Newark727 From United States of America, joined Dec 2009, 1173 posts, RR: 0 Posted (1 year 2 months 3 weeks 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 2106 times:
On Sunday I was at Palm Springs airport when a pair of F-18s landed. I've never really spotted military jets before so I'm having a bit of trouble figuring out the serials/codes (although my photos are far too backlit for a.net, it's something I just do.) Both were lettered Vikings on the fuel tank and one was lettered VMFA(AW)225, which a quick Google determines to be Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 225 out of Miramar. The other codes carried by the aircraft were "02" on the first and "05" on the second, plus a "CE" on the tail of 05. Which looking at the database makes it CE-05 by this website's standards. Where might I look to find out more detailed information about these aircraft?
moose135 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 2009 posts, RR: 12 Reply 1, posted (1 year 2 months 3 weeks 2 days ago) and read 2068 times:
The CE is the squadron tail code, and the two digit numbers are used to identify the aircraft within the squadron. Each aircraft also carries a Bureau Number (usually shorted to BuNo) that acts as the serial number, and doesn't change if the aircraft is reassigned. The BuNo is a 6-digit number, and on the F-18 it is usually below the horizontal stabilizers.
Looking at the Scramble.nl database, it looks like you have:
CE-02 BuNo 165410 F/A-18D CN 1434/D141
CE-05 BuNo 165680 F/A-18D CN 1469/TAFD001 - this was one of eight Hornets ordered by the Royal Thai Air Force in the late 1990s. That deal was cancelled before the aircraft were delivered, and they were acquired by the USMC
Newark727 From United States of America, joined Dec 2009, 1173 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (1 year 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 1951 times:
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