What VMA means?
Dragan Kostadinov
What VFA and other abbreviations in US NAVY and MARINES squadrons names
exactly means?
--
Dragan Kostadinov
José Herculano
>What VFA and other abbreviations in US NAVY and MARINES squadrons names
>exactly means?
V heaVier-than-air
F Fighter
A Attack
M Marine
(AW) All-Weather
S anti-Submarine
C Composite
P Patrol
H Helicopter (helo)
R Replenishement
AW Airborne Warning
Q electronic warfare
José Herculano
_____________________________
http://www.almansur.com/aviation/
Ogden Johnson III
José Herculano (herc...@mail.telepac.pt) wrote:
: >What VFA and other abbreviations in US NAVY and MARINES squadrons names
: >exactly means?
: V heaVier-than-air
Actually, since H - Helos are also heavier than air, V - Fixed Wing now;
although pre-helos it did indicate heavier than air as opposed to the Z -
Lighter than Air [now quiescent, although the LTA folks are still trying].
To expand for the original poster, for Navy, the first letter is V or H to
indicate the category, the rest of the letters in various combinations,
indicate mission types. Marine squadrons add an M after the category,
then do the mission types.
VMA - Marine [fixed-wing] Attack Squadron
VMA(AW) - Marine [fw] All-Weather Attack Squadron
HMM - Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron
HMH - Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron
HLA - Marine Light [utility] Attack Helicopter Squadron [has AH-1s for
attack, UH-1s for utility, so compromised on Light Attack]
VMFA and VMFA(AW) fighter attack and all-weather fighter attack
VMGR-252 Marine Aerial Refueling [the G] [transport - the R] Squadron [the
transport was left out of the squadron name to avoid rubbing the Air
Force's nose in the fact that we kept our own transport capability.]
One interesting sidelight, the MV-22 Osprey could be characterized as
fixed-wing or rotary-wing, depending on it's mode. IIRC, the USMC decided
that, since it is primarily a replacement for the CH-46 helos, Osprey
squadrons will be HMMs. This has the added advantage of maintaining the
proud, albeit shorter than some FW squadrons, lineage of the helo
squadrons.
: R Replenishement
Originally Transport, but
T Training
was already taken and R was the closest unused letter
[S now ASW, originally Scout, U - Utility, and V - HTA/FW].
Not bad at all Jos0.
OJ III
[Now fearing a rerun of the Navy's original aircraft designation system,
which also seems to get rehashed here on at least an annual or semi-annual
basis. ;-)]
Krztalizer
<long, mostly accurate list snipped>
Dangit. Left out again. :\
X-HSL-31 & HSL-33, HSL Class Desk
AKA Helicopter, Anti-Submarine Squadron (Light)
AKA HelAntiSubron(Light),
or Frigate/Destroyer-deployed Light ASW Helicopters.
...the forgotten folks that bring the mail to the fleet, Miss America to her
ship-board shows, and run "Holy Helo" every Sunday. The few, the proud, the
totally forgotten. :)
v/r
Gordon
<====(A+C====>
USN SAR Aircrew
"Senso, do you have anything on your radar?"
"Just my forehead, sir." (3a.m. in the Mallaccan Straits)
Ken Duffey
José Herculano wrote:
>
> >What VFA and other abbreviations in US NAVY and MARINES squadrons names
> >exactly means?
>
> V heaVier-than-air
> A Attack
> M Marine
> (AW) All-Weather
> S anti-Submarine
> C Composite
> P Patrol
> H Helicopter (helo)
> R Replenishement
> AW Airborne Warning
> Q electronic warfare
>
> José Herculano
> _____________________________
> http://www.almansur.com/aviation/
Why does the US Navy/Marines still continue to designate its squadrons
and carriers with a V to denote heavier-than-air ???
Are there any lighter-than-air Attack/Fighter etc squadrons ??
Are there any lighter-than-air a/c carriers ??? - I know there used to
be (Macon, Akron etc with hooked Curtis Sparrowhawks (?)) but there
hasn't been one since the thirties.
And if there was a lighter-than-air a/c carrier, what would it be
designated ??
Think of all the paint, computer storage and print that must be wasted
just to add a V to everyting !!!
Just a thought .......
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ken Duffey - Flanker Freak & Russian Aviation Enthusiast
Flankers - http://www.swan.ac.uk/mateng/gavins/aviation.htm
S-37 Model - http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hangar/5634/
Genuine E-mailers - remove the x after uk
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
LCDR1635
> >What VFA and other abbreviations in US NAVY and MARINES squadrons names<BR>
>> >exactly means?<BR>
>> <BR>
>> V heaVier-than-air<BR>
>
>> _____________________________<BR>
>> http://www.almansur.com/aviation/<BR>
><BR>
>Why does the US Navy/Marines still continue to designate its squadrons<BR>
>and carriers with a V to denote heavier-than-air ???<BR>
><BR>
Actually, the "V" denotes "Heavier Than Air, Fixed Wing". Rotary Wing
Squadron designations start with "H", as in "HMA" "HML" "HSL" or "HS".
JHE-
-
John Eckhardt
Ogden Johnson III
Ken Duffey (K.Du...@ncs.nerc.ac.ukx) wrote:
: Why does the US Navy/Marines still continue to designate its squadrons
: and carriers with a V to denote heavier-than-air ???
Because, since the advent of helicopters, V has denoted fixed-wing
aircraft.
: Are there any lighter-than-air Attack/Fighter etc squadrons ??
No, but there are bunches of rotary wing aircraft squadrons.
: Are there any lighter-than-air a/c carriers ??? - I know there used to
No, but there are bunches of rotary wing aircraft carriers.
: And if there was a lighter-than-air a/c carrier, what would it be
: designated ??
LPH, LHA, LHD, LSD, LPD for starters.
: Think of all the paint, computer storage and print that must be wasted
: just to add a V to everyting !!!
It would be a waste, if you didn't need the V to distinguish from H.
: Just a thought .......
Fine thought ... based on an erroneous premise, but ... fine thought.
And, don't look now, but there are a bunch of groups out there still
trying to sell LTA [Z] to the US Navy. Again.
OJ III
[To which the Navy always replies 'Hmmmmmmm, nice idea, we'll be in
touch,' and promptly tosses the drawing/plan/whatever in the round file as
the latest group walks out the door]
Mark Voelker
Presently, Marine Light/Attack Helicopter squadrons are designated "HMLA" or
"HML/A" depending on who you talk to. This was formed by combining the HML
(UH-1s) and HMA (AH-1s) awhile back. The current mix of airframes in an HMLA is
18 AH-1Ws and 9 UH-1Ns, making for an interesting mix of maintainers to keep both
aircraft flying.
Thomas Schoene
Mark Voelker <voe...@ridgecrest.ca.us> wrote in article
<355928AD...@ridgecrest.ca.us>...
> Presently, Marine Light/Attack Helicopter squadrons are designated
"HMLA" or
> "HML/A" depending on who you talk to. This was formed by combining
the HML
> (UH-1s) and HMA (AH-1s) awhile back. The current mix of airframes
in an HMLA is
> 18 AH-1Ws and 9 UH-1Ns, making for an interesting mix of
maintainers to keep both
> aircraft flying.
>
>
Will the upcoming "4-blade" upgrades improve this situation? As I
understand it, the upgrade will give AH-1Ws and UH-1Ns the same
dynamic components and many common avionics. I know it's a few years
away though. Sounds like you're involved in the HMLA community, is
4BW/4BN seen as a good thing with the real world?
Thanks.
--
--------------------------------------------------
TomSc...@worldnet.att.net
*Insert pithy quote here*
Mark Voelker
I work at the AH-1 Weapon System Support Activity at China Lake. Half of
my time is spent on the existing AH-1 airframe and the rest is devoted to
the H-1 Upgrades Program, as we call it. This program, the AH-1Z and
UH-1Y, is a good thing for the Marine Corps. As it stands now, this will
bridge the gap between the present airframes and the "Joint Replacement
Aircraft" that is to come on-line around 2030. This aircraft will be
some variant of a VSTOL/mini-MV-22.
The AH-1Z and UH-1Y program is coining the term "identicality" in the
spirit of the military always making new words for Webster. The
direction of the program is not just for common parts but identical.
This will be accomplished through rotor systems, all drivetrain
components (engines, transmissions, utility systems) and avionics. This
should eliminate the logistics problems that are presently associated
with two separate airframes in the same squadron. The positive effects
of this on the maintainer are obvious. For the pilots, we are striving
for identical cockpits and functionality of avionics. This would allow
us to effectively fly in both aircraft with only minor adjustments to our
routine. The biggest differences will be the lack of a Helmet/Visor
Mounted Display in the future Huey and the weapon systems that are
available in that airframe. As an HMLA operates now, there is little (if
any) cross-training due to the dramatic differences in handling, systems
and missions. Besides, what self-respecting Snake driver wants to fly in
an aircraft that carries a "few" bullets and maybe seven rockets on a
good day?! And only maxes out at 120 kias...
Mary Shafer
On Mon, 11 May 1998 17:00:53 +0100, Ken Duffey <K.Du...@ncs.nerc.ac.ukx> said:
K> Why does the US Navy/Marines still continue to designate its
K> squadrons and carriers with a V to denote heavier-than-air ???
K> Are there any lighter-than-air Attack/Fighter etc squadrons ??
The USN was messing around with LTA aircraft fairly recently, within
the last ten years or so. These didn't make it to being operational,
but LTA isn't dead yet.
Who owns the aerostats down in the Caribbean? USN, USAF, USCG, DEA?
--
Mary Shafer NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, CA
SR-71 Flying Qualities Lead Engineer Of course I don't speak for NASA
sha...@ferhino.dfrc.nasa.gov DoD #362 KotFR
URL http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/People/Shafer/mary.html
For personal messages, please use sha...@ursa-major.spdcc.com
Ogden Johnson III
Sean Malloy (mal...@concentric.net) wrote:
: cruiser hull. The 'V' for aircraft more properly refers to fixed-wing
: aircraft, as opposed to rotorcraft (it will be interesting to see what
: designation they give a unit composed entirely of V-22 Ospreys).
As I posted a couple of days ago, they will be HMMs.
: No, but the Navy still has some blimp units, so the LTA designations
: hang around.
????????
In ~20 years in Marine Corps aviation I never heard of any.
OJ III
Krztalizer
>
>: No, but the Navy still has some blimp units, so the LTA designations
>: hang around.
>
>????????
>
>In ~20 years in Marine Corps aviation I never heard of any.
>
>OJ III
The are now referred to as DRMO employees. Powered by a double
dip/poncit-drive propulsion system that is amazing to watch "in action".
Tarver Engineering
On Sat, 16 May 1998 04:59:37 GMT, o...@cpcug.org (Ogden Johnson III)
wrote:
>Sean Malloy (mal...@concentric.net) wrote:
<snip>
>: No, but the Navy still has some blimp units, so the LTA designations
>: hang around.
>
>????????
>
>In ~20 years in Marine Corps aviation I never heard of any.
So, we could fill books with what you don't know.
John
Raymond Trapp
As far as the Corps is concerned: "V" is for fixed wing "M" is for Marine "F" is
fighter "A" is attack.
Kfzang
I was told a former CPO pilot that the V in the squadron designators meant
heavier than air, this seems to be supported by the blimp squadrons were
designated with LP (Lighter than Air Patrol)
Hmmm, I wonder if the were any LF squadrons?