NEPTUNE no.29 May 2020

Index

This month's cover:

The National Ensign flying on Memorial Day. A day to remember those who must never be forgotten. The men and women who laid down their lives in service to us all. This year's Third Fleet Memorial Day ceremony was held at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. Insert: Lt. Patty "Hi Diver" Poppy flew to the great skies above on May 9; she was 80 years young. Full coverage below.

Main cover story:

Memorial Day 2020 at NAS PAX River

On May 25, 2020, at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Memorial Day was observed at the Blue Angels Memorial Site. Many fellow service members were present, friends and family, real life veterans and guests who answered our call this day. To all of them, who I shall try to name at the end of this record, our heartfelt thank you. Thank you for keeping the flame of remembrance alive.

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Editorial

NEPTUNE is back!

After a long absence, the official magazine of SL United States Navy Third Fleet is back. Due to real life matters that were also behind my absence from SL later that year, the last number on the stands and online is #6, dated June 2018. We resume publication this month maintaining the regular number and as such this is NEPTUNE no.29. Back numbers from 7 to 28 will be issued as supplements whenever possible to fill the gap and maintain a record of 2018 and 2019 most significant events and SL general and naval aviation related matters. I hope you enjoy your reading, please leave us your comments! It's been a while, and it's good to be back on the SL news stands.
Blue skies and fair winds to you all.

CAPT. Asra Kron, Chief Editor

SL NFDS Blue Angels 2016 - 2020

It is everyone's right in Second Life to live the fantasy they wish, play the part they choose. Being a Blue Angel is no exception and we have no exclusive on it - no one does. We only try to do it as well and as similar to real life as possible, and this has been and will be my choice, and it is what sets the SL United States Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron (NFDS) Blue Angels from any other group flying similar colors.
Many, many groups exist in SL, it is what you do and how you do it that sets your group apart. In the SL United States Navy we strive to not only set it apart, but make it exceptional in every way. Existing as a SL United States Navy squadron in Third Fleet since February 14, 2016, the Blue Angels will continue their program as defined in our records.
A little history, for the record. Complete photo album link on the footnotes section.

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In Memoriam: LT. Patty "Hi Dive" Poppy, 2005/11/25 - 2020/05/09
It is with great sorrow I place this remembrance page up for Poppy. She chose autopilotpatty poppy as her name, and was born in Second Life on November 25 of 2005. Her autopilot guided her to the great skies above on May 9 and now we are left to mourn but also to remember.
She was to play her songs at NAS PAX River for our Anniversary Ball just a couple of months away. When asked to do so she replied as she always did, happy to help and with a smile. I shall remember her that day and share her memory as we dance. I think she would have liked to know that's how we remember her: dancing. To all her friends at NAS Firespire and Auburn Bay, her family and all who loved her, my deepest sympathies.

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Special section

A very special Hornet: F/A-18D Hornet TOPGUN 2020 profile. (see here)

NEPTUNE - The magazine of Second Life United States Navy Third Fleet

All Rights Reserved - 2020

NEPTUNE no.29 Back Cover

NEPTUNE no.6 June 2018

Index

This month's cover:

The United States Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron Blue Angels support aircraft, the Lockheed C-130T Hercules affectionately known as Fat Albert flies over the United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon for a promotional photo. A long awaited and much anticipated inclusion of Fat Albert Airlines in the Blue Angels demonstration layout in Second Life will finally happen this year during the Independence Day Air Show at Agrippa.

Main cover story:

Faaaaaaaaaat Albert is here!

Serving with the Navy Flight Demonstration Team Blue Angels since the very start, Fat Albert always flew in support of the squadron but never integrated the team's demonstrations during the last two seasons. Dedicated to transmit as much as possible the ideals and procedures of the real life Blue Angels, it was the squadron's intent not to fly the emblematic aircraft in its demonstration capacity without a USMC crew, as it is made of U.S. Marines. With the successful ending of her internship with the squadron, Major Dominique van Dongen has made the team whole as she will take command of Fat Albert for the 2018 Season, starting on July 4, for this year's ID4 to be held once more at CinSal International Airport. Here you can find the 2018 Independence Day Air Show program.

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SL15B

Happy 15th anniversary Second Life!
The Blue Angels join Second Life's 15th Birthday (SL15B) celebrations and we have set up a small stand in the Stupendous region, where several aerobatic teams are also represented.

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VMFAT-101 2012 F/A-18B - A very special Hornet

On 2 November, 2012, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 101 held a dedication ceremony during which a restored F/A-18B Hornet was unveiled specially painted with the names of four Medal of Honor recipients. This aircraft was the subject of a 12 unit Limited Edition by Eight Shades of Blue. See the bird in question here and find out more about it in this month's Special Section.
[ Update: The last of the available 12 units was sold shortly after this article was published! A new Limited Edition of a USMC Hornet will be placed in the market soon. ]

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 Special section - The real life "Medal of Honor" Hornet (see here) 

NEPTUNE - The magazine of the United States Navy Third Fleet in Second Life

All Rights Reserved - 2018

NEPTUNE no.6 Back Cover

NEPTUNE no.5 May 2018

Index

This month's cover:

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, Washington D.C. - The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall provides one of the National Mall’s most powerful scenes. In truth, the “wall” is actually made up of two identical walls that each stretch 246 feet and 9 inches, containing more than 58,000 names. The names are listed in chronological order based on the date of casualty, and within each day, names are shown in alphabetical order. Perhaps the memorial wall’s most defining characteristic is a visitor’s ability to see his or her reflection at the same time as the engraved names, connecting the past and the present like few other monuments can.

Main cover story:

That Monday in May...

Observing today's remembrance, a Memorial Day ceremony took place at Naval Air Station Miramar, attended by SL US Navy and SL USMC service members from Third and Seventh Fleets, as well as USCG in SL members. Here is a record of the event with transcripts of the present senior officers' remarks.

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Regular AAR Exercises - Blake Sea Corridor

This exercise is a regular event organized by USN 7th Fleet SL with Third Fleet participation. Briefing for the May 27 mission took place at NAS Miramar's Map Room. Participating squadrons from both fleets took off from Miramar and the tanker(s) from SNO.

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 Special section - AAR Exercise May 27 record (see here)  

Royal Navy F/A-18? - Remembering the 892nd Naval Air Squadron

This is my impression of what a F/A-18D Hornet would look like if the 892 Naval Air Squadron had adopted it to replace the Phantom F4K's were it not disbanded in 1978.
The livery has most of the old F4K elements down to the canopy ejection line and it also includes a homage to the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle that took place on the very day this livery was painted on the aircraft and flown for the first time as part of a 100 RAF group grid flight. You can find the inscription with the Royal Wedding crest on the aft door of the frontal landing gear. The date (19MAY2018) also shows on both "anvils" over the wing extensions.

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NEPTUNE - The magazine of the United States Navy Third Fleet in Second Life

All Rights Reserved - 2018

NEPTUNE no.5 Back Cover

NEPTUNE no.4 April 2018

Index

This month's cover:

Real life United States Coast Guard HITRON MH-65 Dolphin. The USCG in SL sports HITRON colors as standard on their rotary wing aircraft and others to clearly differentiate from the current USCG white, blue and red color schemes the Second Life Coast Guard uses. A few aircraft still display the tricolor liveries, but in all aircraft and sea vessels you can read "U.S. COAST GUARD", which also helps setting them apart from those in use by the SLCG.

Main cover story:

Second Life U.S. Coast Guard

NEPTUNE interviewed Admiral Toxic Lemon for this month's issue. I went to the USCGHQ at CGAS Majipoor, Corsica, and showed the Admiral a first proof of the April cover, revealing the U.S. Coast Guard in Second Life would have cover story honors this month and what better way to do justice to one of the oldest role play groups in Second Life, in the military/paramilitary universe, than to let the man who leads it use his own words to describe it.

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Blue Angels prepare World Tour 2018

The Blue Angels are contacting owners/managers of Second Life world landmarks as it is their objective this year to fly over some of the grid’s best real life world landmark counterpart locations.
For the 2018 World Tour, the objective is to fly over some of Second Life’s most emblematic world landmarks - example: The Eiffel Tour, in Paris - so mostly we will have to adapt to local conditions. The information presented here serves as a guide to the squadron’s typical routine so that managers/owners of selected world landmarks in SL have a clear idea of our capabilities and needs.
Paris and London are already on the World Tour route, so if you own/manage a world landmark location in SL or know someone who does, contact the Navy Flight Demonstration Team Blue Angels number 7 (CAPT. Asra Kron) or number 8 (Major Dominique van Dongen)!
To see the prospect used to showcase the World Tour continue reading.

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Eight Shades of Blue launches MP store

Following the launch of Shana Carpool's F/A-18C and D Hornets, the USN Third Fleet SL official livery supplier, Eight Shades of Blue, expanded decisively towards the Second Life Market Place, starting with a range of paint kits made for the new Hornets. Eight Shades of Blue is also an official Shana Aircraft supplier and Spartan Industries supplier, but does art work for the most popular models of many other aircraft manufacturers in Second Life.

Being in business since 2016, first exclusively for the SL United States Navy, then directly to private clients who asked for custom exclusives which are still a very important business component, Eight Shades of Blue is now making its quality work more accessible and available to all, increasing the variety of paint kits available on a very regular basis. Along with the Market Place store, selected locations on the SL grid have vendors with the available products. The profit helps to pay for Du Sud Isle, providing for the continued presence of NAS Miramar on the grid.

To get to know Eight Shades of Blue and for the link to the store, aircraft listings and more, continue reading.

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NEPTUNE - The magazine of the United States Navy Third Fleet in Second Life

All Rights Reserved - 2018

NEPTUNE no.4 Back Cover

NEPTUNE no.3 March 2018

Index

This month's cover:

Main: VFC-13 Saint Adversary F-16N Vipers on a high altitude practice over the Blake Sea, September 2017. The Navy Vipers are stationed at N.A.S. Miramar and mainly serve as aggressors during open air, multi-region intercept exercises during TOPGUN classes.

Insert: Luxor International Blue Angels Air Show poster (see this month's back cover). 

Editor's Note:

My apologies for the untimely fashion NEPTUNE no.3 came out. March was a particularly hard month in real life but here we are and catching up. Thank you for your support. Go Navy!

Main cover story:

U.S. Navy F-16N "Vipers"

The Navy does have operational General Dynamics F-16's, only they are named "Vipers" to set them apart from the U.S.A.F. "Fighting Falcons". Used in real life first at N.A.S. Miramar and the Navy Fighter Weapons School and to this day at N.A.S. Fallon with the Naval Strike Air Warfare Center (Topgun's heir), the "Vipers" serve in dissimilar air combat tactics (D.A.C.T.) training in the adversary role, providing the fleet with a light and highly maneuverable aircraft to fly against the front line naval fighters during TOPGUN engagements.

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Main cover story profile:

General Dynamics F-16N Viper profile (see here!)

Inset cover story:

Luxor International Air Show 2018

Every year the Navy Flight Demonstration Team Blue Angels tries to perform at Luxor International Airport. For the third consecutive year the squadron returned to Luxor on March 31, where it was joined by Team Phoenix and the Bull Rock Hornets for the 2018 air show. Details of the Blues layout available following the link below.

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Becoming a Naval Aviator with Third Fleet in SL

An article used as reference in Third Fleet as to what lies along the path to the Wings of Gold and how to achieve the Naval Aviator certification. Since the Naval Service Training Center left Third Fleet, we have both sent officer candidates to OCS at Second Fleet and trained them at Third, pursuing our cooperation with 7th Fleet in N.A.T.C. related matters. A comprehensive guide to what is expected of every naval aviator in Third Fleet.

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Shana Carpool's new F/A-18 Hornet explained

Just as the new Hornet was released we were made aware that unfortunately it was not enough to name the paint kits correctly - some people would still use a model C paint kit on the F/A-18D and the model D paint kit on the F/A-18C. In some cases minor differences would be not so obvious but in most liveries the problems would be very serious. Then you would have people complaining about the paint kits, about the aircraft and who knows what else. So we decided to release a version 1.2 immediately with independent paint boxes for the two aircraft.
Following that update an issue concerning the application of textures along the canopy and dorsal areas came up and was dealt with immediately, along with the addition of the rudders command (a feature used since January in the Blue Angels Hornets) and a few other structural improvements which justified a v1.3 release. This will not affect the paint systems, which will still work as in v1.2.

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NEPTUNE - The magazine of the United States Navy Third Fleet in Second Life

All Rights Reserved - 2018

Neptune no.3 Back Cover

NEPTUNE no.2 February 2018

 

Index

This month's cover:

Main: In a detail from this year's Homecoming poster, Captain Asra "Cougar" Kron, Angel 7, waves to the Blue Diamond, welcoming the Hornets to the demo squadron at last. Inset: Alpha Jets of the Patrouille de France perform a smoke check.

Main cover story:

A New Season Starts: Blue Angels Homecoming 2018

After two postponements, this year's Blue Angels Homecoming happened on the weekend of February 10 and 11, at NAS Miramar, traditionally marking the new season start for the Navy Flight Demonstration Team. This year, the Blues proudly flew their new F/A-18C Hornets for the first time, launching the first operational version of the upcoming Shana Carpool Aircraft commercial F/A-18C and F/A-18D Hornets.

Link to the complete photo coverage of the two day event in the story.

Check the Homecoming Raffle results for the stock F/A-18C Hornet in this story and also below in "The Bug is Back!" Quite a surprise!

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Inset cover story:

Armée de l'Air: French Air Power in Second Life

EPAA 20.300/312 (Equipe de Présentation de l'Armée de l'Air 20.300 et 20.312) aka the Patrouille de France in Second Life is the Armée de l'Air ambassador squadron and together with training squadron GE 314 (Groupement-Ecole 314 "Christian Martel") share BA 701 as their home. Recently, the squadrons were relocated near Paris and got a small overseas base with open skies practice characteristics at Gordon Regional Airport in the small Sharp Continent.

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Few and Proud in Third Fleet: Upcoming USMC Squadrons

An illustrated guide to new squadrons assigned to the United States Marine Corps detachment in Third Fleet. VMM-262 The Flying Tigers, equipped with MV-22 Ospreys, and HMH-466 Wolfpack operating the MH-90 MHF (NH Industries NH-90), both stationed at MCAF Quantico, the marines air facility that together with MCB Quantico will be inaugurated next March.

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The Wild Blue Yonder! SL USAF Thunderbirds

After a wrong foot start, the USAF Thunderbirds are back in Second Life with a more solid structure and a purposeful leadership that may in time lead to the establishment of the United States Air Force modern day counterpart in SL, but will certainly represent the Air Force from the get go in no uncertain terms. With a small base at CinSal International Airport, the T-Birds rise from the ashes under Lieutenant Colonel Volt Voltaire's command.

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The Bug is Back! F/A-18C Hornet

Celebrating the Blue Angels first demonstration with the new Boeing F/A-18C Hornet, developed for them by Shana Carpool Aircraft, and as a bonus on the occasion of the 2018 Homecoming Air Show at NAS Miramar where the Bug will be officially launched, we will be having a do over raffle of a stock version F/A-18C similar to the ones soon available to the general public. The winner of the raffle held during Homecoming weekend graciously returned the voucher allowing for another person to have the chance to win the new Bug!

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NEPTUNE - The magazine of the United States Navy Third Fleet in Second Life

All Rights Reserved - 2018

NEPTUNE no.2 Back Cover

NEPTUNE no.1 January 2018

Index

This month's cover:

Boeing F/A-18C Hornets BA v1.0 BuNo's 163435 (Angel 4) and 163451 (Angel 1) over the Aldabra Sea in a Blue Angels practice North of NAS Miramar. One year after development started, the first operational Hornets arrive to the squadron.

Cover story:

New Hornets for the Fleet

On January 30, 2017, Captains Vickster Kühn and Asra Kron met with Ms. Shana Carpool to inspect the first shell of the Hornet Project. A year after her first frame was built, the first batch of Shana Aircraft Boeing F/A-18C Hornets was delivered to the Navy Flight Demonstration Team.

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Gold and Blue Day at Miramar

January 13, 2018. Gold and Blue Day at Miramar. On this occasion we celebrate another year of operations in Tuarua Fiji, marking the date when N.A.S. Miramar was set where it stands today, Du Sud Isle, on the northernmost regions of Nautilus. To this day this fine naval air station remains the flagship of Third Fleet and one of the United States Navy finest references in Second Life.

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NAS Miramar Second Anniversary

It was once more our pleasure to welcome fellow officers, family and friends to celebrate another year of Naval Air Station Miramar. Built January 1, 2016 on an isolated island as a showcase for approval by both the Navy and Tuarua Fiji, N.A.S.M. was inaugurated officially with the first orders on January 8 that year, two years ago today. It would be transferred to Du Sud Isle five days later, the date we officially celebrate the anniversary of operations in Tuarua Fiji.

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Marines Land on Third Fleet

It gives me great pleasure to announce the inclusion of Major Dominique van Dongen, call sign "Albatross", in the ranks of this Third Fleet. Maj. van Dongen will be intern with the NFDT Blue Angels with #8 in mind, to become the squadron's logistics and human resources officer.

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Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show

The annual Homecoming Air Show that initiates a new season will take place February 10 and 11 at NAS Miramar (*). Details will be added as they are available, but make sure you mark the dates!

(*) Traditionally held the last weekend of January, this year's Homecoming will take place the second weekend of February due to unforeseen circumstances - unfortunately we had to move the dates again. Please stay tuned as we will make it worth your while!

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NEPTUNE - The magazine of the United States Navy Third Fleet in Second Life

All Rights Reserved - 2018

NEPTUNE no.1 Back Cover