Naval Aviation News articles from July 2004

Naval Aviation News archives from July 2004

Grampaw pettibone.
July 1, 2004... A year ago, the Secretary of Defense issued a challenge to reduce the number of mishaps and accident rates by at least half within two years. This has led to a focus on "human factors," which have been identified as the cause of 80 percent of...

High Speed Vessel modernizes naval warfare.(Airscoop)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The High Speed Vessel (HSV) 2 Swift may be the most technologically advanced Navy vessel produced to date, with information technology capabilities that are revolutionizing naval warfare. The 294-foot, aluminum-hulled catamaran, above, has a...

EA-6B ICAP III undergoes OPEVAL.(Airscoop)(operational evaluation)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The EA-6B Prowler Improved Capability (ICAP) III airborne electronic attack weapon system began operational evaluation (OPEVAL) in April with Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 9, China Lake, Calif. Once the system passes this final phase of...

New computer for Super Hornet.(Airscoop)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... A new version of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet's advanced mission computer (AMC) will bring faster processing speed and throughput capability to the fleet, the ability to capture and view digital and analog video in the cockpit and include...

VAQ-128 deactivated.(Airscoop)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The Fighting Phoenix of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 128, below, NAS Whidbey Island, Wash., concluded six and a half years of service in a deactivation ceremony on 7 May (officially 30 September). Established on 9 October 1997, VAQ-128...

Korean Defense Service Medal authorized.(Airscoop)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... In April, the Korean Defense Service Medal was authorized for issue to qualified Navy personnel who served in support of the defense of the Republic of Korea from 28 July 1954 to a future date to be determined by the Secretary of Defense. The...

Newest amphibious ship named.(Airscoop)(ship named after city of San Diego)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Secretary of the Navy Gordon R. England announced the name of the Navy's newest amphibious transport dock ship, San Diego (LPD 22), which honors the long-standing relationship between the Navy and city residents. (An artist's concept of the San...

Oriskany slated as artificial reef.(Airscoop)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The Navy announced in April that it will transfer the decommissioned carrier Oriskany (CV 34) to the state of Florida for use as an artificial reef. The selection represents another step forward in the Navy's efforts to safely reduce its...

For the record.(Airscoop)
July 1, 2004... The Naval Air Systems Command awarded the Government Systems Division of Rockwell Collins, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a $79 million contract in March for the system development and demonstration of Block I modifications to the E-6B Mercury. The Block...

Mishaps.(Airscoop)(naval air accidents)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... On 26 March, and F/A-18 Hornet of Strike Fighter Squadron 15, NAS Oceana, Va., crashed at Raleigh-Durham International Airport in North Carolina. The pilot was uninjured. The Hornet was part of a two-plane flight on a routine cross-country...

Marine Air Group II: ready when called.
July 1, 2004... To say that the past two years have been busy for the officers and enlisted personnel of Marine Air Group (MAG) 11 does not tell the whole story. Remaining at the forefront of America's 911 Force in Readiness is no simple job. Marine aviation...

S-3B Viking: war hoover.
July 1, 2004... As the S-3B Viking moves through its first and expected last decade of the 21st century, it does so bearing the strongest set of warfighting and tactical support capabilities of its career. The platform has overcome system deficiencies and...

The year in review 2003.(Naval Aviation)(Calendar)
July 1, 2004... Naval Aviation faced tremendous challenges during 2003, not only on the battlefield but throughout the force as it evolved to meet increased operational demands and improve the use of technological advances. Combat operations in Iraq and...

HSL-37 Seahawks deliver in revolutionary deployment.
July 1, 2004... When expeditionary strike group (ESG) 1, led by flagship Peleliu (LHA 5), sailed for the Arabian Gulf in September 2003, it represented a major change in naval deployments by combining the capabilities of an amphibious ready group and a Marine...

Records and anniversaries.(People Planes Places)(US Navy celebrations)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... HS-5 surpassed 30,000 Class A mishap-free hours. HSL-41 marked 120,000 Class A mishap-free hours. NAS Keflavik, Iceland, achieved 28 Class A mishap-free years of operation. VFA-94 recorded 50,000 Class A mishap-free flight hours....

Awards.(People Planes Places)(2004 Atlantic Fleet Sea and Shore Sailors of the Year)
July 1, 2004... AO1(EOD/DSW/SW/AW/PJ) Charles Bryant and AW1(SW/NAC) Bill Volk were named the 2004 Atlantic Fleet Sea and Shore Sailors of the Year, respectively. NAES Lakehurst, N.J., is the Navy's winner of the 2004 Commander in Chief's Award for...

Scan pattern.(People Planes Places)(Matthew H. Portz)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
July 1, 2004... Matthew H. Portz, a veteran aerospace executive who provided a public voice for U.S. defense and space exploration efforts during the critical Cold War period following WW II and the Korean War, died 21 March at his home in Rancho Palos Verdes,...

Rescues.(People Planes Places)(overboard sailor rescued)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... During night operations on the flight deck of Kitty Hawk (CV 63) Airmen Frank Fuentesriccardi and Antwan Booker of the air department's aviation fuels division recognized a light flashing on the water as a strobe from a float coat which all...

Master chief receives his overlooked heart.(Purple Heart awarded after 62 years)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Retired Master Chief Radioman (Aircraft Qualified) Glenn Lane was awarded the Purple Heart after a 62 year wait through the efforts of Congressman Rick Larsen, 2nd District (D-Wash.). Lane was honored for wounds suffered during combat...

Female Marine quals as Osprey crew chief.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... On 3 May Cpl. Molly A. Muldoon, assigned to Marine Tiltrotor Test and Evaluation Squadron (VMX) 22 at MCAS New River, N.C., became the first woman Marine to qualify as a V-22 Osprey crew chief. Muldoon reported to New River in October 2002...

Change of command.
July 1, 2004... Bataan (LHD 5): Capt. Nora W. Tyson relieved Capt. Earle S. Yerger, 22 Feb. CVW-1: Capt. Mark E. Mills relieved Capt. Jeffrey M. Cathey, 26 Mar. CVW-8: Capt. Stephen J. Laukatis relieved Capt. David A. Newland, 31 Mar. HMLA-269:...

A pilot's-eye view.(Commander Chris Hicks)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Commander Chris Hicks, operations officer for Commander Strike Fighter Wing Pacific, shared some of his photography with Naval Aviation News. He began taking photos when he was maintenance officer in Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 25 and found a...

Professional reading.
July 1, 2004... Carroll, Ward. Punk's Fight. New American Library, 375 Hudson St., New York, NY 10014. 2004. $6.99. Arguably the best of the "Punk trilogy," this latest effort by Ward Carroll offers the reader an unusual tale that begins with a...

Flightbag.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
July 1, 2004... Reunions, etc. VFA-87 reunion being planned in September in Virginia Beach, VA. POC: Lt. Presler, preslerjh@vfa87.navy.mil or Lt. Wilson, wilsonma@vfa87.navy.mil. Bon Homme Richard (CV/CVA 31), 13-14 AUG, Anaheim, CA. POC: Ron Edlund,...