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Navy E/A-18G Growlers Collide At Idaho Air Show (Updated)

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Navy Flight Demonstration Team Stand Down Ends, Growler Team Still Grounded​

The Navy has allowed some of its tactical demonstration teams to resume participation in air shows, Naval Air Forces recently confirmed to USNI News.

All TACDEMO teams – minus the Growler demo team – have been able to participate in air shows since June 10, Cmdr. Amelia Umayam, spokesperson for Commander, Naval Air Forces, told USNI News on Aug. 19.

The Growler demo team – from the “Vikings” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129 – is still grounded pending review.


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A U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler attached to the “Vikings” of the Electronic Attack Squadron 129 taxis in front of spectators at the Gunfighter Skies Air Show at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, May 16, 2026. US Air National Guard photo
 
DAMN! VAQ-129 was MY outfit! We never had this problem with the EA6B "Prowler" (Grumman-manufactured) airframe subsonic aircraft. Someone "boned the pooch". I wouldn't want to be in their shoes when coming up before the Old Man.

There will be a lot of 'splainin' to do! (Good luck with that.)
 
Talyn said:
EA/18G Growlers are electronic warfare aircraft, in very short-supply, and don't do their missions by doing airshow maneuvers within shaving distance from other aircraft.
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You have that right! The F-18 Super Hornet airframe may be relatively common, but the electronic gear is extremely costly! The Navy will pay dearly to replace those jamming pods and other data-gathering equipment.

This isn't good at all.
 
powerboatr said:
thats because that squadron is NOT A DEMO team, its an active duty go do your nations business squadron
leave aerobatics to the blue angles or thunder birds
somebody in the COC thought it would be a good idea to go to an airshow, of which we did all the time in helicopters too
and the urge to show boat can overwhelm the rules of DO NOT DO THIS

these guys and gals fly superb aircraft for disrupting coms etc, they are very lucky and to not be dead,
and now they will be grounded for a bit etc
takes 2 ready to fight pricey planes out of the fight so to speak, plus aircrew, plus maybe a command CO.
but in the end so glad the aircrew were not killed



(y)
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I personally KNOW that squadron! They are a Returning Air Group (training) squadron that prepares personnel for sea duty with other VAQ (Electronic Warfare Aircraft) squadrons of identical configuration. You can bet the pilots involved are going to remain grounded until they can determine what on earth happened.

Considering the value of these birds ($304 million), their service records are going to have some nasty "chicken tracks" that will follow them for the rest of their Navy careers.

Another SNAFU such as this, and they can bid their career a fond adieu.
 
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