New Razbam A-7E Textures

[Duckie]

Just uploaded a new A-7E skin for VA-15 Valions. Based on photos from a 1984 Med cruise in response to the Marine barracks in Libya. Navy Chief requested the paint and supplied the photos and other info.

[Mike71]

Nice work! The A-7 was a fine airplane, and the A-7E had a great weapons system. We used to call them "rubber duckies" because of the way they looked in an echelon formation coming into the break - any small bobbling was accentuated because of their short, stubby appearance..

[Duckie]

Nice work! The A-7 was a fine airplane, and the A-7E had a great weapons system. We used to call them "rubber duckies" because of the way they looked in an echelon formation coming into the break - any small bobbling was accentuated because of their short, stubby appearance..

Thanks Mike71. Never heard the "rubber duckie" nick name. It fits.

[Navy Chief]

Nice work! The A-7 was a fine airplane, and the A-7E had a great weapons system. We used to call them "rubber duckies" because of the way they looked in an echelon formation coming into the break - any small bobbling was accentuated because of their short, stubby appearance..

Mike, you might know the pilot who flew that particular aircraft in the attack on Syria? CDR Les Kappel? He was VA-15's XO at the time, and his aircraft, modex 314, was hit by shrapnel from a SAM. Shredded the tailcone. NC

[Navy Chief]

Duckie did a outstanding job on this repaint!!! And I am forever grateful too. Here are some pictures from the real life modex 314, with VA-15, including after it was hit by the SAM shrapnel. NC

[Navy Chief]

More pictures, and no, that's not me in any of the pictures. Those were two guys who worked in VA-15 Airframes shop. I was worked in the AME shop. Egress/environmental. NC

[PRB]

Good stuff all. Or should I say good Sluff? Hehe. NC, great pics of 314. I see that squadron had the FLIR pod. In those days, only one of the two A-7 squadrons in the air wing carried that giant beast. And it was a bit of a maintenance work load... Glad our squadron (VA-94, World Famous Orange Tailed Shrikes) didn't have it, lol!

[Navy Chief]

Good stuff all. Or should I say good Sluff? Hehe. NC, great pics of 314. I see that squadron had the FLIR pod. In those days, only one of the two A-7 squadrons in the air wing carried that giant beast. And it was a bit of a maintenance work load... Glad our squadron (VA-94, World Famous Orange Tailed Shrikes) didn't have it, lol!

I remember the number of FLIR pods was, as you said, minimal. And those things were heavy! I helped load a few. NC

[Mike71]

Mike, you might know the pilot who flew that particular aircraft in the attack on Syria? CDR Les Kappel? He was VA-15's XO at the time, and his aircraft, modex 314, was hit by shrapnel from a SAM. Shredded the tailcone. NC

Absolutely right, Chief - what a coincidence. Les and I were LTs in PG school at Monterey, Ca getting our MS in Aero Engineering in 1971-72. I went off to VA-75 at Oceana, he went off to a squadron in Lemoore, I believe.

[dhazelgrove]

The skin works on the TacPack version, too.

Dave

[Duckie]

The skin works on the TacPack version, too.

Dave

Great shot Dave. Curious, how did you get the fuses to show on the iron bombs? I can only get a plain round nose on any of the iron bonks I try.

Steve

[Tool]

Not to Hijack a thread but has anyone got the TACAN to work so that I may navigate off the ship and back?

Tool