Navy TAC Demo 2019 Status

Find out where your favorite performers will be! Be sure to check schedules for updates as they are always subject to change. Also post year-related performer information, such as music lists.
User avatar
RyanS
Posts: 2886
Joined: Wed Feb 08, 2017 4:50 pm
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Contact:

Post by RyanS » Mon Feb 18, 2019 10:45 pm

I put my thoughts into a blog post on the subject: https://airshowstuff.com/v4/2019/the-us ... net-demos/

Well done with the TFR info @MattEv14 !
2 x
Ryan Sundheimer
www.AirshowStuff.com

tifosi77
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu Oct 04, 2018 11:28 pm

Post by tifosi77 » Tue Feb 19, 2019 1:40 am

I never really understood why the Navy tasked training units for this role. Maybe because they have a bigger pool of aircraft/crews/maintainers/etc from which to draw. Is there a budgetary reason for it? Just a philosophical difference between services?
0 x

User avatar
RyanS
Posts: 2886
Joined: Wed Feb 08, 2017 4:50 pm
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Contact:

Post by RyanS » Tue Feb 19, 2019 1:50 am

tifosi77 wrote: Tue Feb 19, 2019 1:40 am I never really understood why the Navy tasked training units for this role. Maybe because they have a bigger pool of aircraft/crews/maintainers/etc from which to draw. Is there a budgetary reason for it? Just a philosophical difference between services?
Training units makes sense to me, because:
1) Much larger than a normal squadron (I think VFA-106 has/had over 100 aircraft?)
2) Training units never really deploy so they'll be here every year. Less operational demands.
3) One on each coast
4) In the past, they had a broader range of aircraft. Now that it's all Super Hornets that doesn't matter so much

Not sure why they don't set a specific team with a budget, but I guess they just feel this approach is better. It does allow them to hit multiple shows in one weekend (or used to) since there are several demo crews. The Air Force handles PR better though since they can focus the attention more specifically.
1 x
Ryan Sundheimer
www.AirshowStuff.com

R18F
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2019 9:09 pm

Post by R18F » Tue Feb 19, 2019 12:14 pm

RyanS wrote: Tue Feb 19, 2019 1:50 am
tifosi77 wrote: Tue Feb 19, 2019 1:40 am I never really understood why the Navy tasked training units for this role. Maybe because they have a bigger pool of aircraft/crews/maintainers/etc from which to draw. Is there a budgetary reason for it? Just a philosophical difference between services?
Training units makes sense to me, because:
1) Much larger than a normal squadron (I think VFA-106 has/had over 100 aircraft?)
2) Training units never really deploy so they'll be here every year. Less operational demands.
3) One on each coast
4) In the past, they had a broader range of aircraft. Now that it's all Super Hornets that doesn't matter so much

Not sure why they don't set a specific team with a budget, but I guess they just feel this approach is better. It does allow them to hit multiple shows in one weekend (or used to) since there are several demo crews. The Air Force handles PR better though since they can focus the attention more specifically.
VFA-106 was using couple jets done up with color markings for Tac Demos (modex 221, 247) but last year they were incorporating regular line jets into demos and I saw pics of the color birds with weapons stores on for training at NAS Oceana instead. Also, almost all the jets used at east coast Tac Demos are very old Lot Rhinos (ie. BuNo starting with 165). Even the worn out Rhinos are fulfilling a lot of training flights nowadays.
Last edited by R18F on Tue Feb 19, 2019 12:18 pm, edited 2 times in total.
0 x

User avatar
RFDGuy
Posts: 228
Joined: Sat Feb 04, 2017 3:38 pm
Location: Rockford IL
Contact:

Post by RFDGuy » Tue Feb 19, 2019 2:30 pm

The Tac Demo has never only used the color birds, they'd ask for the CAG color birds but only sometimes would they get them. More often than not we'd see the basic grey bird (at least it felt like it). I believe they just got whatever birds were cleared and good to go.
1 x

R18F
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2019 9:09 pm

Post by R18F » Tue Feb 19, 2019 3:37 pm

RFDGuy wrote: Tue Feb 19, 2019 2:30 pm The Tac Demo has never only used the color birds, they'd ask for the CAG color birds but only sometimes would they get them. More often than not we'd see the basic grey bird (at least it felt like it). I believe they just got whatever birds were cleared and good to go.
Gotcha. I originally thought that 221 and 247 were the designated demo birds since they used them at most airshows in 2017. I believed that 206 (F/A-18F) and 106 (F/A-18E) were the actual VFA-106 color birds and 221 and 247 were done up specially for demos. So I guess it operates like a fleet squadron - fly whatever is up. Thanks.
1 x

User avatar
wendovertom
Posts: 21
Joined: Fri Mar 10, 2017 6:31 pm
Location: Wendover, Utah
Contact:

Post by wendovertom » Tue Mar 12, 2019 6:15 pm

Well, the announced schedule is harsh - but OPS Tempo first I guess. Hopefully next year the West Coast will get the Demos and the East coast can take a year off :lol:

Tom P.
1 x

User avatar
RyanS
Posts: 2886
Joined: Wed Feb 08, 2017 4:50 pm
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Contact:

Post by RyanS » Tue Sep 10, 2019 1:41 pm

There will be F/A-18 Super Hornet demos at both NAS Oceana and NAS Lemoore during their airshows on September 21 and 22! These are the demo team home bases.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_ ... 6396072816
TACDEMO fans – our teams are poised to make some demo history on September 21st and 22nd. Each of our teams will be flying full demos at their respective home shows on the same weekend. So if you’re going to be at the Navy Life NAS Lemoore air show or the NAS Oceana Air Show you are in for a memorable weekend!
I'm surprised Lemoore has any demo-qualified pilots at this point since they were only doing Legacy Flights this year. I wonder if it is going to be flown by VFA-106 pilots in a VFA-122 jet? I know there have been demo practices over Oceana recently.
Last edited by RyanS on Tue Sep 10, 2019 1:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
1 x
Ryan Sundheimer
www.AirshowStuff.com

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests