By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Robert Winn, USS Nimitz Public Affairs
USS NIMITZ, At Sea (NNS) -- Two pilots attached to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129, landed their E/A-18G Growler on the number three arresting gear bringing the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) to a monumental 300,000 traps, Aug. 15.
Nimitz is one of only two active ships to achieve this milestone, the other being the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65). This comes just over a month after that same wire passed the 120,000 trap mark.
"A lot of work, maintenance and man hours went into this trap," said Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Equipment) 2nd Class Eric Gonzales. "A lot of different faces went into it. This will be something we remember for a long time."
Lt. Sergion Armas and Lt. Cmdr. Dan Boyer, on board for fleet replacement squadron carrier qualifications, had no idea they would be here for such an event.
"I always thought an honor like this would go to a senior officer like the commanding officer," said Armas. "I'm quite surprised and flattered I was able to participate."
"We had no idea that Nimitz was this close to a huge milestone," said Boyer. "It's a great honor to have this unique opportunity."
Not expecting the trap at all due to the high placement of their indicator on the visual landing aid, Armas and Boyer were informed of their accomplishment by Nimitz air boss Cmdr. Charles Hayden over the flight deck public address system.
Primary flight controller of arresting gear Aviation Boatswain's Mate (equipment) 3rd Class Daniel Borja said he felt like a part of history.
"I was here for both 120,000 [on arresting engine 3] and now the 300,000th trap for the ship," said Borja. "It was really cool giving everyone the countdown to 300,000. I really felt a part of the event."
"I'll always remember I was a part of the 300,000th trap," said Aviation Boatswain's Mate (equipment) Airman Nicholas Ortiz. "When the ship gets decommissioned with a number of traps greater than 300,000, I can tell everyone that I was on Nimitz operating engine three when this trap took place."
Gonzales said this milestone catch is a good way to remember Nimitz' long and proud history.
"Every trap was a different mission, from before desert storm through now," said Gonzales. "There's a lot of history and memories here and probably a lot more in the future."
Showing posts with label VAQ-129. Show all posts
Showing posts with label VAQ-129. Show all posts
Friday, August 17, 2012
Thursday, September 24, 2009
USS Stennis Conducting CQ Ops in the SoCal Opareas
An EA-6B Prowler assigned to the Eagles of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129 prepares to launch from the flight deck aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis is underway conducting fleet replacement squadron carrier qualifications off the coast of Southern California. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Walter M. Wayman/Released)
Saturday, July 25, 2009
VAQ-129 Prowler 907 Makes Final Flight
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tucker M. Yates, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West, Det. Northwest
OAK HARBOR, Wash. (NNS) -- A Navy EA-6B Prowler from Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129 made its final flight from Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island in preparation for retirement July 20.
The flight of Prowler 907 terminated upon arrival at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Ariz., where the 309th Aerospace and Maintenance Regeneration Group will begin the process of preparing the aircraft for reclamation and preservation.
"It's fitting that we mark this day of taking this aircraft to the "boneyard," but Prowlers still have quite a bit more work to do for the nation," said Capt. Tom Slais, deputy commodore of Electronic Attack Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet. "[The EA-6B] is carrying the lion's share of the load for electronic attack in the U.S. military."
Prowler 907 began service August of 1975 and attained more than 11,000 hours of flight time, with more than 18,000 landings in nearly 34 years of active duty. In total, upon departure from NAS Whidbey Island, the aircraft amassed 7,019 field carrier landing practice landings, 9,069 field landings, 1,651 catapults, 1,656 ship arrested landings and 1,706 total arrested landings, reaching an average 147 catapults and 152 arrestments per 1,000 hours.
One of the former plane captains of Prowler 907, Aviation Structural Mechanic 3rd Class Donnavin Brown, formerly of Electronic Attack Squadron 129, who now works for L-3 Communications Corporation on NAS Whidbey Island, was granted the privilege of fulfilling his prior role one more time to send the jet on its way. Brown was plane captain from August to December 2008.
"It's sad that my aircraft was the first to go to the boneyard, but I couldn't have asked for anything better," said Brown. "I was glad that I got to do this."
As the Navy transitions away from the EA-6B toward the EA-18G Growler more Prowlers will continue to be removed from active service, but the aircraft still provides substantial warfighter capability and will remain a valuable asset for the remainder of its lifespan.
"The thing about this is that it's 2009, and we're currently scheduled to fly this aircraft until 2013 so we still have [a few] years of flying EA-6Bs out of Whidbey Island right now, and the Marines will be flying them until 2019. We still have a lot more work to do with this aircraft," said Slais.
OAK HARBOR, Wash. (NNS) -- A Navy EA-6B Prowler from Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129 made its final flight from Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island in preparation for retirement July 20.
The flight of Prowler 907 terminated upon arrival at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Ariz., where the 309th Aerospace and Maintenance Regeneration Group will begin the process of preparing the aircraft for reclamation and preservation.
"It's fitting that we mark this day of taking this aircraft to the "boneyard," but Prowlers still have quite a bit more work to do for the nation," said Capt. Tom Slais, deputy commodore of Electronic Attack Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet. "[The EA-6B] is carrying the lion's share of the load for electronic attack in the U.S. military."
Prowler 907 began service August of 1975 and attained more than 11,000 hours of flight time, with more than 18,000 landings in nearly 34 years of active duty. In total, upon departure from NAS Whidbey Island, the aircraft amassed 7,019 field carrier landing practice landings, 9,069 field landings, 1,651 catapults, 1,656 ship arrested landings and 1,706 total arrested landings, reaching an average 147 catapults and 152 arrestments per 1,000 hours.
One of the former plane captains of Prowler 907, Aviation Structural Mechanic 3rd Class Donnavin Brown, formerly of Electronic Attack Squadron 129, who now works for L-3 Communications Corporation on NAS Whidbey Island, was granted the privilege of fulfilling his prior role one more time to send the jet on its way. Brown was plane captain from August to December 2008.
"It's sad that my aircraft was the first to go to the boneyard, but I couldn't have asked for anything better," said Brown. "I was glad that I got to do this."
As the Navy transitions away from the EA-6B toward the EA-18G Growler more Prowlers will continue to be removed from active service, but the aircraft still provides substantial warfighter capability and will remain a valuable asset for the remainder of its lifespan.
"The thing about this is that it's 2009, and we're currently scheduled to fly this aircraft until 2013 so we still have [a few] years of flying EA-6Bs out of Whidbey Island right now, and the Marines will be flying them until 2019. We still have a lot more work to do with this aircraft," said Slais.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
USS Ronald Reagan Underway for CQs, First Growler Lands Aboard
By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Alexander Tidd, USS Ronald Reagan Public Affairs
An EA-18G Growler assigned to the "Vikings" of Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron (VAQ) 129 aligns itself for an at sea landing aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). The Growler is the replacement for the EA-6B Prowler, which will be replaced in the 2010 timeframe. Ronald Reagan is underway performing Fleet Replacement Squadron Carrier Qualifications in the Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Torrey W. Lee/Released)
See a video report on this story at http://www.navy.mil/dnu.asp?id=12252
USS RONALD REAGAN, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Ronald Reagan departed Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado, Calif. Feb. 17, getting underway to help train pilots from the Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS).
Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129 is also training instructor pilots to aid the transition from EA-6B Prowler to EA-18G Growler while underway with Ronald Reagan. This marks the first landing of VAQ 129's Growlers aboard an aircraft carrier.
The Navy's newest aircraft, the Growler, is gradually replacing the Prowler airborne electronic attack aircraft, which has been in service since 1971. With the speed and agility of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet that it is based on, the Growler, according to Boeing, will be effective in an escort role as well as its primary role of electronic attack warfare.
The Growler features fly-by-wire technology as opposed to the Prowler's hydraulic system, as well as a host of new and updated computer aids for stand-off and escort radar jamming.
Along with the major upgrades in performance, the Growler also has shown a serious reduction in maintenance time.
"The Prowler averaged about 60 man-hours in the hangar every time it came in for maintenance," said Chief Warrant Officer John Covar, maintenance material control officer for VAQ 129. "The Growler gets it done in less than 11 hours."
The Growlers have been turning heads all over Ronald Reagan, with Sailors lining the catwalks of the ship's superstructure to watch flight operations. "It's really cool," said Interior Communications Electrician 3rd Class Joshua Smiley of Ronald Reagan's Air Department. "It's awesome how we're using the F/A-18 platform to its full capabilities. It's amazing how they do so much with it."
"I like the aircraft," said Aviation Boatswain's Mate 1st Class (Equipment) Lawrence Haley, leading petty officer for Ronald Reagan's bow catapults. "It looks like a Rhino (F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet) but sounds like a Prowler. It's a beast."
Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Erica Gomes, assistant satellite communications manager for Carrier Strike Group Seven said, "I'm proud to be making history on the Ronald Reagan by hosting the first Growlers. It just sounds like one mean bird."
The Growler is expected to be combat operational in early 2010.
Ronald Reagan is the flagship of Carrier Strike Group Seven and the ninth of ten Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. The ship is named for the 40th U.S. president; its motto, "Peace through Strength," was a recurring theme during the Reagan presidency.
An EA-6B Prowler assigned to the "Vikings" of Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron (VAQ) 129 lands aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). The prowler is a carrier-based jet aircraft, providing protection against hostile surface combatants. Ronald Reagan is underway performing Fleet Replacement Squadron Carrier Qualifications in the Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Third Class Rosalie Garcia/Released)
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