• Raytheon Nets $18.5 Million Infrared Marker Upgrade for F/A-18 Targeting Pod
  The U.S. Navy awarded Raytheon Company an $18.5 million contract modification to
  provide an infrared marker upgrade on Hornet and Super Hornet targeting pods, which will enhance F/A-18 ground operations support.
• 'Commando Sling' gets underway'
  Six USMC F/A-18 Hornets, crews and support personnel from the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, are in Singapore for exercise Commando Sling 2007.
• France To Decide On Aircraft Carrier By Early 2008
  France will decide next year on plans to build another aircraft carrier. France and Britain are working toward building new aircraft carriers together.
• Osprey deck landing is a Royal Navy 'first' for Illustrious (VIDEO)
  Video of the MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft operating on board HMS Illustrious.
• CHINA: Construction to start on aircraft carrier
  Radio Australia interviews Dr Paul Monk former head of china analysis at Australia's defense intelligence organization and co-founder of the AUSTHINK consultancy on China's plan to start construction of an aircraft carrier.
• The Hornet's nest
  The Age has uncovered Boeing's plan to sell beyond the 23 F/A-18 Super Hornets to Australia.
• "Big E" Deploys
  The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1 departed Naval Station Norfolk for a regularly scheduled deployment July 7 in support of the global war on terrorism.

• 2007's survey is on the way. It's Led by Dan Linton, and like before we try to get informed about your expectations about ACB, and find our how could we make the site more interesting for you! We've done this before and as we have more visitors and members, we thought we should make this survey this year too! You'll find the appropriate topic in the forum's General Discussion section. Please participate to it if you have a few minutes to share your thoughts!

New arrivals:

We have 2 new aircraft types, S-3B Viking, and E-2C Hawkeye in the product range. We have over 200 items in the store now, also lots of new paintschemes, and new squadrons! Please see few of the latest ones below:

• Final Tomcat Cruise, VF-103 Jolly Rogers - CVW-17, USS John F. Kennedy, 1995-2004 - Limited Edition
•  F-14D Tomcat VF-2 Bounty Hunters, NE100 / 163894 and NE105 / 163418.
  CVW-2, USS Constellation - Last Tomcat Cruise, 2003
•  E-2C Hawkeye 2000 VAW-113 Black Eagles, NK600 / 165648. CVW-14, USS Ronald Reagan - 2006
•  VF-2 to VFA-2 Bounty Hunters Transition, 2003-2004 / F-14D Tomcat - F/A-18F Super Hornet
• S-3B Viking VS-21 Fighting Redtails, NF710 / 160604. CVW-5, USS Kitty Hawk - Retirement Scheme, 2004
• F-14B Tomcat VF-74 Be-Devilers, AA101 / 162919 / 1993
•  A-6E Intruder VA-196 Main Battery, NK500 / 159579. CVW-14, USS Carl Vinson - 1996

• Pilot blamed in jet's crash on carrier
  The San Diego Union-Tribune has obtained a report on the crash of a VFA-25 F/A-18C BuNo. 164642 on board USS Ronald Reagan at 11:15 p.m., Jan. 28, 2006. This Flash video was converted from the Real Video version on the Union-Tribune's website.
• Pentagon halts sale of F-14 parts
  The Pentagon has halted the sales of surplus F-14 parts after criticism from Congress over the lack of security awareness.
  Defense Logistics Agency spokesman Jack Hooper said sales were halted last Friday and will remain suspended until a "comprehensive review" is completed.
• US Marines say V-22 Osprey will fly well in desert dust
  James Darcy, spokesman for the Navy's V-22 program office, said the recent problems experienced by the Air Force with the V-22 in desert conditions can be attributed to an inefficient supply system and inexperienced maintenance planning.
• Gray Wolves Home After Prowling Afghan Skies
  Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 142 returned home to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (NASWI) in the early morning hours of Jan. 27 after successfully completing a deployment to Afghanistan.
• Phoenix Missile Hypersonic Testbed
  The phoenix rises from the ashes! First picture of the AIM-54 Phoenix attached to NASA Dryden's F-15B.
• IKE Reaches Halfway Point
  USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (IKE) and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7 have reached the halfway point in their deployment Jan. 28.
• Navy's new MiG-29K to have superior capability to SU-30 MKI
  MiG officials say the first MiG-29K will be handed over to Indian Navy in June and reach India by the end of the year.
  The firm is also offering to upgrade India's existing MiG-29 fleet to the same avionics standard as the MiG-29K.
• MiG-29 K/KUB fighters for India
  A picture gallery of the MiG-29KUB's first flight.
• Landing gear failure blamed in 2002 jet crash
  A faulty axle caused an F/A-18 Hornet to crash while landing at the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport in early 2002.
• Search and Rescue Efforts for Navy Aircrew Suspended
  Search and rescue (SAR) efforts for the remaining three crewmembers involved in a U.S. Navy MH-60S helicopter crash Jan. 26 off the coast of California was suspended Jan. 27 at approximately 3 p.m.
• Families Ready as Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group Deploys
  USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and attached ships of the Reagan Carrier Strike Group (CSG) surge deployed to the 7th Fleet Area of Operations from Naval Station North Island on Jan 27.
   

   

• As I had lot's of problems with the forum security recently, I upgraded the forum to the latest released version to avoid further problems on the site! Everything should be the same on you side, but you might notice some small differences, and some new features. Please report me if you experience something you think is not functional!
• Christmas is here really soon, so I'd like to give you some Christmas gift! I issued a couple of Discount Coupon codes that gives you 50% off of your purchases in our store. This half price discount can be used to purchase any of the items in the store excepting the Limited Edition prints!

The coupon code you have to enter in the checkout process is:
ACBCSDC2006

This coupon code cannot be used together with any other discounts you might have based on your purchases, or other promotional discounts! Also it cannot be applied after completing an order! You can use this coupon till 23rd December, 2006 with no value limitation!

New arrivals:

There are lot's of new things in the store, so I'll show you only some of them this time! Please feel free to see the store to see what new items are added to the shop! We have a new aircraft type now, A-6E Intruder! A new LIMITED EDITION print has been released as well: "Final Gypsy Roll" - VF-32 Swordsmen

Few samples from the bellow mentioned products! Please see the store for further items!

A-6E Intruder VA-35 Black Panthers AJ502 / 151582, 1977	A-6E Intruder VA-196 Main Battery NK500 / 152905 ,1990	F-102 to VFA-102 Diamondbacks Transition, 2002 F-14B Tomcat - F/A-18F Super Hornet	VF-103 to VFA-103 Jolly Rogers Transition, 2005 F-14B Tomcat - F/A-18F Super Hornet	F-14D Tomcat VF-31 Tomcatters NK200 / 164340 / 1994

Final Gypsy Roll, VF-32 Swordsmen, 1974-2005 - Limited Edition

• There was a short break in the forum operation due to maintenance, sorry for the inconvenience! I had some technical issues to be fixed!
   

New arrivals:

20% discount for all registered Carrierbuilders community members! If you'd like to get this discount, please register to the store, and send an email with your name and forum user name!

There were no updates for a while, so there are lot's of new items in the shop! Please click on the links below in the list to go directly to the items! Please note that these links are pointing to the A2 size prints which are the largest ones. We have further 3 smaller sizes for less of each standard edition prints!

Few samples from the bellow mentioned products! Please see the store for further items!

VF-11 to VFA-11 Red Rippers Transition, 2005 F-14B Tomcat - F/A-18F Super Hornet	F/A-18E Super Hornet VFA-115 Eagles NK200 / 165781 , 2006	F/A-18F Super Hornet VFA-11 Red Rippers AC100 & AC101 - 2006	A-7E Corsair II VA-86 Sidewinders AJ400 / 159292 , 1977	F-14D Tomcat VF-31 Tomcatters AJ103 / 164350 LAST CAT STANDING, 2006

Standard Edition prints:

F-14A/B/D Tomcat
F-14D Tomcat VF-31 Tomcatters, AJ103 / 164350 / LAST CAT STANDING, 2006 - A2 Size
F-14D Tomcat VF-31 Tomcatters, AJ102 / 163904 / LAST CAT STANDING, 2006 - A2 Size
F-14B Tomcat VF-102 Diamondbacks, AB102 / 163225 / Last Cruise, 2002 - A2 Size
F-14B Tomcat VF-103 Jolly Rogers, AA103 / 163217 / Last Cruise, 2004 - A2 Size
F-14A Tomcat VF-111 Sundowners, NL200 / 161621 / 1989 - A2 Size
F-14B Tomcat VF-143 Pukin' Dogs, AG100 / 163220 / Last Cruise, 2005 - A2
F-14B Tomcat VF-143 Pukin' Dogs, AG143 / 162926 / Retirement Scheme, 2005 - A2
F-14A Tomcat VF-201 Hunters, AF100 / 160396 / 1998 - A2 Size
F-14A Tomcat VF-201 Hunters, AF100 / 162709 / 1994 - A2 Size
 

F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
F/A-18F Super Hornet VFA-11 Red Rippers, AC100 / 166632 / 2006 - A2
F/A-18F Super Hornet VFA-11 Red Rippers, AC101 / 166634 / 2006 - A2
F/A-18E Super Hornet VFA-115 Eagles, NK200 / 165781 / 2006 - A2
F/A-18E Super Hornet VFA-143 Pukin Dogs, AG100 / 166608 / 2006 - A2

A-7E Corsair II
A-7E Corsair II VA-82 Marauders, AJ300 / 159289 / 1977 - A2
A-7E Corsair II VA-86 Sidewinders, AJ400 / 159292 / 1977 - A2

Dual Series:

F/A-18F Super Hornet VFA-11 Red Rippers AC100 & AC101 - 2006
F-14B Tomcat VF-143 Pukin' Dogs AG143 & AG100, Last Cruise - 2005
F-14B Tomcat VF-11 Red Rippers AA100 & AA101, Last Cruise - 2005
F-14D Tomcat VF-31 Tomcatters AJ103 & AJ102, Last Cat Standing - 2006
F-14D Tomcat VF-31 Tomcatters AJ100 & AJ101, Last Cruise - 2006

Transition Series:

VF-11 to VFA-11 Red Rippers Transition, 2005 / F-14B Tomcat - F/A-18F Super Hornet
VF-143 to VFA-143 Pukin' Dogs Transition, 2005 / F-14B Tomcat - F/A-18E Super Hornet
 

Photo Posters:

F-14D Tomcat, VF-31 Tomcatters AJ103 / 164350 - Last Cat Standing
S-3B Viking VS-31 Topcats, AG700 / 160152 - 2005

• Ships Ahoy! The Harpoon Missile Family
  Folks over at DID gives an update on the Harpoon missile family.
• Raytheon's Joint Standoff Weapon Block II Variant Has Successful First Flight
  Raytheon Company's Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) Block II has successfully flew its first U.S. Navy test flight Oct. 12.
  The Block II uses a 500-pound BLU-111 (MK-82) warhead and is designated the AGM-154A-1.
• Hornet Emergency Landing
  A F/A-18C from VFA-192 made an emergency landing at Atsugi Air Base, Japan after its starboard leading edge flap was stuck in the up position. Pictures in the article.
• Gov Bush wants aircraft carrier named after father to be stationed in Fla
  Florida Governor Jeb Bush wants to have the new aircraft carrier, named after his father, to be based at Mayport.
  The carrier can replace USS John F. Kennedy which is being made inactive but before that can take place, Mayport has to be made nuclear ready.
• Indian Navy declines to buy British Harriers
  The Indian Navy has decided against buying eight British Sea Harrier FA.2 that were phased out of the Royal Navy recently.
  They felt that it was too expensive to rearm those Harriers which are striped of their weapon systems. Using them as trainers are not worthwhile as the Navy is already considering getting the Hawk.
• Second Heaviest Day of Strikes for Enterprise Strike Group
  On Oct. 7, aircraft assigned to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1 stationed aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65) participated in their second heaviest day of close air support in the skies over Afghanistan since they began operations in there early September.
• Group trying to bring Tomcat to town
  The Forward Air Controller's Museum and the OV-10 Bronco Association is trying to raise money to bring Tomcatter-111 to Fort Worth, Texas. The F-14 once flew out of NAS Fort Worth and Naval Air Station Dallas from 1986 to 1998.
• Lockheed Martin Paveway II Dual Mode Laser Guided Bomb Successful in AV-8B Aircraft Test
  Lockheed Martin successfully released a Paveway II Dual Mode Laser Guided Bomb (DMLGB) from an AV-8B aircraft in a recent test.
• Successful Upgrade Programme Boost's UK 's iconic Harrier Jets
  The upgraded Harrier GR9 aircraft has entered service with the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.

   

New arrivals:

If you're interested to see these products in detail, or buy, please enter the shop here! or click on the product image! Please feel free to register to the shop and subscribe to the newsletter if you want to get informed about new arrivals!

F-14A VF-84 / AJ200	F-14D VF-101 / AD164	F-14D VF-101 / AD160

F-14B VF-11 / AA101	F-14B VF-11 / AA100	F-14B VF-32 / AC112

THE LAST TOMCAT SQUADRON VF-31 - Limited Edition

• Naval Air Station Keflavik Disestablishes After 45 Years
  Naval Air Station Keflavik (NASKEF) disestablished Sept. 8 during a ceremony officially ending its 45 years of operations in support of the defense of Iceland.
• U.S. Navy tests new 'super' helicopters
  USS Bonhomme Richard was used to test the improved UH-1Y "Super Huey" and AH-1Z "Super Cobra" recent at sea.
• Kitty Hawk Departs Thailand
  USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) departed Laem Chabang, Thailand, Sept. 6, ending a four-day visit to the port south of Bangkok.
• Carrier renaissance: new-wave designs to maximise innovation
  Janes examines improvements in ship and aircraft design that will shape the next U.S. aircraft carrier.
• Three Fightertown squadrons awarded Aviation Safety Award
  VMFA(AW)-533, VMFA-115 and VMFA-251 are three of the four F/A-18 Hornet squadrons to receive the 2006 CNO Aviation Safety Award.
• CVW-1 Strikes Continue Over Afghanistan
  VFA-86 and VFA-136 from CVW-1 provided support to International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) troops on the ground for the second consecutive day in Afghanistan.
• Sea King crash inquiry wraps up
  The inquiry into the crash of a Australian Navy Sea King helicopter has wrapped up after hearing from more than 100 witnesses.
• Taiwan Quick Take: KMT might agree on P-3Cs
  Taiwan's opposition lawmakers have hinted that they may approve a long stalled plan to buy P-3Cs.
• USS Enterprise Aircraft Destroy Taliban Targets in Afghanistan
  F/A-18C Hornets from VFA-86 conducted precision strikes on a known Taliban position near Kandahar, Afghanistan.
• Iranian F14s Carry Hawk Missiles Successfully
  Iran's Fars News Agency reported that the Iranian Air Force's F-14s have successfully fired HAWK missiles during the third stage of the country's war games.
   

• As probably lot of you noticed, lot's of post and topic disappeared last week. Unfortunately a spam bot filled up the forum with sex and casino advertisements, and while I tried remove these, and upgrading a newer version of the forum the database got damaged, and I was not able to get an up to date backup from the service provider. Unfortunately several weeks has been lost. If you were registering in the last 5-6 weeks, please double check if you can login with your username and password! If you can't it means that your registration was included in the database that was damaged. In this case, if you cannot sign in, please re-register, or send me an email, and I help you check if you're in the database or not (but please first try to log in!)
   
• Today I'd like to Introduce our store. From now on, the button that was grayed out on the left side is active! We've just opened a store to provide high quality, high accuracy aviation related prints for the fanatics like we are. These products running under "Deployment productions" name, and new products will be announced here. The sells hopefully help covering the higher and higher expenses of the site as well.
  I opened a "Deployment Productions" forum in the Sponsors / Manufacturers section, here you can discuss about the prints, make comments, recommendations, and qualify for getting a free poster!
   
• Don't forget that we have an operational "Calendar" section as well on the sidemenu! Registered users can add aviation and modeling related event's, history days, model shows any time!

New arrivals:

If you're interested to see these products in detail, or buy, please enter the shop here! or click on the product image!

F-14D VF-213 / AJ213	F-14D VF-31 / AJ100	F-14D VF-31 / AJ101	F-14D VF-31 / AJ102	F-14A VF-31 / AE202

• De-Icing Upgrade Mulled For Block A V-22 Osprey
  20 Block A MV-22 Ospreys could be getting a de-icing system after icing on an inlet cause a Osprey to divert while on a trip to Farnborough.
• MV-22 Ospreys complete trans-Atlantic flights to England, back
  The two MV-22s that made the trip across the Atlantic Ocean have flown back to the United States.
• Blue Blasters Return from Western Pacific Deployment
  VFA-34 returned to Naval Air Station Oceana Aug. 5, after completing a 5-month deployment to the Western Pacific.
• Boeing Rolls Out First EA-18G Growler
  Boeing rolled out the EA-18G Growler during a ceremony at its Integrated Defense Systems facilities in St. Louis Aug. 4.
• F/A-18E/F to use AESA as jammer
  Boeing's F/A-18E/F Block 2 Super Hornet is set to become the first fighter to use its active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar for electronic attack.
• Castle Air Museum fetes its newest addition: The F-14 Tomcat
  Cmdr. Paul Haas and Cmdr. Tony Desmet were at Castle Air Museum on Saturday to dedicate the F-14 Tomcat that they flown in last September.
• Northrop eyes E-2D release
  Northrop Grumman and the US Navy are eyeing India and the United Arab Emirates as possible markets for the E-2D.

   

•  Shaw hosts Operation Iron Thunder
  F-14 Tomcats join F-22 Raptors in Operation Iron Thunder this week, a large scale exercise simulating the full-scale invasion of the North Carolina coast.
• F-14 delay all about war games, not war
  News-Register says that erroneous information from Evergreen Aviation Museum lead to the wrong story about Tomcats heading back to combat in the Middle East. But there is something fishy about the Navy's reply as well.
  The Navy said the F-14s are to be deployed for Operation Bold Step, an exercise with the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. But why send a four-member crew from Titan Corp. to Oregon to prepare for the jet's arrival when its scheduled to participate in a war game?
• Museum ready to move Navy F-14 Tomcat
  Prairie Aviation Museum folks have moved the VF-32 Tomcat from the tarmac near the old airport terminal to a concrete pad in the museum’s display area.
• Pictures: Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey tiltrotors fly over downtown London
  Pictures of the MV-22 flying up and down the Thames.
• Indian Navy eyes 100 aircraft by 2020
  The Indian Navy is shopping for up to 100 aircraft in a mix of fighters, patrol planes and trainers by 2020.
• Navy Probes Multiple V-22 Surges, Stalls
  The U.S. Navy is investigating a series of compressor surges and stalls on the V-22 fleet.
  It has emerged that the other MV-22 that flew successfully across the Atlantic for Farnborough Air Show had experienced a compressor surge that was imperceptible during the flight.
  A backup MV-22 also experienced an imperceptible compressor surge during its return flight to New River.
• Museum's fighter called back to duty
  A VF-31 F-14D was expected to be flown into Oregon's Portland International Airport where it will be dismantled and ship by road to McMinnville Airport for display at the Evergreen Aviation Museum.
  But the fighter is now on standby at NAS Oceana as the Navy plans to send USS Theodore Roosevelt to the Middle East.
• US aircraft carrier in South Korea
  USS Enterprise has arrived in the South Korea port of Busan for a scheduled visit.
• Northrop Grumman Reveals First Advanced Hawkeye Fuselage
  Northrop Grumman Corporation has mated the major subassemblies of the first E-2D Advanced Hawkeye test aircraft at its St. Augustine, Fla., manufacturing center into a single fuselage structure.
• US Navy to advance Hawkeye testing
  The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye's new APY-9 radar will tested on a modified Lockheed Martin NC-130H later this year.