The launch.  I just put the camera in auto advance mode, aimed down the deck, and then held the shutter button down when I heard the launch.  Several of the first photos in the sequence were only shots of the deck as I was waiting for the F-18 to enter the viewfinder.  Two minutes later another aircraft was on its way again. 

There are four E-2C Hawkeyes attached to each carrier wing, with VAW-124 being the squadron attached to Carrier Wing Eight that is on the TR.  The Hawkeyes are the second aircraft launched in the sequence, following the SH-60 plane guard which is always first with its rescue swimmer.  The E-2C will then climb to altitude during the launch of the remaining aircraft to provide radar and radio coverage for the strike force during its mission.

Grumman EA-6B Prowler ready to go.  There are 4 Prowlers on each carrier providing electronic countermeasure support for the strike force.  Note that the blast wall is up to deflect the jet exhaust.  I noted when at the aft of the ship that the blast from the bow cats will still make its way to the rear and not only push you around but warm you up.

On it's way!!!  White shirts are Safety Observers and Landing Signal Officers.  Those in yellow are catapult and arresting gear officers, and traffic directors. Blue are tractor drivers and elevator operators.

Things get real close on the carrier deck.  This F-18 Hornet from VFA-87 just taxied by us en-route to the bow catapults from the aft of the ship.  Something like this would never happen at a land base.  Anyone on the flight deck is required to wear long sleeves, "cranials", which are the protective head gear with built in ear and eye protection.  The flight deck is an extremely noisy environment and also with all of the jet engines and props blowing hot air and possible debris, both the ears and the eyes need to be protected at all times.  Also required to be worn is the "float coat", which is the vest everyone is wearing.  Upon contact with water it automatically inflates and sends out a GPS signal so that one can be rescued quickly.  The last time a sailor was blown overboard by jet blast he was back on deck in seven minutes, having been rescued by the SH-60 plane guard.

"My ride" preparing to return to Chambers Field at Norfolk Naval Station.  Purple shirts refuel the aircraft while those in green are aircraft maintenance and arresting gear crews.  Brown are plane captains, who are the chiefs responsible for the maintenance of the assigned aircraft.

This is the C-2A all buttoned up and both engines running as it gets ready to turn to the right to proceed to the bow catapults.  This Grumman designed and built aircraft, like the S2F Tracker and OV-1 Mohawk, may not end up being a prom queen, but is highly functional in being able to bring supplies and personal out to the carrier and back to the home base.  On this particular trip, the Greyhound was taking a sailor who had broken his leg back to Norfolk for more medical attention.

A Landing Signal Officer (LSO) signaling that the deck is "fouled".  In other words, the aircraft that has just landed is still not clear of the landing area and is fouling the deck.  When the deck is clear he will put his arm down and the next aircraft will be able to land.  We had one F-18 that had to do a go around due to fouled deck while I was in this location. 

Grumman EA-6B Prowler just coming over the aft of the carrier. The last of a long line of great Grumman A-6 Intruders and EA-6 Prowlers.

F-18 Hornet coming home!  VFA-15 is one of two Hornet Squadrons on the USS Theodore Roosevelt, along with VFA-87.

Catching the Number Three Wire.  There are normally four cables stretched across the deck to engage the tail hook on the landing aircraft, with the number 3 being the most desirable to trap.  On this cruise the Number One wire had been removed as it historically only traps 10 % of the landing aircraft.

Hawkeye 603 being prepared for a cat shot off the bow for the next flight rotation.  About six feet in front of the nose gear the shuttle can be observed as it is coming back for hookup to the nose gear.  The blast wall has been raised, so once the shuttle is connected, and the final inspections have been made the E-2C will be launched.  Safety is paramount on the flight deck of a carrier, and there are multiple safety inspections of the aircraft and launch system by multiple persons, to make sure that each cat shot will go as planned.  Also, the Air Boss, watching from his perch on the island, can abort any launch by pressing button on his control console.

A rare formation shot of an F-18 and E-2C over flying the TR in preparation for the break into the landing pattern.  Note that a second F-18 is also caught in the photo, flying a distance away from the carrier.

A F-18 Super Hornet getting ready to snag a wire.

 
Two of the ways to distinguish a Super Hornet from a Hornet is the the former has rectangular air intakes and three pylons on each wing for stores.  The Hornet has a curved intake and only two hard points on each wing.  This is due to the fact the Super Hornet is 25% bigger and has a larger wing.

The Super Hornets are represented by VFA-213 and VFA-31 on the TR.

The Hawkeye coming home.

Almost there.  Due to the wingspan, the E-2C only has three feet of clearance off each wing tip when landing to avoid striking aircraft that are spotted on the deck.  This combined with the fact that the both props turn in the same direction to reduce complexity on the aircraft and in the supply chain, and the fact the Hawkeye does not have an automatic landing system like the F-18s, means that the pilot has to maintain constant vigilance right to the end.

Ready to hook the wire.  Note the position of the wing in relation to the white safety line below.  The Hawkeye as stated above does not have a whole lot of "wiggle" room when landing on the carrier.  The pilot needs to hit the center line every time.

This finished up our second tour of the flight deck on Saturday.