US Navy Centennial 10 Years Ago

[Jason Grant]

10 years have passed since the US Navy celebrated its aviation centennial. I attended the kick-off event in February 2011, where it all began at NAS North Island. With time on my hands, I have recently carried out a fresh edit of the images and I have edited many more for the first time. All the images can be seen on my flickr site but I thought I would share some of my favourite images with you. It is worth noting that the US Navy only painted squadron aircraft that were coming up for a repaint in their natural cycle to save money.

I also produced a report for AeroResource back then which can be viewed here http://www.aeroresource.co.uk/events/ce ... -aviation/

Static (small selection)

162410 100th F/A-18A Hornet by Jason Grant, on Flickr

165677 NJ-100 F/A-18F Super Hornet by Jason Grant, on Flickr

166899 EA-18G Growler VAQ-129 by Jason Grant, on Flickr

160581 701 S-3B Viking VX-30 Bloodhounds by Jason Grant, on Flickr

160609 EA-6B Prowler VAQ-129 by Jason Grant, on Flickr

761580 AF-20 F-5F Tiger II by Jason Grant, on Flickr

161197 G-327 TC-12B Huron by Jason Grant, on Flickr

920458 04 NSAWC F-16B Fighting Falcon by Jason Grant, on Flickr

156514 EP-3E Orion by Jason Grant, on Flickr

165210 F/A-18C Hornet China Lake by Jason Grant, on Flickr

162866 X-01 VFA-204 River Rattlers F/A-18A Hornet by Jason Grant, on Flickr

163656 B/2-TW-200 T-45C Goshawk by Jason Grant, on Flickr

164673 10 F/A-18C Hornet VFC-12 Fighting Omars by Jason Grant, on Flickr

161355 N846NA NASA F/A-18B Hornet by Jason Grant, on Flickr

N518TA 518 TA-4J Skyhawk by Jason Grant, on Flickr

165598 T-45C Goshawk by Jason Grant, on Flickr

165301 603 E-2C Hawkeye by Jason Grant, on Flickr

164169 T-34C Turbo Mentor by Jason Grant, on Flickr

N961NA (70-1555) NASA T-38N Talon by Jason Grant, on Flickr

163787 202 HH-60H Seahawk by Jason Grant, on Flickr

162339 20 SH-60B Seahawk HSL-43 by Jason Grant, on Flickr

166323 SA-07 MH-60S Knighthawk HSC-3 by Jason Grant, on Flickr

166791 XE-260 F/A-18F Super Hornet VX-9 Vampires by Jason Grant, on Flickr

166064 E-064 T-6B Texan II by Jason Grant, on Flickr

166673 XE-250 F/A-18F Super Hornet VX-9 Vampires by Jason Grant, on Flickr

761548 AF-101 F-5N Tiger II VFC-111 by Jason Grant, on Flickr

165421 WE-01 VMA-214 "Black Sheep" AV-8B Harrier by Jason Grant, on Flickr

160770 PC-9 P-3C Orion VP-6 by Jason Grant, on Flickr

162064 E-100 TH-57C SeaRanger by Jason Grant, on Flickr

CVN-74 + LHA-5

"Look Ahead" John C Stennis CVN-74 by Jason Grant, on Flickr

167859 NG-6 MH-60S Knighthawk by Jason Grant, on Flickr

163048 NG-501 EA-6B Prowler by Jason Grant, on Flickr

John C Stennis by Jason Grant, on Flickr

164365 YN CH-53E Sea Stallion HMH-361 by Jason Grant, on Flickr

167994 SM-04 UH-1Y Venom by Jason Grant, on Flickr

163949 SE-01 AH-1W Super Cobra HMLA-469 by Jason Grant, on Flickr

Flying (small selection)

Blue Angels by Jason Grant, on Flickr

N9323Z 483514 F-U B-17G Flying Fortress by Jason Grant, on Flickr

165276 VT-21 AH-1W Super Cobra and 166756 QT-506 UH-1Y Venom USMC Formation by Jason Grant, on Flickr

Refueling Demonstration 166765 QB-765 by Jason Grant, on Flickr

167905 YR-03 MV-22B Osprey Demo by Jason Grant, on Flickr

Super Cobra & Super Huey Formation 165362 SM-24, 167807 QT-527, 168000 QT-612, 167997 UV-35 by Jason Grant, on Flickr

Marine Corps Formation by Jason Grant, on Flickr

164360 YK-05 CH-53E HMH466 by Jason Grant, on Flickr

Marine Corps Formation by Jason Grant, on Flickr

HMM-364 CH-46E Sea Knight by Jason Grant, on Flickr

AV-8B Harrier VMA-311 by Jason Grant, on Flickr

166561 MH-60R Strikehawk HSM-41 by Jason Grant, on Flickr

160147 BH-700 S-3B Viking VX-30 by Jason Grant, on Flickr

164493 AE-600 E-2C Hawkeye VAW-77 "Nightwolves" by Jason Grant, on Flickr

162121 P-3C Orion by Jason Grant, on Flickr

164409 E-6B Mercury by Jason Grant, on Flickr

USMC Hornet Formation 165192 WT-04 165193 WT-05 VMFA-232 and 162453 MA-05 162882 MA-08 VMFA-112 by Jason Grant, on Flickr

F-16A Fighting Falcon NSAWC Formation 900947 56 and 920404 57 by Jason Grant, on Flickr

Electronic Warfare Formation EA-6B 158034 NJ-902 EA-18G 166940 NJ-561 and 166943 NJ-564 VAQ-129 by Jason Grant, on Flickr

F-5N Tiger II Formation 761570 AF-107 761535 AF-14 761544 AF-05 761552 AF-13 by Jason Grant, on Flickr

VFA-122 166889 NJ-150 166907 NJ-213 165874 NJ-205 165912 NJ-116 by Jason Grant, on Flickr

CVW-9 carrier wing finale overflight

CVW-9 Carrier Wing, San Diego by Jason Grant, on Flickr

CVW-9 Carrier Wing, San Diego by Jason Grant, on Flickr

CVW-9 Carrier Wing, San Diego by Jason Grant, on Flickr

Thanks for staying with it to the end.

[MR TERRY GREEN]

They don't come any better than that.Loved the Hornets and Prowler.

[Neil-Mercia]

Very nice photo’s Jason brightens the day up .
Thanks.Neil,

[Yunglee]

Fabulous set of images, thanks for sharing them.

Lee.

[Seahawk 11]

Wow, just awesome, what a fantastic set of photos there, some great colour schemes as well,
thanks for posting them,

Rob

[PeteF]

Oh happy days. I was at the US Navy Centennial on Coronado beach for the 2 arrival days and inside for the 1 day flypasts. A fantastic event with a large number of specially painted aircraft.

Incidentally on the beach I was chatting to a local who said there was a high weather risk. San Diego over winter does get sea haar/clouds rolling in (which was evident a day or two later). Apparently if the weather didn't play ball then the event would be cancelled. Phew luckily the flight and 4 days paid off. Only issue was that as a non USA resident I was not allowed onto the Carrier!

Great Pics

[SW Sky Blue]

Excellent

[grumpy616]

Great set of pics, thanks for posting.

[Pune]

Just superb..

[DanBeeden]

Amazing - those schemes look almost as good as the RAF Centenary specials in 2018

Beautiful selection of airframes. The S-3, and P-3 with the shark on the tail really standout for me. I noticed in the static overview there is in the far distance a Herc painted in what I think may be the old-style USCG scheme but I'm not sure. Either way, superb images of how such an event should be celebrated, so thanks for sharing these.

[matt e]

First to last photo superb

[Pjross]

Fabulous set of images - what an event !

[warferry]

Hi Jason I to was there also, must have been close to you as my shots the same .
As every one has said a great event , not much media cover in the magazines back home.
Think your shots a sharper than mine ,very nice indeed.

[Phantomwolf]

Just to echo previous responses to your thread- a cracking set of photographs of some great subject matter. Hadn't realised that quite so many airframes had been painted up for the occasion, as one of the previous posts said , they didn't get a lot of coverage this side of the pond.
Certainly brightened up my day- many thanks for posting.

[PeteHemsley]

What an awesome looking show. That carrier group fly over looks incredible!

[dragonchaser]

What an excellent post, it’s such a shame more of those schemes don’t become the new normal.

[Paultojo]

Great set of images Jason

[matt e]

Stunning set another vote for the S3's and VP6 orion

[Marauder]

these are brilliant !

[Eggroll70]

Great collection great photographed !
Seen some at Miramar, more or less surrounded by crowds.
Would have seen them flying.

Carry on
Jim