16-9144 —

This is the first picture of 169144 to be posted into FA's gallery, but that was not the reason I decided to post this snap of it instead of one of the many others I have. While looking thru the KNFL folder, I realized that almost all of the pics appearing in that folder show aircraft with gear down, either because the aircraft were parked, taxiing, or landing. And I have several superb clicks of this one taken when it was landing later as well as some excellent up-close photos of it parked on the NFL ramp. I selected this one over any of those because it would be a rather unusual snap in the KNFL folder ... a shot of a Navy aircraft taking off from NFL with the treads already tucked away in their beds. This pic was taken about midmorning, as the VFA-31 (Strike Fighter Squadron Three One) "Tomcatters" F/A-18E Super Bug was on the climb from runway 13L to participate in a training sortie. (Info ... VFA-31's homeport is NAS Oceana.)