressor scheme is very easy on the eyes!

[zigzag]

Stunning set , thanks for sharing

[Agg]

Those splinter camo Bugs are fantastic!

[r.e.hendriks]

Holy moly.... Great set!!!
Congrats on your 50th birthday!

Grtx Rob

[Stu]

Really nice selection there

[bigcrow]

50! I'd never have put you down as that old Stu, you've certainly aged better than Mr st24.

Some stu-pendous (see what I did there) Hornet action there. Are all VFC-12's jets in that scheme now? While its a great scheme, I'd miss the blue and brown camo jobs.
Lots of nice CAG birds and the Sea Ranger is very sweet too. Great stuff.

Yeah I know 50, surely thats not right...

As for VFC-12 Hornets yes there are all in the Splinter camo part from one I saw on there ramp in a darker grey splinter scheme. Of interest I was talking to one there pilots over the weekend & he stated they were painting one up in a new scheme of midnight blue upper surfaces & white undersides from half way down the fuselage, saw it in there hanger from a distance loooks very smart, whether this will be there new scheme time will tell.?

[Dr Cake]

Very nice post from a show I intend to visit at some stage in the future. A big thanks for sharing these and well done.

[Airwolfhound]

Outstanding series of shots, on my bucket list now

[Pat Murphy]

50! I'd never have put you down as that old Stu, you've certainly aged better than Mr st24.

Some stu-pendous (see what I did there) Hornet action there. Are all VFC-12's jets in that scheme now? While its a great scheme, I'd miss the blue and brown camo jobs.
Lots of nice CAG birds and the Sea Ranger is very sweet too. Great stuff.

Yeah I know 50, surely thats not right...

As for VFC-12 Hornets yes there are all in the Splinter camo part from one I saw on there ramp in a darker grey splinter scheme. Of interest I was talking to one there pilots over the weekend & he stated they were painting one up in a new scheme of midnight blue upper surfaces & white undersides from half way down the fuselage, saw it in there hangar from a distance loooks very smart, whether this will be there new scheme time will tell.?

Cracking set Mr Freer. Can't believe It's 10 years since I was there for The Last Tomcat show God that makes me feel soooo old.
It's my 50th next year, maybe time to venture back over the water for another trip to Oceana......

Pat

[exdraken]

GREAT shots!

and although mainly Hornets , quite some remarkable variety!

[RichPittman]

just looking back through the pictures of the Week and see I missed these!
Awesome quality Stu