#fa18 — Public Fediverse posts

U.S. Navy quietly arming its uncrewed aerial tanker

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://theaircurrent.com/defense/us-navy-arming-boeing-mq-25-stingray-uncrewed-aerial-tanker/

U.S. Navy quietly arming its uncrewed aerial tanker

https://web.brid.gy/r/https://theaircurrent.com/defense/us-navy-arming-boeing-mq-25-stingray-uncrewed-aerial-tanker/

The U.S. Navy’s new search for ultra-long-range strike brings its Pacific strategy into focus

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://theaircurrent.com/defense/us-navy-ultra-long-range-strike-pacific-strategy/

Pour la première fois, des hélicoptères NH90 espagnols vont être engagés dans une mission de police du ciel de l’Otan

https://web.brid.gy/r/https://www.opex360.com/2026/07/29/pour-la-premiere-fois-des-helicopteres-nh90-espagnols-vont-etre-engages-dans-une-mission-de-police-du-ciel-de-lotan/

USN F/A-18F 166635 of VX-31 "Dust Devils" NAWS China Lake running R-2508 Sidewinder Low Level Complex, June 2, 2026 #Sidewinder #ChinaLake #VX31 #DustDevils #FA18 #AvGeek #photography #Nikon #cvvhrn #R2508 #lowlevel #lowleveljets

USN F/A-18F 166635 of VX-31 "Dust Devils" NAWS China Lake running R-2508 Sidewinder Low Level Complex, June 2, 2026 #Sidewinder #ChinaLake #VX31 #DustDevils #FA18 #AvGeek #photography #Nikon #cvvhrn #R2508 #lowlevel #lowleveljets

USN F/A-18F of VX-31 "Dust Devils" NAWS China Lake rolls inverted before under a ridge downrange from my position in the R-2508 Sidewinder Low Level Complex, June 2, 2026 #Sidewinder #ChinaLake #VX31 #DustDevils #FA18 #AvGeek #photography #Nikon #cvvhrn #R2508 #lowlevel #lowleveljets

USN F/A-18F of VX-31 "Dust Devils" NAWS China Lake rolls inverted before under a ridge downrange from my position in the R-2508 Sidewinder Low Level Complex, June 2, 2026 #Sidewinder #ChinaLake #VX31 #DustDevils #FA18 #AvGeek #photography #Nikon #cvvhrn #R2508 #lowlevel #lowleveljets

Large-scale flyovers without proper notice are rude–and an insult to avgeeks

The past two days have featured some of the most impressive airshow performances in D.C. skies in years–but I, a card-carrying avgeek, saw almost none of them. I’m blaming that on the Trump administration, and I don’t think I’m wrong.

Wednesday night, I missed all but the end of a flyover that concluded with a B-2 bomber accompanied by a formation of F-35 fighters–I heard the roar of the smaller jets as I was exiting a grocery store but only saw one or two reflected in the windows of an office building across the street. Thursday afternoon, I didn’t catch any of an unusual grouping of two B-52s and pairs of F-15s, F/A-18s and F-35s.

I was in the wrong place twice (which is why I’m illustrating this post with a picture of an F-16 formation over Nationals Park before 2025’s home opener) because the organizers of the Freedom 250 series of events on the Malls did not specify flight times in their announcement of these flyovers.

The people running this decidedly partisan event also didn’t use their X account to offer updates on flyover scheduling. I should have instead checked photographer and aviation enthusiast Andrew Leyden, who has been relaying updates there.

(He’s also on Bluesky but not repeating everything that he posts on X, to my dismay.)

From looking at Reddit, I see that I have company in being perplexed by the lack of a heads-up and wondering why there’s no published schedule. It appears that I’ll continue to be left guessing over the remaining days of flyovers–through July 10.

That’s not how this is supposed to work: People on the ground deserve to know when they’ll see their taxpayer dollars in action like this. They don’t have to be total aerospace nerds to appreciate a demonstration of engineering in action–and the piloting skills required to fly so precisely.

And even if folks on the ground somehow have zero interest in aviation, they still might want to know when not to schedule a call to avoid people on the other end thinking they’re about to be on the receiving end of an airstrike.

We know how to do this correctly. I can plan to watch for Arlington National Cemetery flyovers in support of military funerals because I get a text and an e-mail a few days before from the District’s AlertDC system; although those alerts had grown spotty by the time I wrote an explainer about flyovers for Greater Greater Washington in 2023, they’ve been much more reliable recently.

For more involved aerial performances, organizers have even fewer reasons to leave people guessing. The May 8, 2025 “Arsenal of Democracy” flyover that commemorated the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe had a starting time of 12:10 p.m. published weeks in advance. And six years ago, even in the middle of pandemic-induced chaos, we knew when to step outside to watch the July 4, 2020 flyovers above the Mall that Trump ordered up because those, too, came with a start time published three days before.

This is far from the worst example of the second Trump administration falling below the low standards of the first one, but it belongs somewhere on that list.

Large-scale flyovers without proper notice are rude–and an insult to avgeeks

The past two days have featured some of the most impressive airshow performances in D.C. skies in years–but I, a card-carrying avgeek, saw almost none of them. I’m blaming that on the Trump administration, and I don’t think I’m wrong.

Wednesday night, I missed all but the end of a flyover that concluded with a B-2 bomber accompanied by a formation of F-35 fighters–I heard the roar of the smaller jets as I was exiting a grocery store but only saw one or two reflected in the windows of an office building across the street. Thursday afternoon, I didn’t catch any of an unusual grouping of two B-52s and pairs of F-15s, F/A-18s and F-35s.

I was in the wrong place twice (which is why I’m illustrating this post with a picture of an F-16 formation over Nationals Park before 2025’s home opener) because the organizers of the Freedom 250 series of events on the Malls did not specify flight times in their announcement of these flyovers.

The people running this decidedly partisan event also didn’t use their X account to offer updates on flyover scheduling. I should have instead checked photographer and aviation enthusiast Andrew Leyden, who has been relaying updates there.

(He’s also on Bluesky but not repeating everything that he posts on X, to my dismay.)

From looking at Reddit, I see that I have company in being perplexed by the lack of a heads-up and wondering why there’s no published schedule. It appears that I’ll continue to be left guessing over the remaining days of flyovers–through July 10.

That’s not how this is supposed to work: People on the ground deserve to know when they’ll see their taxpayer dollars in action like this. They don’t have to be total aerospace nerds to appreciate a demonstration of engineering in action–and the piloting skills required to fly so precisely.

And even if folks on the ground somehow have zero interest in aviation, they still might want to know when not to schedule a call to avoid people on the other end thinking they’re about to be on the receiving end of an airstrike.

We know how to do this correctly. I can plan to watch for Arlington National Cemetery flyovers in support of military funerals because I get a text and an e-mail a few days before from the District’s AlertDC system; although those alerts had grown spotty by the time I wrote an explainer about flyovers for Greater Greater Washington in 2023, they’ve been much more reliable recently.

For more involved aerial performances, organizers have even fewer reasons to leave people guessing. The May 8, 2025 “Arsenal of Democracy” flyover that commemorated the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe had a starting time of 12:10 p.m. published weeks in advance. And six years ago, even in the middle of pandemic-induced chaos, we knew when to step outside to watch the July 4, 2020 flyovers above the Mall that Trump ordered up because those, too, came with a start time published three days before.

This is far from the worst example of the second Trump administration falling below the low standards of the first one, but it belongs somewhere on that list.

USN F/A-18F 166635 of VX-31 "Dust Devils" NAWS China Lake running R-2508 Sidewinder Low Level Complex, June 2, 2026 #Sidewinder #ChinaLake #VX31 #DustDevils #FA18 #AvGeek #photography #Nikon #cvvhrn #R2508 #lowlevel #lowleveljets

USN F/A-18F 166635 of VX-31 "Dust Devils" NAWS China Lake running R-2508 Sidewinder Low Level Complex, June 2, 2026 #Sidewinder #ChinaLake #VX31 #DustDevils #FA18 #AvGeek #photography #Nikon #cvvhrn #R2508 #lowlevel #lowleveljets

USN F/A-18F 166635 of VX-31 "Dust Devils" NAWS China Lake running R-2508 Sidewinder Low Level Complex, June 2, 2026 #Sidewinder #ChinaLake #VX31 #DustDevils #FA18 #AvGeek #photography #Nikon #cvvhrn #R2508 #lowlevel #lowleveljets

USN F/A-18F 166635 of VX-31 "Dust Devils" NAWS China Lake running R-2508 Sidewinder Low Level Complex, June 2, 2026 #Sidewinder #ChinaLake #VX31 #DustDevils #FA18 #AvGeek #photography #Nikon #cvvhrn #R2508 #lowlevel #lowleveljets

USN F/A-18F of VX-31 "Dust Devils" NAWS China Lake rolls nearly inverted before crossing a ridge downrange from my position in the R-2508 Sidewinder Low Level Complex, June 2, 2026 #Sidewinder #ChinaLake #VX31 #DustDevils #FA18 #AvGeek #photography #Nikon #cvvhrn #R2508 #lowlevel #lowleveljets

USN F/A-18F of VX-31 "Dust Devils" NAWS China Lake rolls nearly inverted before crossing a ridge downrange from my position in the R-2508 Sidewinder Low Level Complex, June 2, 2026 #Sidewinder #ChinaLake #VX31 #DustDevils #FA18 #AvGeek #photography #Nikon #cvvhrn #R2508 #lowlevel #lowleveljets

Step aside, F/A-18, there's a new multirole in town

https://piefed.social/c/noncredibledefense/p/2118426/step-aside-f-a-18-there-s-a-new-multirole-in-town

Step aside, F/A-18, there's a new multirole in town

TWINS, THEY WERE

https://piefed.social/c/noncredibledefense/p/2096954/twins-they-were

TWINS, THEY WERE

Tomcat vs. Hornet (WARNING: CONTROVERSIAL MATERIAL)

https://piefed.social/c/noncredibledefense/p/2056599/tomcat-vs-hornet-warning-controversial-material

US Disables Iranian-Flagged Ship With F/A-18 Cannon Fire

The US military has taken a firm stance against Iranian-flagged vessels, as demonstrated by the recent disabling of the oil tanker M/T Hasna with F/A-18 cannon fire, after it ignored warnings to halt its journey to an Iranian port. The US blockade on Iranian ports remains firmly in place.

https://osintsights.com/us-disables-iranian-flagged-ship-with-fa-18-cannon-fire?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

#UsBlockade #IranianflaggedShip #Fa18 #GulfOfOman #EmergingThreats

F/A-18 "Vampire" waifu

https://piefed.social/c/noncredibledefense/p/2035232/f-a-18-vampire-waifu

The IRGC claims to have shot down a USAF Fighter Jet south of Iran's 'Qeshm' Island, crashing into the Persian gulf in between it and the 'Hengam' Island.

Note that the video does not display the moment of impact, rather what resembles a "F/A-18E" Fighter Jet flaring and conducting evasive maneuvers.

Video on telegram:
https://t.me/newsvideofa/6860

#PersianGulf #Qeshm #Hengam #FA18 #AirDefense #IRGC #USAF #WarOfAggression
#RegimeChange #WarOnIran #EpsteinWar #WestAsia #Iran #tRump #WarForOil #Israel

The IRGC claims to have shot down a USAF Fighter Jet south of Iran's 'Qeshm' Island, crashing into the Persian gulf in between it and the 'Hengam' Island.

Note that the video does not display the moment of impact, rather what resembles a "F/A-18E" Fighter Jet flaring and conducting evasive maneuvers.

Video on telegram:
https://t.me/newsvideofa/6860

#PersianGulf #Qeshm #Hengam #FA18 #AirDefense #IRGC #USAF #WarOfAggression
#RegimeChange #WarOnIran #EpsteinWar #WestAsia #Iran #tRump #WarForOil #Israel

طائرات "FA18" على متن حاملة الطائرات "لينكولن" تستعد للقيام بمهام قتالية ضد إيران

https://misryoum.com/iran/ayrat-fa18-mtn-amlh-ltayrat/

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#طائرات #FA18 #على #متن #حاملة #الطائرات #لينكولن #تستعد #للقيام #بمهام #قتالية #إيران #منصة_مصر_اليوم_الاخبارية #misryoum_com

Super Bowl Flyover An Ellsworth AFB B-1, F-15C (144th FW, Fresno, F/A-18F and F-35C (NAS Lemoore) depart after overflying Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California February 8th 2026 #SuperBowl #B1 #FA18 #F15C #NFL #AvGeek #cvvhrn #Nikon #AvGeek #aviationphotography #photography

Super Bowl Flyover An Ellsworth AFB B-1, F-15C (144th FW, Fresno, F/A-18F and F-35C (NAS Lemoore) depart after overflying Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California February 8th 2026 #SuperBowl #B1 #FA18 #F15C #NFL #AvGeek #cvvhrn #Nikon #AvGeek #aviationphotography #photography

I enjoy a good airshow with fighter jets demonstrating what they are designed and built for.

This isn’t showing the dynamic part of the performance, but is framed nicely between a sun to the top-right and the clouds below.

#Photography #FA18 #Airshow #ScottKissPhoto

I enjoy a good airshow with fighter jets demonstrating what they are designed and built for.

This isn’t showing the dynamic part of the performance, but is framed nicely between a sun to the top-right and the clouds below.

#Photography #FA18 #Airshow #ScottKissPhoto

USAF B-1B, Ellsworth AFB, and an F-15C of the 144th FW departs after overflying Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California February 8th 2026 #SuperBowl #B1 #FA18 #F15C #NFL #AvGeek #cvvhrn #Nikon #F15C #144FW #aviationphotography #AvGeek #photography #Bone

USAF B-1B, Ellsworth AFB, and an F-15C of the 144th FW departs after overflying Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California February 8th 2026 #SuperBowl #B1 #FA18 #F15C #NFL #AvGeek #cvvhrn #Nikon #F15C #144FW #aviationphotography #AvGeek #photography #Bone

THE BONE!!!!! USAF B-1B Lancer 85-0084, Ellsworth AFB, brings the heat after overflying Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California February 8th 2026 #SuperBowl #B1 #FA18 #F15C #NFL #AvGeek #cvvhrn #Nikon #aviationphotography #AvGeek #photography #afterburner #burnbabyburn #Bone

THE BONE!!!!! USAF B-1B Lancer 85-0084, Ellsworth AFB, brings the heat after overflying Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California February 8th 2026 #SuperBowl #B1 #FA18 #F15C #NFL #AvGeek #cvvhrn #Nikon #aviationphotography #AvGeek #photography #afterburner #burnbabyburn #Bone

Let by an Ellsworth AFB B-1, F-15C's (144th FW, Fresno, F/A-18F's and F-35C's (NAS Lemoore) overfly Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California February 8th 2026 #SUperBowl #B1 #FA18 #F15C #NFL #AvGeek #cvvhrn #Nikon #aviationphotography #AvGeek #photography

Let by an Ellsworth AFB B-1, F-15C's (144th FW, Fresno, F/A-18F's and F-35C's (NAS Lemoore) overfly Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California February 8th 2026 #SUperBowl #B1 #FA18 #F15C #NFL #AvGeek #cvvhrn #Nikon #aviationphotography #AvGeek #photography

Photography Year In Review 2025: August Part 7 Tall Tales of Painted Tails Edition including my favorite Triple Sticks #VX31 #RCAF #AvGeek #spotter #Mugu #ptmugu #greyflag #photography #nasptmugu #Nikon #aircraft #nikonphotography #OT #cvvhrn #VX9 #Vampires #FA18 #F35C

Photography Year In Review 2025: August Part 7 Tall Tales of Painted Tails Edition including my favorite Triple Sticks #VX31 #RCAF #AvGeek #spotter #Mugu #ptmugu #greyflag #photography #nasptmugu #Nikon #aircraft #nikonphotography #OT #cvvhrn #VX9 #Vampires #FA18 #F35C

“We are the things that others fear," - Lestat
Photography Year In Review 2025: August Part 5 AIRTEVRON NINE aka VX-9 VAMPIRES! #AvGeek #spotter #Mugu #ptmugu #greyflag #photography #nasptmugu #Nikon #aircraft #nikonphotography #OT #cvvhrn #RAF # #VX9 #Vampires #FA18 #F35C

“We are the things that others fear," - Lestat
Photography Year In Review 2025: August Part 5 AIRTEVRON NINE aka VX-9 VAMPIRES! #AvGeek #spotter #Mugu #ptmugu #greyflag #photography #nasptmugu #Nikon #aircraft #nikonphotography #OT #cvvhrn #RAF # #VX9 #Vampires #FA18 #F35C

F/A-18 Hornet climbing through the clouds at the Great Colorado Air Show — pure power and precision in motion. ❤️‍🔥

Like, share, or follow to keep this energy in your feed.

#Photography #FA18 #Airshow #JetPhotography #ScottKissPhoto

F/A-18 Hornet climbing through the clouds at the Great Colorado Air Show — pure power and precision in motion. ❤️‍🔥

Like, share, or follow to keep this energy in your feed.

#Photography #FA18 #Airshow #JetPhotography #ScottKissPhoto

The F/A-18 Super Hornet lighting up the clouds over Loveland — pure afterburner thunder from the Great Colorado Air Show. What’s your favorite aircraft to watch fly?

#Photography #Airshow #AviationPhotography #FA18 #SuperHornet #MilitaryAviation #Colorado #ScottKissPhoto

The F/A-18 Super Hornet lighting up the clouds over Loveland — pure afterburner thunder from the Great Colorado Air Show. What’s your favorite aircraft to watch fly?

#Photography #Airshow #AviationPhotography #FA18 #SuperHornet #MilitaryAviation #Colorado #ScottKissPhoto

#F35
La #Svizzera ha deciso di acquisire 36 caccia #F35A dalla Lockheed Martin, per un costo totale di circa 6 miliardi di franchi. Le consegne degli aerei sono previste tra il 2027 e il 2030, e andranno a sostituire gli attuali #FA18 Hornet e #F5 Tiger. Il programma F-35A è gestito dal governo americano tramite il programma "Foreign military sales" (#FMS), garantendo le stesse condizioni che il governo degli #USA applicano a se stessi.

L’F-35A - sito ufficiale Svizzera
https://www.vtg.admin.ch/it/lf-35a-assicura-la-sicurezza-della-svizzera

#F35
La #Svizzera ha deciso di acquisire 36 caccia #F35A dalla Lockheed Martin, per un costo totale di circa 6 miliardi di franchi. Le consegne degli aerei sono previste tra il 2027 e il 2030, e andranno a sostituire gli attuali #FA18 Hornet e #F5 Tiger. Il programma F-35A è gestito dal governo americano tramite il programma "Foreign military sales" (#FMS), garantendo le stesse condizioni che il governo degli #USA applicano a se stessi.

L’F-35A - sito ufficiale Svizzera
https://www.vtg.admin.ch/it/lf-35a-assicura-la-sicurezza-della-svizzera

USN F/A-18F 168587 of VX-9 "Vampires" on the downwind leg of Pt. Mugu. August 2021. Note the Smart Pig aka the AGM-154C and the ASG-34A(V)1 IRST pod #SmartPig #JSOW #AMG154 #FA18 #glidebomb #milair #VX9 #Vampires #nasptmugu #Mugu #ptmugu #greyflag #photography #Nikon #aircraft #nikonphotography

USN F/A-18F 168587 of VX-9 "Vampires" on the downwind leg of Pt. Mugu. August 2021. Note the Smart Pig aka the AGM-154C and the ASG-34A(V)1 IRST pod #SmartPig #JSOW #AMG154 #FA18 #glidebomb #milair #VX9 #Vampires #nasptmugu #Mugu #ptmugu #greyflag #photography #Nikon #aircraft #nikonphotography

Okay which of these F/A-18F crewmen have the most bad assed call sign.... Is it "Crispy Tips" or "Hugsy Bear" (Pics posted below) #avgeek #poll #FA18

Okay which of these F/A-18F crewmen have the most bad assed call sign.... Is it "Crispy Tips" or "Hugsy Bear" (Pics posted below) #avgeek #poll #FA18

Rivet check and view of vapor cyclone coming off the flaps on USN F/A-18E 166432 of VX-9 "Vampires" on final for Pt. Mugu. August 2021. #FA18 #FA18E #milair #VX9 #Vampires #nasptmugu #Mugu #ptmugu #greyflag #photography #Nikon #aircraft #nikonphotgraphy

USN F/A-18E 166432 of VX-9 "Vampires" on final for Pt. Mugu. August 2021. #FA18 #FA18E #milair #VX9 #Vampires #nasptmugu #Mugu #ptmugu #greyflag #photographyn #Nikon #aircraft #nikonphotgraphy