Don't Mess With Texas

Here's new meaning for that phrase...from the Usual USAF Source:

The Texas Air National Guard's 149th Fighter Wing's flagship F-16 returning to Lackland Air Force Base after being painted to honor the 65th anniversary of the unit's affiliation with the Air National Guard, Sept. 29, 2011. (Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Phil Fountain/Released) (click for high-res)

From a Lackland AFB news release:

10/1/2011 - LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Members of the Texas Air National Guard's 149th Fighter Wing have begun a year-long remembrance leading up to the unit's the 65th anniversary in the Air National Guard with a new design for the wing's flagship aircraft.

Known as the Lone Star Gunfighters, the 149th Fighter Wing's specialty logo directly ties the unit's connection to the state of Texas and western tradition in South Texas.

[...]

The graphical depictions were created by Senior Master Sgt. Penny Laflam and Staff Sgt. Chris Hamilton, both members of the 149th Maintenance Group. The final version of the aircraft paint design required approval of the group commander, wing commander, and National Guard Bureau, where it was reviewed against aircraft marking regulations.

So... the design "was reviewed against aircraft marking regulations," eh?  I'm not one to let a nit slide by without picking at it, so here's today's quiz, Gentle Reader... what's wrong with this picture?

Well, let me be clear: what's incongruous about the markings?  Nits aside, the paint job is pretty cool.  But not as cool as what the Squids are doing to celebrate the centennial of naval aviation; those paint jobs are cool.  (See blog-bud Glenn's header for an example.)  (OMG.  I said sumthin' good about the bleedin' NAVY... I must not be fully caffeinated yet.)