USAF Tailcodes question

[F4JPhantomII]

Isn't the current F-35 that's marked up as "48 FW" serial 19-5484? So again does not tie-in with that theory.

I think it still fits with the theory if you view it as 19-5484.

[Canberra TT.18]

ANG = tailcodes on fast-jets, not on transports

Some have some don't
F-15 MA and JZ codes other F-15 units no code
F-16 eg. CO and OK TX and others like Minnesota ANG no code.

[Thunder]

Minnesota ANG 148FW have ‘MN’, assigned to it. Sometimes they wear it sometimes they don’t.

[herky11]

Someone once explained (I thought it was on here, but could've been on MSF) that there is a procedure for USAF squadrons to request certain aircraft are assigned to them on the basis of it having a squadron/wing relevant tail number - assuming that aircraft is the correct type/block/update spec. Hence it's no real surprise that Lakenheath are likely to get F-35's with tail numbers 493 and 495, and Mildenhall get 58-0100.

Some facts just so, pour parler... Back in 2008 Aviano's Buzzards managed to get F-16C 88-0510 from Cannon and made it their flagship until 2013, when, unfortunately, it crashed. Tail number 89-2016 was for a while 16th Air Force's flagship, and 89-2001 made sense as 31FW's Boss Bird, since 89-2031 (a Block 42E Viper) couldn't fit in Wing fully equipped with Block 40 aircraft. Finally, 88-0555 doesn't exist...
As far as I know, all other historic and present flagship sported units insignia on (apparently) random tail numbers...
Greetings!
Filippo

[twinstar]

The first LN F-15E was 90-0248, suitably marked for the 48FW CO.

[stickshaker]

To a degree, yes, and I think back in the 80/90's this was more apparent as they made an effort to use the jet who's serial ended with the Wing/Squadrons number. However in the last 20 years or so this has not been the case.

When there were so many aircraft to choose from, I guess there was always the likelihood that one of them would have the appropriate serial number to make it the Sqn or Wg aircraft. This was the 80th FTW T38 back in 1983, which I think has also appeared on here in a later incarnation.