Forum: F-16 Spotting & Photography

Just curious - does 87-0336 still have the snake on the tail?

I assume that all of the 100FS Vipers are CUPID'ed by now as well?

Tail detail of USAF F-16C block 30 #87-0336 with markings of the 187th FW.

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Boman wrote:

Just curious - does 87-0336 still have the snake on the tail?

I assume that all of the 100FS Vipers are CUPID'ed by now as well?

Tail detail of USAF F-16C block 30 #87-0336 with markings of the 187th FW.

Hi Niels,

Yes, 87-0336 should still have the big snake on its tail!!

Like all other ANG Viper units the 100th FS has Vipers in various stages of CUPID. All have color MFDs, TGP capacity, NVIS and the latest SCU 6.1 tape handling the software for the BRU-57/GBU-38 combo.

Some have the Falcon STAR upgrade and final CUPID - the AIFF upgrade.

Look out for 87-0332 as the new Tuskeegee flag ship - 332nd FG. It is an ex-MT ANG Viper and went briefly to the VT ANG. It is currently at Ogden ALC for Falcon STAR and AIFF upgrades and when completed it will join the 100th FS.

Greetings,

Henrik.

Hi Henrik,
I believe that 87-0336 is no longer sporting the big snake on its tail. I believe that it was put on there just for the exercise that 336 was representing the 100th FS/187th FW. Once this jet got back to Montgomery, It was removed and standard markings re-applied. Because of BRAC, the 100th FS has gained jets and because of the AL jets capability, the USAF and ANG is using the 100th quite a bit in SW Asia. The 100th FS went to Lo-Viz markings with 'City of ' tail legend so that they would comply with USAF regulations and they could deploy quickly without worring about re-painting the jets. 88-0399 is the only A/C with the Big Snake and Color tail band. Also the 100th can now be deployed as a wing on its own because of BRAC decisions to add jets to the 100th. I am also happy to hear that there is a new Tuskeegee flagship in 87-0332. This is the greatest tribute to the Tuskeegee Airmen that has been shown.It is great that the 100th FS/187th FW will be able to show tribute to the Greatest group of pilots that have ever flown.

Hi BlueViper,

Thanks for Your reply!! Interesting information none the less. 87-0336 flew with the "snake tail" for quite some time - from mid-2003/post-OIF until recently, if not still?! It replaced 88-0399 also sporting a large cobra on its tail.

Greetings,

Henrik.

BlueViper2 wrote:

Hi Henrik,
I believe that 87-0336 is no longer sporting the big snake on its tail. I believe that it was put on there just for the exercise that 336 was representing the 100th FS/187th FW. Once this jet got back to Montgomery, It was removed and standard markings re-applied. Because of BRAC, the 100th FS has gained jets and because of the AL jets capability, the USAF and ANG is using the 100th quite a bit in SW Asia. The 100th FS went to Lo-Viz markings with 'City of ' tail legend so that they would comply with USAF regulations and they could deploy quickly without worring about re-painting the jets. 88-0399 is the only A/C with the Big Snake and Color tail band. Also the 100th can now be deployed as a wing on its own because of BRAC decisions to add jets to the 100th. I am also happy to hear that there is a new Tuskeegee flagship in 87-0332. This is the greatest tribute to the Tuskeegee Airmen that has been shown.It is great that the 100th FS/187th FW will be able to show tribute to the Greatest group of pilots that have ever flown.

???? By what standards are you saying the 332nd was "the greatest group of pilots that has ever flown"? Its a fine heritage to be sure, but c'mon...greatest group of pilots that has ever flown? Really? Greater than the 56th, or the 357th or the 352nd or VF-17, or VMF-121 or 303 Sq or JG-52 or the 51st in Korea?

I shot 87-0336 with the tail in November 2005, then again in January 2006. At the same time, I shot 88-0399 without the snake on the tail. It was my understanding at the time that 0336 replaced 0399 as the 187FW flagship in October 2005. I have not been back to that squadron since, though, so possibly this has changed.

Jake

Excellent updates, gents Cheers

Keep 'em cumming - anyone have contacts in the 187FW in order to verify these things? Norway is a bit too far off to ask such questions, hence the query Wink

Anybody know if 86-0341 still has the special tail markings from 2004? Or is she back to ordinary line jet markings?

Hi again Niels,

86-0341 is a "plain Jane" again. I believe she was re-painted sometime in 2006.

Greetings,

Henrik.

Thanks Henrik Cheers

Considering alternative marking options for my 187FW 100FS Viper Crazy Pilot

Hello again. Sorry long time, no post. Does anybody have any pictures of 87-0332 in its new paint as the AL ANG 'Tuskegee Airmen' flagship? I was hoping to get to go to Montgomery before the end of the year to see if I could get pics while visiting my family(If ThreatCon was acceptable). I probably won't make it. I'm sure it looks really good!

AfterburnerDecalsScott wrote:

BlueViper2 wrote:

Hi Henrik,
I believe that 87-0336 is no longer sporting the big snake on its tail. I believe that it was put on there just for the exercise that 336 was representing the 100th FS/187th FW. Once this jet got back to Montgomery, It was removed and standard markings re-applied. Because of BRAC, the 100th FS has gained jets and because of the AL jets capability, the USAF and ANG is using the 100th quite a bit in SW Asia. The 100th FS went to Lo-Viz markings with 'City of ' tail legend so that they would comply with USAF regulations and they could deploy quickly without worring about re-painting the jets. 88-0399 is the only A/C with the Big Snake and Color tail band. Also the 100th can now be deployed as a wing on its own because of BRAC decisions to add jets to the 100th. I am also happy to hear that there is a new Tuskeegee flagship in 87-0332. This is the greatest tribute to the Tuskeegee Airmen that has been shown.It is great that the 100th FS/187th FW will be able to show tribute to the Greatest group of pilots that have ever flown.

???? By what standards are you saying the 332nd was "the greatest group of pilots that has ever flown"? Its a fine heritage to be sure, but c'mon...greatest group of pilots that has ever flown? Really? Greater than the 56th, or the 357th or the 352nd or VF-17, or VMF-121 or 303 Sq or JG-52 or the 51st in Korea?

I understand what blueviper2 was saying. If you think about the adversity those pilots had to over come and the fact that bomber pilots would ask for escort from the 332nd FG.

Since most of us have now been a part of the 332AEW, it's easy to say it's the greatest group ever. Wink

It's awesome that they're naming a Viper in honor of The Tuskegee Airmen. I'm still trying to get a 332nd patch somehow. It's a cool patch to see whenever I've taken Balad folks downrange. I also think it's great that they've continued the Tuskegee Airmen's history by designating Balad's wing with that particular number.

As an aside, the first C-17 I flew on while training at Altus was 0042 "The Spirit of the Tuskegee Airmen". Ironically, the plane we MX CANX'd on tonight was "The Spirit of Strom Thurmond". Even though the jet is based in South Carolina, somebody wasn't really thinking when they named that jet what they did. Confused

The folks at Altus have fought for a long time to put a red tail on "Tuskegee Airmen", like what the Tuscon folks did for one of their Vipers a few years ago, but Ain't Even Thinking Combat keeps putting the kabosh on that for some reason. AETC sucks.

Hey guys thanks for the backing of the comment I made about the 'Tuskegee Airmen', it's much appreciated. The C-17 story is very interesting too. I hope that they let the tail get painted red!

Forum: F-16 Spotting & Photography

87-0336 100FS 187FW - still snake on tail?