While I was already busy goofing off and doctoring photos, I decided to combine a few sequence shots of one of the hornets landing. It was amazing to see all the launches and recoveries while on board the Theodore Roosevelt...a real treat!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Layton Christmas Party
It was wonderful to have all the Layton clan back in Lubbock at our house for a big Christmas party in 2008 (present company excluded of course...regardless what the photo above portrays). The kids apparently had a ball getting acquainted again and playing their hearts out. Mamaw and papaw spent most of the evening with their great grandkids, while (most of) the adults played a taxing game of Pictionary (Guys - 1 / Girls - 0...better luck next time). I hope to be present for all future Christmas parties beginning next year...I'll try my best! Merry Christmas!
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
The Perfect Christmas Job
Since I am looking into the possibility of working for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), I thought I might apply for this position helping Santa Claus...seems like it'd be pretty exciting.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Trip out to CVN 71 - USS Theodore Roosevelt
On Sunday morning two co-workers from NAVCENT and I flew out to the USS Theodore Roosevelt for an opportunity to do a crew swap with some N2 folks on board. It was designed to give us an opportunity to place faces with names of crew members we would be supporting during their deployment and vice versa. It was a great idea, and it actually worked out even better than we had initially hoped.
We had an opportunity to work with the folks in CVIC and SUPPLOT (intel centers on the ship) as well as having some fun watching flight ops on sever different occasions both during the day and at night.
The COD (carrier on-board delivery...C-2/GREYHOUND) took us from Bahrain, through Qatar to pick up a few more passengers and on to the TR in the North Arabian Sea. All the planes on the carrier have the ability to fold up to make space on the flight deck and in the hangar bays. It is amazing to see the COD and the E-2C begin to fold their wings up almost immediately upon landing so the ground crew can begin to maneuver them out of the way to allow for the next plane to trap.
Everyone had to wear this flight gear during the trip to and from the carrier. It consisted of the helmet ("cranial"), goggles, and a horse collar which is just a flotation device in the event of a water landing/emergency.
One of the hornets getting ready for a launch...I am pretty sure I could sit and watch these guys fly all day long and never get tired of it. I wish my eyes had been good enough to allow me to fly for the Navy!
The catapults that launch the aircraft are steam driven, so once the planes are launched you can see lots of steam coming from the deck as the catapults retracts and gets set to launch the next guy in line. You can also make out the arresting wires in the bottom right-hand corner of the picture below. There are a total of four arresting wires to give the pilots ample opportunitiy for making the trap before having to power back up, take off, and come around again for another try. The tension on the wires are set to a specic tension prior to each landing according to the weight of the aircraft approaching. There are huge hydraulic drums below the flight deck that apply tension to the arresting wires. The arresting wires looked to be (just glancing) about 1 1/2" in diameter.
The view from this lower platform is spectacular.
Below are a couple of night landing shots...hard to see the plane because of the slow shutter speed, but the effect of the lights screaming in through the darkness is pretty neat.
This sparks you see flying in this second night shot is the arresting hook scraping the deck as the pilot is attempting to catch one of the wires for a trap. It all happens so fast it's hard to catch. If the pilot misses the trap he/she has to power back up quickly and cruise out the other end. It happened a couple of times while I was watching.
We had an opportunity to work with the folks in CVIC and SUPPLOT (intel centers on the ship) as well as having some fun watching flight ops on sever different occasions both during the day and at night.
The COD (carrier on-board delivery...C-2/GREYHOUND) took us from Bahrain, through Qatar to pick up a few more passengers and on to the TR in the North Arabian Sea. All the planes on the carrier have the ability to fold up to make space on the flight deck and in the hangar bays. It is amazing to see the COD and the E-2C begin to fold their wings up almost immediately upon landing so the ground crew can begin to maneuver them out of the way to allow for the next plane to trap.
Everyone had to wear this flight gear during the trip to and from the carrier. It consisted of the helmet ("cranial"), goggles, and a horse collar which is just a flotation device in the event of a water landing/emergency.
CVN 71 - USS Theodore Roosevelt
One of the hornets getting ready for a launch...I am pretty sure I could sit and watch these guys fly all day long and never get tired of it. I wish my eyes had been good enough to allow me to fly for the Navy!
The catapults that launch the aircraft are steam driven, so once the planes are launched you can see lots of steam coming from the deck as the catapults retracts and gets set to launch the next guy in line. You can also make out the arresting wires in the bottom right-hand corner of the picture below. There are a total of four arresting wires to give the pilots ample opportunitiy for making the trap before having to power back up, take off, and come around again for another try. The tension on the wires are set to a specic tension prior to each landing according to the weight of the aircraft approaching. There are huge hydraulic drums below the flight deck that apply tension to the arresting wires. The arresting wires looked to be (just glancing) about 1 1/2" in diameter.
The view from this lower platform is spectacular.
Below are a couple of night landing shots...hard to see the plane because of the slow shutter speed, but the effect of the lights screaming in through the darkness is pretty neat.
This sparks you see flying in this second night shot is the arresting hook scraping the deck as the pilot is attempting to catch one of the wires for a trap. It all happens so fast it's hard to catch. If the pilot misses the trap he/she has to power back up quickly and cruise out the other end. It happened a couple of times while I was watching.
When the tankers are getting ready to launch, they have to hit full afterburner in order to take off with all the extra weight. It is really a spectacular sight to see at night, because there is a 10-15 foot flame coming from the engines prior to launching and then off it takes off.
Run Across Bahrain
Last weekend five other friends from NAVCENT and I ran a 10-miler from the eastern to western shores on the southern end of Bahrain. It was a fairly challenging cross-country course across what seemed likely endless sand dunes and rock piles. We were bussed over to the eastern shore and took off running back to the western shores where everyones' cars were parked. There were 3 water stops along the way, and it was a pretty nice afternoon of running since the temperature was really nice...probably never got above 70 degrees.
Everyone finished up strong, and we managed to swing through a McDonald's drive-thru on our way back to the base. There is nothing like a greasy double cheeseburger to satisfy the hunger you build up over a good run. I'm still looking into bringing McDonald's on board as my endurance sports sponsor at some point...stay tuned for more!
Everyone finished up strong, and we managed to swing through a McDonald's drive-thru on our way back to the base. There is nothing like a greasy double cheeseburger to satisfy the hunger you build up over a good run. I'm still looking into bringing McDonald's on board as my endurance sports sponsor at some point...stay tuned for more!
Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree...
I purchased a Christmas Tree at the NEX to spice up my flat a little bit around Christmas, and by a little...I mean a little since my tree is only 18" tall. It does have lights, but they only run on 110V, and since I don't have a step-down transformer they will remain unlit. It's a fun tree anyway and makes my middle-eastern surroundings seem a little more cheery around Christmas!
By the way...Merry Christmas...not Happy Holidays...Merry Christmas!
Saturday, December 13, 2008
'Twas the Night Before Christmas...Almost!
I am sure that everyone already received our Christmas card in the mail, but on the off chance you didn't...here it is! I sure hate to be away from my family and friends during Christmas, but this will probably be the last year for that! I submitted my resignation (request for release from active duty) letter two weeks ago and will be seeking gainful employment elsewhere around Oct/Nov 2009. We've just got too many things happening with our family to be running all over the world...plus I just can't stand being away from my wife and kids.
I hope to see everyone (briefly) around March/April when I come home on leave, and I am definitely looking forward to seeing more of everyone once I am back in either West Texas or Northeastern New Mexico for good! I love ya'll and hope everyone has a great Christmas!
I hope to see everyone (briefly) around March/April when I come home on leave, and I am definitely looking forward to seeing more of everyone once I am back in either West Texas or Northeastern New Mexico for good! I love ya'll and hope everyone has a great Christmas!
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