Gunslingers and Raging Bulls

Posted By Blackfive

Water vapor flows over the wings of an F/A-18E Super Hornet from the "Gunslingers" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 105 as it performs a high-speed pass during an air power demonstration on board the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Truman Sailors brought over 4,000 guests on board for a day-long Friends and Family Day cruise on June 2. Photographer for all photos in this post: Petty Officer 2nd Class Kristopher Wilson of the Navy Visual News Service

An F/A-18C Hornet attached to the "Raging Bulls" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 37 punches through a cloud of water vapor while breaking the sound barrier during an air power demonstration on board the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75).

An F/A-18C Hornet attached to the "Raging Bulls" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 37 climbs through rainbow-colored clouds during an air power demonstration on board the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75).

TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/2819/19636966

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Gunslingers and Raging Bulls:

Comments

[rt]

that last pic with the rainbow smoke *deserves* to be bigger for use as a wallpaper.

[Laurie]

Beautiful!

[Babs]

God Bless these guys!

[Mark Erikson]

I gotta agree with RT. I'd love to have a bigger copy of that (at least 1024px wide, preferably even bigger). Any chance of it?

[Lands’nGrooves (aka tim)]

The rainbow pic is indeed wild.

Short story; this past Memorial Day morning, two FA/18’s come over Seneca Lake near Watkins Glen, NY (Upstate), low & slow on the opposite side of the lake. They were so low we could see the numbers and such on them. They proceeded to make a turn at 11 0’clock from our position and came around right over the top of us and continue on up the lake while we watched in total amazement and shock.

I’m glad there were other people there because nobody would believe me otherwise.

[Lands’nGrooves (aka tim)]

The rainbow pic is indeed wild.

Short story; this past Memorial Day morning, two FA/18’s come over Seneca Lake near Watkins Glen, NY (Upstate), low & slow on the opposite side of the lake. They were so low we could see the numbers and such on them. They proceeded to make a turn at 11 0’clock from our position and came around right over the top of us and continue on up the lake while we watched in total amazement and shock.

I’m glad there were other people there because nobody would believe me otherwise.

[Lands’nGrooves (aka tim)]

WTF!?!

Redundancy Department of Redundancy

[Jim C]

Naval aviation... ahhh, it's a thing of beauty.

[bthun]

Agreed Jim!

[bthun]

Through the wonder of Photoshop->Image->Resize, I have taken the f18 Rainbow image and while preserving the aspect ratio, resized it to 1280x714 pixels.

If you send me email I will reply (at some point) with the image attached to the message.

Or if Matt is willing, I can email it to him, he can post it in this topic as a larger version and you can right-click Save Image As...

[Wink]

I was fortunate enough to get onboard for a dependants day cruise with my former brother in law back in 91 in Lauderdale. It was the D.D. Eisenhower.. (I stole/liberated an ashtray made of spent 5" brass). Being a ground pounder made me a little suspicious of this many sailor boys and jar heads in one place.. but I must say.. if you EVER get the chance to tour a Nimitz Carrier.. TAKE IT!! It is amazing, and a very very real advertisement for what this nation can do. If the thing was empty and was unarmed, it woudl still stand as one of the most technilogically advanced machines ever made.. as the air wing of advanced systems, and it is a worthy, and fitting projection of force to carry our flag anywhere in the world. Anyone who doesnt respect a USN Carrier force off their shores, hasn't been breifed on what one can do.. let alone three of them (Hello Iran!!)

I was amazed.. but, I wasn't tempted to like.. reup with the squids tho.. I retained my manhood.. lol

Carriers are cool.. I'll take 2 please. Do they come in green? Rhodesian Tigerstripe?

[rgrmom82]

Spectacular photos!

[bthun]

It's been a few decades since I wore a USN uniform but I imagine that a remark like,

"I wasn't tempted to like.. reup with the squids tho.. I retained my manhood.. lol"

in a Fleet-landing bar would still buy you, if not an ass-whooping, a good two to three rounds of fist-ta-cuff brawling before the MP's/SP's arrived on the scene. LOL.

[Cincinnati_Bob]

I've posted similar before, but there is some great aviation wallpaper to be found here.

http://www.blueangels.navy.mil/index.htm

Click on Multi-media, His-res Photos - they change em occasionally, and Wallpaper.

[Cincinnati_Bob]

One of my favorites. What 5 inches from the runway?

http://www.blueangels.navy.mil/images/photos/2007-ba_02.jpg

[Wink]

bthun..

worst butt kicking I have ever taken in my life was from a couple marines.. their excuse for jumping me? they were bored.. the idea of rushing the bean into prepared positions, or floating on a giant target never interested me much.. I'll take a helo in.. thanks all the same :)

[Maurice Spidinnii]

Found it!!! Hi res (2100x1172) of the rainbow picture.

http://www.news.navy.mil/management/photodb/photos/070602-N-5345W-358.jpg

Lots more where that came from @ the Navy News site.

[bthun]

"worst butt kicking I have ever taken in my life was from a couple marines.. their excuse for jumping me? they were bored.."

LOL

Intra-service rivalries displays of affection... Reminds me of hockey without the gear, or the ice, or the rules, just the fights. =8-}

"Found it!!! Hi res (2100x1172) of the rainbow picture."

Well dang, that was oh 30 seconds of my life gone for naught. ;^}

[bthun]

"worst butt kicking I have ever taken in my life was from a couple marines.. their excuse for jumping me? they were bored.."

LOL

Intra-service rivalries displays of affection... Reminds me of hockey without the gear, or the ice, or the rules, just the fights. =8-}

"Found it!!! Hi res (2100x1172) of the rainbow picture."

Well dang, that was oh 30 seconds of my life gone for naught. ;^}

[bthun]

Hmmm sorry 'bout that double-tap.

[Wink]

Well, age has.. uh.. tempered my feelings a bit. The Army is just that.. the ARMY.. the USA.. a force so great, it shares the abbreviation with the only contry great enough to have it as it's protector. :)

I have a special appreciation for the USAF.. when things go bad, those crazy people will come get you out. And nothing says I love you like a PJ coming down a line and pulling your butt out when you think all is lost. Not to mention F22's are cool and give the bad guys nightmares.

The Navy has neat toys, and to be frank, I wouldnt be alive today without a couple of dedicated Navy Medics. I dont wanna be one, but I am glad some folks almost 20 years ago decided the navy was for them. The marines I just dont understand.. either extreme bravery, or seriouslly insane lunatics.. or maybe a bit of both? but at least I never had to worry about storming a beach as long as they were around! :)

[Mark Erikson]

Maurice, thanks a bunch. Exactly what I was hoping for.

[MegaTroopX]

AAAAUUUGGHH! Chemtraaaaaails! Yarghabibble! *twitch* *drool*

/Leftist

And I'm with you, Wink. The services are like any group of brothers. They love to fight, but jump one and the other three will stomp a mudhole in your ass.

[CTASN]

That's my ship...
=) CSG-10, bitches.