The best looking jet in the U.S. Navy recently joined a USAF U-2 spy plane over China Lake, making for a rare and very cool sight to behold. Check out these shots of Vandy-1 with a U-2!
The flagship F/A-18 Super Hornet of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Nine (VX-9 Vampires) was unveiled to the world last year. It is painted in an all black retro scheme to honor the storied past of VX test squadrons and VX-9’s 30th anniversary.
Harkens Back to a Different Era
Some might recall the old Vandy F-14s and F-4s with the slick black paint and Playboy bunnies on their tails.
Times back then were much less politically correct. The images of those old jets operating with VX-4 became some of the most iconic jet photos to ever hit press.
The USAF even once painted the infamous bunny logo on a Blackbird they designated the “Rapid Rabbit”.
The black bunny scheme originated in Pt Mugu, where VX-4 was based. Their call sign was “Vanderbilt”, and so all their jets were called Vandy. Vandy-1 was the commander’s jet and squadron flagship.
They put the logo on a few other non-black jets too. However, the black bunny versions were by far the most popular with the public and most widely seen.
VX-4 was extinguished in the mid 90s and combined with VX-5 from China Lake, forming a new squadron VX-9 Vampires.
For a while, the jets swapped the bunny logo for test squadron markings. VX-9 had the logo for a short time on a standard grey Hornet, but the iconic bunny scheme soon vanished. The Navy put it back on the last F-14 ever produced, as a tribute on its final flights before retiring it in 2004.
The Vampires
The Vampires of VX-9 are responsible for a critical mission. They test and evaluate weapons and their related systems. Doing so ensures such capabilities are ready to integrate into the larger fleet.
The Vampires are based at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, CA (NAWS), which encompasses over 1 million acres. VX-9 crews hold a broad-range of expertise, and are known for their ability to adapt to difficult and dynamic testing environments.
Recreating an old Vandy-1 formation with modern aircraft
Both the Air Force and Navy use airspace in southern CA and Nevada. They recently decided to pay tribute to an old formation of an F-4 Vandy-1 with a Blackbird. The difference now being modern aircraft.
The new Vandy-1 joined an Air Force U-2 from the 412th Test Wing, based at Plant 42’s Air Force Life Cycle Management Center.
USN Lt Jonathan Newberry was assigned as the photographer, executing the sortie over NAWS.
“This formation demonstrates the commitment to safe air range operations, while further reinforcing positive test partnerships for the warfighter,” noted the USAF release.
VX-9 sent Vandy-1 to several air shows in 2023, and we expect the same for 2024. If you want to see Vandy-1 for yourself, follow AvGeekery on Facebook where we will share its travel plans.
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