Tag Archives: Carrier Air Wing 8

Ford Carrier Strike Group Maximizes New CVN's Gear, Design In Final Test Event Before Shock Trials

Ford Carrier Strike Group Maximizes New CVN’s Gear, Design In Final Test Event Before Shock Trials

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Seaman Saruis Webb, from Chicago, assigned to USS Gerald R. Ford’s (CVN-78) weapons department, stands an armed watch with an H-2B .50 caliber machine gun during sea and anchor on April 14, 2021. US Navy Photo

USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) and its air wing and strike group had a chance to fully show off their combat capabilities, using a recent at-sea testing period to demonstrate not only that Ford can keep up with its Nimitz-class counterparts but can use its new gear to perform better and faster, leaders in the strike group told USNI News today. Read More →

USS Gerald Ford EMALS Launching System Suffers Fault During Testing Period

USS Gerald Ford EMALS Launching System Suffers Fault During Testing Period

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USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) Transits the Atlantic Ocean on June 4, 2020. US Navy Photo

USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) returned to port Sunday after its latest at-sea testing period with mixed results. While the carrier operated with the most complex air wing to date, the ship’s Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) suffered a failure that prevented the carrier from launching planes for five days, the Navy announced in a Sunday statement. Read More →

USS Gerald Ford Flight Deck Now Certified; Can Conduct Carrier Qualifications

USS Gerald Ford Flight Deck Now Certified; Can Conduct Carrier Qualifications

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Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) Derrick Williams, from Charlotte, North Carolina, USS Gerald R. Ford’s (CVN 78) flight deck leading chief petty officer, goes over flight deck operations inside Ford’s flight deck control, prior to flight operations in the Atlantic Ocean, March 23, 2020. US Navy photo.

New aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) completed its Flight Deck Certification (FDC) and Carrier Air Traffic Control Center (CATCC) Certification on March 20, following two days of intense flight deck operations to prove the ship and crew’s capabilities. Read More →

Recent Carrier Deployment Raises More Questions About Navy's Rash of Physiological Episodes

Recent Carrier Deployment Raises More Questions About Navy’s Rash of Physiological Episodes

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An F/A-18C Hornet attached to the “Raging Bulls” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 37 launches from the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) (GHWB) as an EA-18G Growler, attached to the “Lancers” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 131 prepares to launch on April 8, 2017. US Navy photo.

The Navy is grappling with even more questions about the physiological episodes its fighter pilots have been facing, after Carrier Air Wing 8 deployed with additional tools to measure and treat PEs and returned with less clarity on the connection between cabin pressure and physical side effects. Read More →