This one super-bugs me...

See this pictu

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/624542/L/

I've never seen a picture or movie of a Tomcat doing a display without a
RIO. To my knowledge, there is nothing physical that mandates the RIO in
there for the Turkey to be flown in a demo - take off, do some aerobatics,
land...

Now, I've seen quite a few photos of operational F/A-18Fs doing demos
without the WSO.

So, what gives? Is the Tomcat such a difficult bird to fly that it requires
a RIO with a NATOPS on his lap, or is the Super-Bug so underpowered that
200lb of weight make a difference in the demo?

And if the WSO isn't there just because he is not needed, how does it affect
the morale of the WSO community?

Just curious...

José