2018 Imagi-Nation Fighter Rodeo

[7.62]

The Yer Bouti Air Force has been given the green light to attend the fighter rodeo.

12x F5E's of the 31st TFS will be the attack sqd.
They will accompany the BSDF Gripens from Balzac where they have just completed an extensive training program.

12x F4E's of the 41st TFS will be the fighter sqd.
They have just finished there conversion training in the USA and are on route.

Hopefully photos before the end of the rodeo but no promises.

A third aircraft type has already deployed back to Yer Bouti to hold the fort.

[chrisswim]

In final flight for the Imagi-Nation Air rodeo: Landing expected within the hour, clear flight in.
Enroute: 3 KC-737, 4 C-130, one EA-2, and one AEW-737 for the support and C4I role. Squadron 73, ‘The Flying Ducks’, will be competing in their 12 F/A-18 B aircraft. The other squadron, #8, will be with 6 A-4, four F-35C and two S-3 Viking aircraft. Three HH-3E Jolly Green Giant helos will be support role, including 18 MPs and 18 Rangers.
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The Commonwealth has in cargo section 4 Reaper Drones and 8 Predator C drones. In flight 4 UAV-47C drones. Looking forward for demonstration and competition.

One HH-3E will carry a section of butchers, handlers for goats, lambs, armadillo, and ostrich, and four chefs from the Palace Kitchen and 16 cooks.
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Chaikovia is joining the Air Rodeo as well, Senior Mick is coming to visit, to observe to cheer on the air wings form his Republic, from the eastern Med. Chaikovia is sending in a squadron of 16 aircraft. 4 F-35 A and 12 F/A-18 C along with 3 C-130 for support.

[redleg]

We are very excited to have the air forces from Yer Bouti and Chaikovia attending the fighter rodeo. That makes for a total of 112 competitor aircraft! The competition is hot ad heavy today with the fighter squadron low-level course, the attack squadron pit-stop competition, and day one of the head to head fighter competition!

Sunday's opening ceremony was quite a peasant event. We intended to post about it yesterday, but it appears that the Evil Empire launched a cyber attack on our email servers and we were down for a few hours.It is safe to say though that a good time was had by all. As expected, the stuffy dress uniform cocktail party quickly devolved into beer pong and karaoke, and several resourceful pilots even pulled a tail hook into the ballroom to use as a limbo stick. An investigation is stil ongoing to determine which aircraft had its tail hook removed.

[redleg]

Day one of the 2018 Fighter Rodeo is in the books! All of the crews performed very well, both air crews and ground crews. For the fighter pilots, today was a test of flying skill through the low-level course. And here are the winners:

Fighter Low-Level Course
-1st Pace: BSDF - 7 Squadron, JAS-39C, Aircraft #8
-2nd Place: Chrisdom - Squadron 73, F/A-18C, Aircraft #2
-3rd Place: Yer Bouti – 41st TFS, F-4E, Aircraft #10


For the attack pilots and ground crews, today was the attack squadron pit-stop competition. The winner is Yer Bouti 31st TFS (F-5E)! That training with the BSDF is paying off!

Also today was day 1 of the head-to-head fighter competition. At the last minute the event was changed slightly: rather than just 6 aircraft from each squadron competing, the head-to-head fighter competition will include all 60 fighter aircraft! Each pilot earned 2 points for a victory, 1 point for a draw, or 0 points for a loss today. Tomorrow round 1 will continue with each pilot taking on a different opponent, and by the end of the day those pilots moving on to round 2 will be identified based on their individual scores.


In addition to round 2 of the head-to-head competition, tomorrow will include the attack aircraft low-level course and the fighter squadron pit-stop competition. The crews better lay off of that Balzac Avtur Brew and get some rest!

[7.62]

What a great start to the competition.
Many of the BSDF crews have been on combat missions in the last six Months, some of the aircrew flying twice the hours they would normally see. Seems to be paying a premium.

The Yer Bouti Air Force is very keen having been mostly grounded for the past few years.
Some of the competing pilots have just graduated to fast jets. However there is an older cadre of Mig drivers amongst them too, many with 2000+ hours.
It is no secret that the YBAF was shopping for more up to date aircraft, F15, 16 or typhoons.
It would appear that the F4 & 5 was the best deals that could be had at short notice given the pressing need to cover YB airspace asap.
The US was probability under pressure from the CofC to downgrade any airpower in the area.
The F5's are well liked by the air and ground crew coming from the Balzac war reserve in as new condition.
As for the F4E's the aircrew love them even if they are now somewhat dated. Maintenance will be more of an issue for the limited O/H capabilities back in YB.
The F4 package via the USA came with a major weapons shipment.

Now for day 2.

[redleg]

The ROD crews also love their F-4Es. For many years the F-4 has been the backbone of both the air force and navy aviation squadrons. it was not until relativey recently that the Air Force began acquiring F-16s and the Navy began to acquire F-18s in numbers to equal the F-4.

[redleg]

As day 2 of the Fighter Rodeo draws to a close, the crews are enjoying a much deserved Mexican-themed Luau on the beach. They are being ferried from Vulture Field to the luau by a fleet of old Disneyland trams that have been modified with cup holders and a stereo. It was another tough day of competition, but all of the pilots and support crews are proving that they have earned the right to be here.

The fighter low-level course was held first thing this morning and the home town squadron really stepped up after a disappointing performance yesterday. Here are the results:

1st Place: ROD - 12th Fighter Squadron, F-16C, Aircraft #4
2nd Place: ROD - 12th Fighter Squadron, F-16C, Aircraft #12
3rd Place: Chaikovia - Composite Squadron, F-35A, Aircraft #2


The fighter squadron pit stop was also held today with the BSDF 7 Squadron (JAS-39C) taking home the trophy.


Round 1 of the fighter head-to-head competition continued today and the field was narrowed down to 20 fighter pilots who will compete tomorrow in round 2 of the head-to-head competition. In no particular order the 20 pilots moving on to round 2 are:

Nation Squadron Airframe A/C #
BSDF 7 Squadron JAS-39C 1
BSDF 7 Squadron JAS-39C 5
BSDF 7 Squadron JAS-39C 7
BSDF 7 Squadron JAS-39C 9
Chrisdom Squadron 73 F/A-18C 2
Chrisdom Squadron 73 F/A-18C 5
Chrisdom Squadron 73 F/A-18C 7
Chrisdom Squadron 73 F/A-18C 8
Chrisdom Squadron 73 F/A-18C 9
Chrisdom Squadron 73 F/A-18C 11
ROD 2nd Ftr Sqn F-4E 6
Yer Bouti 41st TFS F-4E 1
Yer Bouti 41st TFS F-4E 3
Yer Bouti 41st TFS F-4E 7
Yer Bouti 41st TFS F-4E 8
Yer Bouti 41st TFS F-4E 11
Chaikovia Chaikovia F/A-18C 3
Chaikovia Chaikovia F/A-18C 4
Chaikovia Chaikovia F/A-18C 5
Chaikovia Chaikovia F/A-18C 6

[redleg]

Here is a photo from day 2. Aircraft were waiting for their turn to negotiate the attack squadron low-level course and many needed to refuel before their turn.

This is four F-16Cs from the RODs 12th Fighter Squadron and four JAS-39Cs from the BSDFs 21 Squadron.

[7.62]

Cool photo.
Another great days flying from all of the teams.

On arriving at the flight line this morning it was found that the 12 YBAF F5E (Tiger 2's) each had it's on litter box, dish of cat food and a saucer of milk. Some had also gained pink collars with bells and ample amounts of "Hello kitty" stickers.

On with the show...

[redleg]

Happy Hump Day to all pilots, ground crews, media, spectators, and other distinguished guests! Despite the fallout from yesterday’s Mexican Luau, day 3 of the Fighter Rodeo has been tremendous with four major events taking place, and many aircraft flying in more than one event!

First today was the fighter drone shoot – where fighter pilots engaged and destroyed a drone aircraft with cannon fire. Here are the results:

1st Place: Chrisdom – Squadron 73, F/A-18C, Aircraft #6
2nd Place: BSDF – 7 Squadron, JAS-39C, Aircraft #1
3rd Place: Yer Bouti – 41st TFS, F-4E, Aircraft #5


Next was the attack aircraft cannon shoot – where the attack pilots engaged and destroyed a stationary target on the ground with cannon fire. Here are the results:

1st Place: ROD – 12th Ftr Sqn, F-16C, Aircraft #2
2nd Place: Chaikovia – Comp Sqn, F-35A, Aircraft #2
3rd Place: Yer Bouti – 31st TFS, F-5E, Aircraft #4


Third was the aircraft maintenance competition – where panel of distinguished aircraft maintenance experts inspected all squadron aircraft and awarded points based on overall readiness and condition of the aircraft. The winning squadron is:

BSDF 7 Squadron (JAS-39C)


And last, but certainly not least, was round 2 of the fighter pilot head-to-head competition. The 20 fighter pilots went toe-to-toe with another fighter pilot….twice! After the jet-wash and dust has settled, we are left with just 4 pilots competing for the title of top dog-fighter:

BSDF 7 Squadron JAS-39C Aircraft #1
Chrisdom Squadron 73 F/A-18C Aircraft #8
ROD 2nd Ftr Sqn F-4E Aircraft #6
Yer Bouti 41st TFS F-4E Aircraft #3


We are urging all pilots to stay away from the mechanical bull that somehow mysteriously appeared at the officers club this afternoon so that they can prepare for tomorrow’s events: the attack aircraft bomb drop and the conclusion of the fighter pilot head-to-head competition. Who will be named this year’s top dogfighter?

[chrisswim]

That Mexican Luau was such a treat, we still have several guys that no one wants to be around. Fortunately, one of those two is hanging around the outhouse. Hopefully the USMC will be by soon to burn the remains from the Luau. He is ground crew. The other guy is in a plane flying solo, so he can suffer any gas attacks by his own self.
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[redleg]

What a great day of aerial combat! This afternoon we wrapped up the official “competitionâ€￾ portion of the Fighter Rodeo with the attack pilot bomb drop and the culmination of the head-to-head fighter competition.

The attack pilot bomb drop was very exciting and loud! Each attack pilot attacked a stationary target with a 500 lb bomb. BOOM! Points were awarded for accuracy and the results are:

1st Place: ROD – 12th Ftr Sqn, F-16C, Aircraft #12
2nd Place: Yer Bouti – 31st TFS, F-5E, Aircraft #12
3rd Place: Chrisdom – Squadron 8, A-4, Aircraft #4


And to close out the competition, the four remaining fighter pilots each flew 3 sorties today – each pilot fought all 3 of his competitors, earning 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss. After a very tiring day the standings were announced:

1st Place: Chrisdom – Squadron 73, F/A-18C, Aircraft #8
2nd Place: BSDF – 7 Squadron, JAS-39C, Aircraft #1
3rd Place: ROD – 2nd Ftr Sqn, F-4E, Aircraft #6

Congratulations to all of the pilots who participated this year, but a special congratulations for the pilot of F/A-18C number 8 from Chrisdom’s Squadron 73 – you sir are this year’s Top Dogfighter!


The fun isn’t over yet! Al pilots will report to their respective hangars at 0700 tomorrow morning for their mission briefing. The grand air battle will be Friday morning followed by an awards ceremony and then a BBQ!

[chrisswim]

The winning pilot had to borrow a lot of money and make a currency exchange. He thinks he got ripped off. Even though supposed to be ready to go at 0700, he was found asleep in the water fountain at 0315 by security. Did not have his I.D. He was wearing dog tags. His pants were flying from the flag pole. He does not remember anything, repeating "I don't know, I do not recall, that happened?" At least he did not drown in the fountain.

[7.62]

Great stuff redleg and congrats to the CofC on their win.

Well I must say this is working. It's got me buying new GHQ aircraft and may have started a major project I was only half thinking of last week.
This is turning into a complete new ball game!
Cheers.

[redleg]

I'm sure your finance minister is not happy, but the rest of us are...especially when you post some pics of your new project!