WASHINGTON SURVEYOR THE
August 28, 2016
By MC3 Alora Blosch
SOARING
INTOHISTORY tEST-PILOTING THE FLEET’S NEWEST AIRCRAFT By MC3 Brian Sloan
gwconducts
burial atsea Sailors honor former service member By MC3 Wyatt Anthony
THIS WEEK IN
AMERICANHISTORY from mlk and john lennon to the griffey duo
PHOTO of the DAY
ATLANTIC OCEAN (Aug. 24, 2016) Chief petty officer selectees complete a mock physical readiness test on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73). George Washington, homeported in Norfolk, is underway conducting carrier qualifications in the Atlantic Ocean. Photo by MC2 Loni Lopez
sO A RING
Test-piloting the FLEET’S newest aircraft
By M C 3 A l o ra B l o s c h
INTO HISTORY A
s the engine starts up, ‘Lightning’ comes alive. She begins communicating with her pilot and paints him a picture of what is going on around them. Her pilot taxis her up to the catapult and she sinks into her starting position, waiting. She ruffles her feathers as her wingflaps move up and down, and left and right, showing her readiness to fly. Her pilot prepares for launch by bracing for her immense speed. With the final checks in order, all hands stand clear, and off she flies!
M
arine Major Eric Northam, call sign ‘Elroy,’ is a test pilot for the F-35C Lightning II carrier variant, assigned to the Salty Dogs of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23, currently testing aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73). “Really, it was by the grace of God,” said Northam. “When I was selected to work with (VX) 23, it was because of my previous carrier background, which allowed me the opportunity to fly the F-35C on the [ship]. Since I had operational experience, having done a combat cruise on [the aircraft carrier USS] Enterprise (CVN 65), I was given the chance to fly the carrier version.”
The Marine Corps selects its pilots to fly different variants of the F-35. The F-35B is a short takeoff and vertical landing aircraft similar to the Marine Corps’ commonly used
AV-8B Harrier, whereas the F-35C is designed to takeoff by launching from catapults and landing by catching an arresting wire on an aircraft carrier flight deck. Northam is the first Marine selected to land
the F-35C aboard GW. “It was exciting,” said Northam. “It had been six years since I landed aboard a ship. With all the preparation we had done prior to coming out on DT-III, I felt very confident in the performance of the aircraft and how it was going to fly behind the ship. In that regard, I was very comfortable and just excited to be operating back at the ship again. There was a moment on my first pass of thinking, ‘Holy Cow, I’m back on a ship!’ It’s fun. It’s fun flying around the ship. Just flying around here is a lot different than what you do back home so it’s good to be back out on a ship.” Northam flew the F/A-18 Hornet A-D series aboard Enterprise. He said there are some major distinctions between the two aircraft. “There are two real big differences
that stick out in the front of my most stressful things we could do, their guard, but it’s a less stressful mind,” said Northam. “Purely from especially at night with a pitching environment when they are coming a tactile employment capability, the deck, is landing the aircraft. The back aboard the ship.” Landing on an aircraft carrier can F-35 is a major upgrade. It’s got delta flight path capability, and be considered the most difficult part even the auto capability—basically stealth capabilities in the design. The other big upgrade is the sensor suite the two modes that we will fly the of flying for aviators because of the that is built in the aircraft. It uses aicraft [onto a ship]—makes it constant movement of the ship. The fusion, where it takes all the sensors really administrative, where we can pitch and roll of the ship presents a moving target for aviators. At of the aircraft, synthesizes them to totally focus on the mission.” The delta flight path is a semi- night, due to mission necessity, develop a big picture and presents it to us in the cockpit. It very clearly automated landing mode that minimal light is used to illuminate dealienates who the good guys corrects the aircraft to optimal the landing strip unlike land-based are, who the bad guys are and the position while on approach for landing strips. “Yesterday’s neutral players. landing, when I I can also take came aboard, I information “Really, it was by the grace of God. When basically set the from the rest I got selected to work with (VX) 23 I had a aircraft on the of the carrier carrier background, which allowed me the glide path and strike group, the opportunity to fly the F-35C on the [ship]. didn’t have to cruisers, E-2C touch the stick Hawkeyes that Nobody else, as far as the Marine side of again until I was are airborne, the house, had the ship experience, with in the wire. That’s and the the exception of the initial qualifications of how amazing this Hornets, [send aircraft is as far it] through the becoming a pilot.” link and bring as controlling Marine Maj. Eric Northam that aboard my and bringing it aircraft. I can back aboard the landing. pump all that info back out to all the ship.” “Whether we are going down players, so everyone has the same The F-35C brings many new range, doing air to air, or air to advancements to being a naval picture.” The delta flight path is another ground, we can focus on the critical aviator. It incorporates a new linenew technology with the F-35C employment of the aircraft. Coming of-sight for pilots, creates better that aids in what could be one of back is very administrative, very communication and pictures between the most difficult aspects being an low stress, particularly on those the multiple aircraft employed, and long missions. Right now, we are provides a less stressful carrier aircraft carrier aviator. “This past week it is pretty eye doing six to seven hour missions landing. The final phase of F-35C watering at how easy it is to land sometimes. [Pilots] are going to testing aims to make the Lightning this aircraft on the carrier,” said be fatigued, mentally drained from II fleet operational by 2018. Northam. “Where before in the being at the edge of their seats the For more information on the F-35C legacy Hornet, probably one of the entire time, not that they can drop visit www.jsf.mil.
BY M C 3 B r i a n S l o a n
GWCONDUCTS
BURIALATSEA SailorS HONOR FORMER SERVICE MEMBER
S
ailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) held a burial-at-sea ceremony off the coast of Virginia, Aug. 27. The ceremony honored the life of Aviation Electronics Technician 1st Class John Peter Lamson as George Washington’s crew members paid their respects. Lamson served in the Navy from 1976-1989. “Our nation has always regarded the burying of our military dead as a solemn and sacred obligation,” said Capt. Kenneth Strong, George Washington’s executive officer. “Thus, it is with honor and humility that USS George Washington has the privilege to commit to the sea: AT1 John Peter Lamson.” Additionally, Sailors participating in the ceremony wore service dress white uniforms to fulfill roles as urn bearers, color guard, honor guard and a bugler. “Several of the ship’s departments worked together to make contributions,” said Chief Religious Programs Specialist Jorge Arocho, leading chief petty officer of George
Washington’s Command Religious Ministries Department. “A burial at sea is one of the most important ceremonies we perform for service members and their families, so a significant amount of planning and rehearsal is required beforehand.” For several of George Washington’s participants, the burial was the first of their naval careers. “This is a new experience for me,” said Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Joseph Kelley, an honor guard member for the ceremony’s 21-gun salute. “I was honored to show gratitude for a fellow Sailor.” After the bugler played ‘Taps,’ the executive officer received the flag from the flag bearer on behalf of the family. Then, participants rendered a final hand salute as the ceremony concluded. “As we commit his body to the sea,” said Strong, “may we who stand here as witnesses also commit our lives to living the same honor, courage, and commitment to our nation and our families that this man demonstrated throughout his life.”
CVN MAZE
GAMES CROSSWORD
HARD SUDOKU SUDOKU
Department: Air/ V-5 Favorite Sports Team: Florida Gators Hobbies: Hunting and fishing
Department: AIMD/ IM-2 Favorite Sports Team: Clemson Tigers Hobbies: Knitting, reading and swimming
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underway
movie
schedule
AUGUST 28TH 2016
Channel 4 Channel 5 0800 Hamburger Hill 0800 Entrapment 1000 Ferris Bueller’s Day Off 1000 Journey to the Center of the 1200 Over the Hedge Earth 1400 Madagascar 1200 Ice Age 1600 Movie Request Call 4988 1400 Bullet to the Head 1800 Armageddon 1600 For a Movie Request Call 4988 2000 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 1800 Silver Linings Playbook 2200 Platoon 2000 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 2400 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 2200 Identity Thief 0200 Training Day 2400 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 0400 Live Free or Die Hard 0200 Texas Chainsaw 2013 0600 There’s Something About Mary 0400 Promised Land 0600 Hyde Park on Hudson Channel 6 0800 Kung Fu Panda Channel 7 1000 The Bucket List 0800 Creed 1200 Airplane 1000 Our Brand is Crisis 1400 How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days 1200 The Good Dinosaur 1600 Movie Request Call 4988 1400 Jem and The Holograms 1800 I Am Legent 1600 Movie Request Call 4988 2000 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 1800 Burnt 2200 Ocean’s Eleven 2000 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 2400 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 2200 Scout’s Guide To The Zombie 0200 Ocean’s Twelve Apocalypse 0400 Ocean’s Thirteen 2400 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 0600 Million Dollar Baby 0200 In the Heart of the Sea 0400 Point Break 0600 Truth
staff Commanding Officer CAPT Timothy Kuehhas
Executive Officer CAPT Kenneth Strong
Command Master Chief CMDCM James Tocorzic
Public Affairs Officer LCDR Gregory L. Flores
Deputy Public Affairs Officer LTJG Andrew Bertucci
Senior Editors MC1 Alan Gragg MC2 Kris R. Lindstrom
Design Editor MC3 Kashif Basharat
AUGUST 29TH 2016
Channel 4 Channel 5 0800 Man On Fire 0800 The Perks of Being a Wallflower 1000 The Breakfast Club 1000 The Last Stand 1200 Pulp Fiction 1200 The Impossible 1400 Fast Times At Ridgemont High 1400 Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of 1600 Movie Request Call 4988 the Ring 1800 2 Fast 2 Furious 1600 Movie Request Call 4988 2000 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 1800 Lord of the Rings: The Two 2200 The Lone Ranger Towers 2400 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 2000 Lord of the Rings (Con’t) 0200 Despicable Me 2 2200 Lord of the Rings: Return of 0400 R.I.P. D the King 0600 Elysium 2400 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 0200 Escape from Planet Earth Channel 6 0400 Jack the Giant Slayer 0800 Fury 0600 The Call 1000 The Drop 1200 Surf’s Up Channel 7 1400 District 9 0800 Pawn Sacrifice 1600 Movie Request Call 4988 1000 Trumbo 1800 American Gangster 1200 Daddy’s Home 2000 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 1400 The Night Before 2200 Little Rascals 1600 Movie Request Call 4988 2400 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 1800 Star Wars: The Force Awakens 0200 Backdraft 2000 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 0400 Fargo 2200 Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip 0600 A Nightmare on Elm Street 2400 Movie Request Call 4988/7170 0200 Ride Along 2 0400 Concussion 0600 Miss You Already
Content Editor MC2 Jennifer O’Rourke
Content MC2 Loni Lopez MC2 Alex Smedegard MC3 Wyatt Anthony MC3 Alora Blosch MC3 Clemente Lynch MC3 Bryan Mai MC3 Jonathan Price MC3 Brian Sloan MCSA Krystofer Belknap
The Washington Surveyor is an authorized publication for Sailors serving aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73). Contents herein are not the visions of, or endorsed by the U.S. government, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Navy or the Commanding Officer of USS George Washington. All news releases, photos or information for publication in The Washington Surveyor must be submitted to the Public Affairs Officer (7726).