Stars and Stripes Eagle

[CLPSLFBT]

Evening all, just came across this article regarding a specially painted F-15 from the 144th FW at Fresno

https://taskandpurpose.com/culture/air- ... ripes/?amp

Looks pretty impressive

Cheers Glenn

[Finty]

I’m not one for one off liveries but even I dig that!

[paddyboy]

That is some paint job

[Dave934]

Wow.
Dave.

[roughcutter]

A bit ott for my liking, but then that's the Yanks for ya. They can be a little over enthusiastic about waving their wi......"flag!"

[verreli]

That would be some catch in the Sidewinder.

[Supra]

I like 'Specials' but this is a pastel vomit-inducing abomination with those nauseatingly wrong shades of blue & red! Aside from that, it's a great idea poorly executed. Just sayin'.

[lardyboy999]

Did they not paint one of prototypes in those colours in 76 for the Bi-Centenial?

[f106dart]

Did they not paint one of prototypes in those colours in 76 for the Bi-Centenial?

The Air Force didn't but McDonald Douglas did with the bicentennial F-15

[Proteus]

Awful.

[Nighthawke]

Lovely job - people moan about no schemes, stickers, a hint of something yet here is a fully painted aircraft and you still moan! What's the salary for a professional whinger these day?

[Finty]

Most schemes are awful anyway (looking at you, tiger meets), can’t beat your bog standard greys and greens.

[lardyboy999]

Did they not paint one of prototypes in those colours in 76 for the Bi-Centenial?

The Air Force didn't but McDonald Douglas did with the bicentennial F-15

Tah.

Andy

[Blackcat1]

Makes a change from drab boring greys

[Nighthawke]

Exactly Gareth - some people are just never satisfied.

[The wrong stuff]

I'm with finty here, aesthetically give me a standard 'hill one' or 'have glass' above the Belgian AF green viper any day. The 'stars and stripes' is very American and I think it just about works, but no way is it better than 'mod eagle'. Everybody has different reasons for being an aviation enthusiast ,some like airshows I much prefer standard operational duties and prefer recording those events. Therefore I prefer the operational liveries to the airshow type liveries. That said aesthetics are completely subjective.
In my opinion mid 70's USN tomcat liveries are unbeatable... something like the VF-1 Wolfpack livery .That's way more showy than the later carrier pale grey liveries but both complement and enhance the lines and function of the plane.

A further example In my opinion is that a ferrari or aston martin doesn't need a fancy paint job ......they would be stunning in most single colours. Many liveries are at odds with the function of the plane... to be visually stealthy.....many liveries can also mask the elegant but brutal purpose of these planes. This is nothing new here the finery of costumes worn by soldiers over the centuries you could argue help to bolster moral, if this plane does this to the American forces then you could argue it is doing its job.

Sorry for going on but the aesthetics of war is something we all need to reflect on.

[Chris in Tennessee]

Lighten up Francis.

A bunch of Guard guys wanted to put a cool paint job on one of their jets to celebrate some significant milestones. They didn't farm the job out to graphics designers and professional custom aircraft painters. Having spent a lot of time in the USAF I would imagine it was a lot more like some young Captain action officer wandering into the paint shop and collaring the NCOIC and waving some pencil scketches one of his fellow fly-boys came up with and asking, "Well Sarge, whaddya think? Can you boys do this?" At that I imagine the paint guy scratched his head a little and then opined, "Sure, Cap...hell, it'll be fun!"

And it was. The weekend warriors like it, their Wing King digs it and everybody's happy.

Everybody, that is, except for some whiny Brits who want to pontificate about everything from tasteless Yank patriotic displays to the proper esthetics for weapons of war.

Missing the point boys. It's just a fun way to celebrate a birthday.

Chris

[C24]

I’m a little late in entering the fray having posted a copy of the aircraft on Flickr with a suitable acknowledgment.

When shown a copy, our US born family member came out with “Good job!”

That sums it up for me

If the RAF could afford more aircraft perhaps we could be more expressive.

Christmas greetings to you all

[iainpeden]

F-15 display at RIAT with the sun behind the crowd and a bit of moisture in the air; something to dream about on this damp, dark shortest day of the year.

IIRC the bicentennial Eagle was predominantly white in basically a Thunderbird scheme.

[raptor9]

It was indeed in those colours. Happy to say I was there. Get today over and I will feel much much better!!. Regards.