Forum: Air Force Life

What is the meaning of this salute when viper drivers are taxiing out? Also the one with thumb and pinkie fingers?

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The two fists in the air has been said to represent two snake heads for the JUVATS squadron in Korea. Thier rival squadron, the Pantons say "JUVATS FOOEY!" when they see it.

i had a SSgt explain to me that the 2 fists hitting each other in the air is some sort of international symbol for power. like 75% of F-16 units use it for their final marshall. of course everyone has a diffrent reason behind it. in the 34th its like 2 rams bumping heads. who knows. thumb and pinky i have no clue about it

I never heard anybody say what they thought the thumb and pinky hand movement was, but i always thought it was the "Hang loose" sign. There used to be some t-shirts people would bring back from Hawaii after a vacation that had that hand motion on it, and it said "hang loose Hawaii" on the back

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The two fists in the air has been said to represent two snake heads for the JUVATS squadron in Korea. Thier rival squadron, the Pantons say "JUVATS FOOEY!" when they see it.

You are 100% correct.....Juvats rule...Pantons drool....!!!!!!!

I have seen the fists in the past in pictures but first time in a video;

http://www.patricksaviation.com/aviatio ... _F-16_Demo

I just loved it the way he did it, like he has the entire power in the world to himself, in a way of saying "he rules in his powerful viper" it was quite a sight. God give me the same opportunity to salute in this way one day ... Smile

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaka_sign

You were right on this one too Destro.

OK, here me out and do not be offended ladies - and as mentioned before, everyone has an explanation of the meaning

The aircraft and pilot depicted in the video are from the 77FS/AMU at Shaw AFB SC. This unit was previously the 17th FS/AMU up until the wing was renumbered in 1993. The 17th was the "HOOTERS" again no offense here.

I was member of both of these units 17th from 1987 till 1993 and then with the 77th up till 1998.

As the 17th was the Hooters, the pilots routinely made a motion of grabbing their shirt and pulling it up (now look at what the demo pilot does). The symbology at that time was "show me your chest". Even as we moved into the 77th "Gamblers" era, all of the pilots had been in the Hooters and the motion continued with all new pilots basically keeping up the tradition.

So, it means power, Juvat and etc.... But I'd dare say that the 77th does it as a continuation/variation of what they did when they were the 17th Hooters

Of course by Hooters, the AF obviously meant Owls - in fact, when I arrived there in 1987, the tail flashes did say White Owls - but was changed to Hooters just before Desert Storm

Hmmm, interesting, I was talking about the instance where he waves at the camera (3 fingers or so) and then immediately proceeds to do the salute, we are talking about the same thing??

I always thought that it was a perfect way of reflecting "the way of life of a fighter pilot" that joy and being in control of the sheer power. That is my definition though.

When I was a kid living in Turkey at the time of 1st Gulf War, from the perodicals I followed, my fave squadron was the 17th under 363rd. I loved the artwork painted on behind the canopies. There was something like a "Death Dealer" if I am not mistaken. As a child I had daydreams of becoming a Shaw pilot one day. I even remember sending a registered letter to the unit unaware of the fact that USAF reorganized in 1993-1994 and TAC was no longer but it was ACC now. My registered letter of course came back undeliverable. That was before the internet period in Turkey, I later on switched to 78th. Smile

Though felt more attached to Bushmasters more than Hooters. They are no longer existing either. I wish I had at least some kind of memorabilia instead of 20th and 78th patches for my CWU-45. Sorry if I got carried away, exciting to meet a member of my fave units.

Purplehaze wrote:

Quote:

The two fists in the air has been said to represent two snake heads for the JUVATS squadron in Korea. Thier rival squadron, the Pantons say "JUVATS FOOEY!" when they see it.

You are 100% correct.....Juvats rule...Pantons drool....!!!!!!!

I'd rather be in the 80th. All this squadron rivalry BS aside, I would have a MUCH short walk/bike ride to work.

The hang loose sign looks alot like the Panton "Push it up!!!" sign. I used to give the "shocker" salute until someone pointed out there are female pilots here at Kunsan. So I quit giving the "shocker" hand signal and now just give the "peace" sign.

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I used to give the "shocker" salute until someone pointed out there are female pilots here at Kunsan.

So..........

I'm not following you? Why'd you stop giving the shocker salute? Laughing

-Aaron

Quote:

So..........

I'm not following you? Why'd you stop giving the shocker salute?

-Aaron

uhh, sexual harassment? go give to a chick sometme see what happens! Very Happy

Right, I was completely serious above Laughing

I have to agree with Dos Gringos though. "This political correctness, must come to an end. Cause we're in the business of killin, who gives a F*** if we offend!"

:p

-Aaron

Active Member Joined: Nov 29, 2004 - 01:40 PM Posts: 146

And here all this time I thought it was actually the "Rock'N'Roll" sign, since you see everyone at rock concerts doing it the whole time.

Perhaps I need to rethink this one.....

Forum: Air Force Life

Two fists in the air...