fighter

The XF2R-2 was quite similar to the XF2R-1 in having the GE T31 turboprop that gave the nose a shark-like appearance, but it differed in using a Westinghouse J34 turbojet rather than the J31 as the auxiliary powerplant and having the air inlets for the jet engine on the sides of the forward fuselage rather than the wing roots. Due to the size of the J34, the XF2R-2 itself had a slightly longer fuselage than the XF2R-1, and one FR Fireball became a testbed for the J34 and designated XFR-4 because the J34 was a new powerplant slated to power a handful of naval aircraft such as the F2H and F6U. Two XF2R-2 prototypes were ordered but not built by the time the F2R program was canceled due to deployment of the North American FJ-1, Vought F6U, and McDonnell FH and F2H. A couple US Navy documents pertaining to the XF2R-2 can be found at these links: www.alternatewars.com/SAC/XF2R-2_ACP_-_1_January_1947_(Tommy).pdf www.alternatewars.com/SAC/Aviation_Planning_Directive_86-...

Is there possibly a date somewhere together with this shot? Stig

Stig Jarlevik no luck. Total mystery shot

A pity What I can see is a VF-102 F-14A coded AB102 in a scheme it carried when new to the unit (from 1981). The code is only carried on the inside of the twin rudders and in its place there is a large diamond with the Rattle Snake symbol (Diamond Back) which could mean the photo is from 1985 in celebration of the units 30 years in existence since it reformed in 1955. Stig

Stig Jarlevik The jet is an F-14B (note the F110-GE-400 burner cans and GRU-7 ejection seats) and the photo was taken during VF-102's last cruise with the F-14, aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) (note the 'TR' under the CVW-1 tail code, 'AB') in the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. That cruise was the only one which saw VF-102 deployed aboard Big Teddy, and ran from September 2001 to March 2002.

Hawk914 Very interesting Hawk, thanks! Anything on why the colors basically reverted to what they had in the early/mid 1980s? I guess I was too fixed on that.....😮

Looks like Chino's Jug. :-)