Unusual F/A-18 at KPBI

[MarkLawrence]

My son and I went to PBI for a little time this morning - we thought it was a wasted trip - terribly hot and heat haze like mad - plus - winds blowing out of the west didn't help in the spotting location. We were just about to leave when this F/A-18 does a high speed loop over the end of runway 27R and circles to land. He parked outside Galaxy Aviation and I was able to get a little closer - anyone seen this plane before? From what I can make out - it's Navy from VFC-12 I think...sorry about the heat haze...

http://www.tavustheman.com/images/F18-VFC-12-KPBI-05182008.jpg

[Nick]

Looks like an Aggressor bird from the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center at NAS Fallon, Nevada.

[MarkLawrence]

Would the 00 represent a senior officer? like a CAG?

[Lezam]

Thats really cool. Is it sop to fly around with a bomb hanging under you like that?

[moose135]

That's not a bomb, it's an external fuel tank (Bugs don't have much range :shock: )

[Derf]

Nice aggressor paint! :borat:

Or is that a peruski Honetski?
The should nick name it the TU-69 Bl0wjob :shock:

[Steven Holzinger]

It's actually from NAS Oceana.

[Nick]

<- doesn't know Navy stuff.

[Steven Holzinger]

Nick, it was a very good guess! I think VFC-13 is from Fallon, NV. Don't believe they have Hornets but even I could be wrong on that. "Ambush", which is written on the external tank, is actually one of their callsigns.

[Mateo]

It's Oceana-based, from VFC-12, the "Fighting Omars." As you can see, it's in an aggressor scheme.

[MarkLawrence]

Thanks for all the input everyone - I wonder what he was doing down here for a Sunday afternoon - could it be someone needing flight hours? I can't think of anything else at PBI that would warrant a landing.

[cancidas]

i love agressor colors! my PC-12 is going to be painted in the same USAF blue-camo as thier nellis-based F-15s and -16s... can't wait!!