CHINA LAKE, Calif. – Throughout 2011, the Centennial of Naval Aviation (CoNA) is being celebrated at events across the nation. Last year, Vice Adm. T.J. Kilcline, former commander of Naval Air Forces (CNAF), put the Navy’s year-long celebration plan in context when he said, “By supporting this important milestone each organization’s hard work will serve to honor tens of thousands of naval aviation personnel and their families, spanning many generations.”

Rear Adm. Mat Winter, commander of the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD) at China Lake, challenged his military and civilian team members to honor the aircraft and weapons that made U.S. Navy aircraft and aviators so successful in combat.
Based on that challenge, Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 31 painted an F/A-18C Hornet in a special commemorative paint scheme - one that pays homage to the rich heritage of NAWCWD.

Commissioned in 1947 as the Navy’s premiere research, development, test and evaluation complex for aircraft and weapons, China Lake has operated nearly every type of carrier-based aircraft and developed nearly every air-launched weapon used since World War II. VX-31 traces its roots back to the early days of China Lake, when test aircraft were assigned directly to the Naval Air Facility.

In 1976, aircraft operations were consolidated under the Air Department of NWC's Test & Evaluation Directorate, and remained that way until the Naval Weapons Test Squadron was established in 1995. In 2002, that squadron was re-designated the VX-31 “Dust Devils.”

Lt. Col. Andre Mercier, the current commanding officer of VX-31 said, “The entire China Lake workforce played a pivotal role in most of naval aviation’s achievements over the past 50 years. We think that this retro-painted aircraft helps to honor China Lake’s rich history of achievement and reminds Americans of the importance of what happens here on a daily basis.”

Cmdr. Ian Anderson, VX-31’s executive officer and military aviation history enthusiast, researched China Lake’s history for a retro-paint scheme concept that would evoke the facility’s rich heritage.

“We focused on the 1960s,” Anderson said, “which saw the development and introduction of innovative new weapons technologies that revolutionized air warfare and increased the combat potential of carrier aircraft during the Vietnam conflict and the Cold War.”

Because the F/A-18 is the Navy’s primary strike fighter aircraft, having served in combat operations over Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan, VX-31 chose to paint “COSO 101”, one of its F/A-18C Hornets and a veteran of over 4,000 flight hours, in the retro paint scheme. With paint design in hand, VX-31 Chief Warrant Officer Chris Obenland, with the help of volunteers from VX-31’s Contract Oversight Team, put the plan into action. Chief Petty Officers Kenneth Smart and Paul Williams, along with Sean Corcoran, painted the historic colors onto COSO 101.

COSO 101 is scheduled to appear on static display at several military base open house events in the coming months:
July 28-31 NAS Whidbey Island, Wash.
OCT 1-2 NAS Miramar, Calif.
OCT 15-16 NAS Lemoore, Calif.
OCT 15 - 16 NAWS China Lake, Calif.
NOV 11-12 NAS Pensacola, Fla.