I T I: M S | A V | M L
Vol 03 No 53 | May 21, 2012
Tiger Cruise Air Power Demo Soars
STORY BY
MC2 (SW) Byron C. Linder | Carl Vinson Staff Writer
H
undreds of Tigers and Sailors stormed Carl Vinson’s flight deck yesterday afternoon for a demonstration which promised spectacle, loud noise and some education provided by the Sailors of embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17. Denise, Sam, and Machinist’s Mate Fireman Rick Sobania assigned to Engineering Department’s Auxiliaries Division, collectively concluded the air show was the pinnacle of the Tiger Cruise events so far. “It was spectacular. Amazing. I had no idea that’s what we’d see on this cruise,” Denise Sobania said. “I mostly get to see the aircraft elevator, since that’s what A-Div works on. But being on the other side was spectacular,” added MMFN Sobania. “It was incredible. One of the best events I’ve ever seen in my life. The superior force and how well organized Cover photo by: MCSN (SW) George M. Bell | Carl Vinson Staff Photographer
everything is up there, being able to put that many people out there and put on a good show - the Navy’s done a tremendous job,” Sam Sobania said. “I thought we’d come out and walk around with my son and not really be able to see much. But I didn’t think it would be this organized or this informative. I’ve learned more about the Navy in three days than I have in my lifetime.” The mass of Tigers and Sailors flooded Carl Vinson’s Hangar Bay 2. All eyes turned to the wailing siren as the aircraft elevator rumbled down to the hangar deck. Once on the elevator, a wave of cameras, iPads, and cell phones rose as the elevator methodically ascended to the flight deck, releasing a hydraulic hiss of air as the trip came to an end. The attendees made their way to the foul line as Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 113’s Lt. Richard Prescott, CONTINUE ‘AIR POWER’ ON PAGE 2
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Vinson Voice
FROM ‘AIR POWER’ ON PAGE 1
doing his best impersonation of a early 20th-century era radio announcer, greeted the Tigers over the 5MC and provided constant narration of the events to unfold. Two F/A-18C aircraft, one from the “Stingers” of VFA 113 and one from the “Fists of the Fleet”, VFA 25, launched from the flight deck as a wave of cameras, cell phones, and iPads emerged again to capture the moment. The crowd then crossed the flight deck into plumes of pungent steam from the catapults to watch SH-60F and HH-60H helicopters from the “Red Lions” of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 15 drop smoke flares to serve as targets for the incoming strike fighters. Tigers and Sailors searched the sky for the approaching aircraft, and were rewarded with an F/A 18 deploying golden flares as it approached from the starboard side of the ship on a heading towards its target. The deployment of a 500-lb bomb and resulting explosion produced cheers and applause from the attendees. The process was repeated a second time, and for the final two passes 20mm ammunition produced a low buzz audible across the flight deck. Two EA-6B Prowler aircraft from the “Garudas” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 134 flew overhead from the stern to the bow, with one breaking off and painting the sky with gold flares. In a simulated dogfight, two F/A 18s raced toward each other in a collision course only to break off and loop around, repeating the process before flying off from the port side to cheers from the crowd. An F/A 18C made a single pass over the flight deck, Photo by: MC2 (SW/AW) James R. Evans | Carl Vinson Staff Photographer Photo by: MC2 (SW/AW) James R. Evans | Carl Vinson Staff Photographer
hitting the awaited Mach 1 speed, breaking the sound barrier with an audible pounding tactile in the attendees’ chests and producing a flickering white halo of condensed water droplets formed by the sudden drop in pressure behind the shock cone around the aircraft. An E-2C Hawkeye from Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 125 passed alongside Carl Vinson’s port side, followed by a second F/A 18C hitting Mach 1 with two audible pops. Another group of F/A 18s dropped six bombs, producing a cascade of round black smoke clouds to the audience’s vocal approval. The Tigers and Sailors witnessed an F/A 18F refueling an EA-6B before rushing to Carl Vinson’s stern to watch three Explosive Ordnance Disposal personnel fast-rope from a hovering helicopter onto the flight deck. The attendees moved back to the port side to watch an SH-60F helicopter lower and recover a search-and-rescue swimmer. A second helo slowly passed by the Tigers and Sailors flying the American flag as an 11-aircraft formation of all CVW-17’s aircraft flew in formation overhead to applause, bringing the air power demonstration to a memorable conclusion. Tiger Joshua Operario described the Mach 1 speeds as “pretty awesome.” “The sonic boom felt calm at first, but then it was like air was pushing me. The second one, as soon as it turned my head, I saw it and it made the noise,” he said with a wide grin. Though lasting less than an hour, the memories of the air power demonstration are sure to last a lifetime.
May 21, 2012
3 Photo by: MC3 (SW/AW) Timothy A. Hazel | Carl Vinson Staff Photographer
Photo by: MCSA (SW) Andrew K. Haller | Carl Vinson Staff Photographer
Photo by: MCSN (SW) George M. Bell | Carl Vinson Staff Photographer
Photo by: MCSA (SW) Andrew K. Haller | Carl Vinson Staff Photographer
Photo by: MCSA (SW) Andrew K. Haller | Carl Vinson Staff Photographer
Photo by: MC2 (SW/AW) James R. Evans | Carl Vinson Staff Photographer
Vinson Voice
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Tigers Cruise Around The Vinson Photo by: MC3 (SW/AW) Rosa A. Arzola | Carl Vinson Staff Photographer
Photo by: MC3 (SW/AW) Rosa A. Arzola | Carl Vinson Staff Photographer
Photo by: MC2 (SW/AW) James R. Evans | Carl Vinson Staff Photographer
Photo by: MC2 (SW/AW) James R. Evans | Carl Vinson Staff Photographer
Photo by: MC2 (SW/AW) James R. Evans | Carl Vinson Staff Photographer
SWO Pinning Ship’s Secretary Lt. j.g. Edward Polk, right, is pinned as a Surface Warfare Officer by his cousin retired Capt. George Gaines, left, aboard Vinson. “It meant a lot. He gave me his actual pin from 38 years ago, so it meant a lot. He’s the only other SWOqualified officer in my family. He’s been a mentor to me since I’ve been in San Diego, helping me with issues that come up,” Polk said. “It was absolutely marvelous and another great reason to come out to the ship for Tiger Cruise,” Gaines added. Photo by MC3 (SW/AW) Rosa A. Arzola
May 21, 2012
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Schedule of Events for Monday, May 21 0500 – 0700 0600 0700 – 0900 0730 – 0815 0830 0900 – 1100 1100 – 1300 1100 – 1300 1130 – 1800 1700 – 1900 1800 – 2000 1800 – 2000 1900 – 2200 2000 – 2200 2200
Breakfast Reveille COD Fly–Off / Air Wing FCF Cleaning Stations FOD Walkdown – Hangar Bay Tours #4 Tiger DC Hands On – Fantail Pictures and Knot Tying – Foc’sle Steel Beach Picnic Flight Deck (Backup: Hangar Bay 2) Tours #5 Tiger DC Hands On – Fantail Pictures and Knot Tying – Foc’sle BINGO Ticket Sales (MWR Office) Movie Night & Snacks – Hangar Bay 2 TAPS / Hangar Bay breakdown (MWR)
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DIALOGUES D E C K P L A T E
| What was Your Favorite Part of the Air Show? |
“The formation and breaking the soundbarrier.” Tiger N t u m a z a h
Tiger Delma Jurado Armendarez
“I was a Dental Officer on the USS Forestal so it brought back memories of the multiple engines, the performance and the organization.”
“Seeing the planes take off.”
Tiger G e o r g e C r o s s
Tiger M a t t h e w H a y e s
0815 1015 1200 1430 1615 1830 1845 2030 2230 0015 0245 0430
AMELIA PLANET 51 HARRY POTTER: PRISONER OF AZKABAN NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM CHRONICLES OF NARNIA THE 70 UP AMELIA PLANET 51 HARRY POTTER: PRISONER OF AZKABAN NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM CHRONICLES OF NARNIA
0815 1000 1200 1400 1530 1715 1845 1900 2045 2230 0030 0230 0400 0545
JOHNNY ENGLISH REBORN BANDSLAM FAME ALVIN & THE CHIPMUNKS: THE SQUEAKUEL DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: RODERICK RULES JUDY MOODY: NOT BUMMER SUMMER THE 70 JACK AND JILL JOHNNY ENGLISH REBORN BANDSLAM FAME ALVIN & THE CHIPMUNKS: THE SQUEAKUEL DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: RODERICK RULES JUDY MOODY: NOT BUMMER SUMMER
CHANNEL 7
CHANNEL 11
0815 0945 1215 1430 1645 1900 2115 2245 0115 0330 0545
APOLLO 18 PIRATES: DEAD MAN’S CHEST SPIDER-MAN SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS STAR TREK RED TAILS APOLLO 18 PIRATES: DEAD MAN’S CHEST SPIDER-MAN SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS GROUNDHOG DAY
STAFF
|PUBLISHER|
CAPT. KENT D. WHALEN
STAFF
CHANNEL 6
MONDAY
NOW PLAYING CARL VINSON CINEMA
I r e n e
“The sound-barrier.”
COMMANDING OFFICER
|EXECUTIVE EDITORS| LT. CMDR. ERIK REYNOLDS PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER
LT. ERIK SCHNEIDER
ASSISTANT PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER
|EDITOR IN CHIEF|
MCC (SW/AW) MONICA R. NELSON MEDIA ALCPO
|MANAGING EDITOR| MC2 (SW) BYRON C. LINDER
|PHOTO EDITOR|
MC2 (SW/AW) JAMES R. EVANS
|GRAPHICS/LAYOUT| MC3 PHOENIX C. LEVIN
|STAFF WRITERS/PHOTOGRAPHERS| MC3 (SW/AW) ROSA A. ARZOLA MCSN (SW) GEORGE M. BELL MCSA (SW) ANDREW K. HALLER