AM3 Alfonso Tulavillanueva had a unique opportunity to re-enlist at sea when he was given a flight in an F/A-18 Hornet. His pilot (or “naval aviator”), Cmdr Mitchell Conover, administered the re-enlistment oath during the flight.
Interestingly, Tulavillanueva’s commanding officer had apparently offered flights to anyone who was willing to take it upon themselves to get the necessary training. CAPT Paul Sohl said only two ever took him up on the offer.
As a result of the videos he produced while XO, the Navy has relieved CAPT Owen “Opie” Honors of his command of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise. Said ADM John Harvey:
While Capt. Honors’ performance as commanding officer of USS Enterprise has been without incident, his profound lack of good judgment and professionalism while previously serving as executive officer on Enterprise calls into question his character and completely undermines his credibility to continue to serve effectively in command.
The Admiral did not explain how the videos from 2007 Read more
Chris Patti, reportedly a Navy cryptologist, wrote an opinion piece at the Washington Post saying repeal of DADT was the “easy” part, and now Secretary of Defense Robert Gates faces “difficult” questions. Oddly, Patti raises no questions that have not already been addressed. Just like the terse answer to those who wondered if they could resign early if they had moral reservations about repeal (“No.”), the military working group on DADT repeal provided terse answers to Patti’s questions. For example, he asks: Read more
According to various sources, the US Navy plans to investigate the creation and use of “inappropriate” videos on board the USS Enterprise. The “star” and producer of the videos, which were created in 2006-2007, was reportedly the ship’s second in command, since promoted to its Captain. US Navy CAPT Owen Honors is a Navy fighter pilot (or “naval aviator”) as well as graduate of the Navy Test Pilot School. The Enterprise is scheduled to deploy early this year. The videos were apparently released to the Virginian-Pilot by Sailors who currently remain anonymous.
The Navy’s initial reaction: Read more
The Navy reported that a T-45 Goshawk crashed in Florida on a training mission. Both of the two crewmembers successfully ejected.
The T-45 is used to train both Navy pilots and “naval flight officers,” or navigator/weapons officers.
US Navy submariners may have to work on their New Years resolution a little harder this year if they’re smokers. As of January 1st, the Navy will no longer allow smoking on submarines, as it announced earlier this year. Submarines are typically out of port for months at a time, and the submariners lack some of the ‘chemical assistance’ other Sailors might have:
Although many Sailors rely on prescription medication to help them quit — Zyban and Chantix are two popular options — they aren’t available for submariners, because psychotropic drugs are forbidden for the 11,600 Sailors assigned to subs.
The crews think their surface brethren Read more
FoxNews caught up to the previous article here on the 18 December launch of a Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet with the EMALS. The EMALS is an electromagnetic launch system designed to replace the steam driven systems currently in operation. Interestingly, the article notes
Newer, heavier and faster aircraft will require more force to catapult from the carrier decks than steam-powered systems can supply. Electromagnets will be able to deliver, and allow for smooth acceleration at both high and low speeds, increasing the carrier’s ability to launch aircraft, the Navy said in a press release.
Presumably, that’s a reference to the F-35, the only substantial new aircraft slated to enter naval service in the reasonable future.
The article contains a link to the Navy’s somewhat slow YouTube video of the launch.
The Military Times reports the X-47B, designed to demonstrate the capabilities of an unmanned strike aircraft, is preparing to conduct its first flight. The test aircraft has been conducting taxi tests at Edwards AFB, CA.
Though it is currently two years behind schedule, if it is successful the experimental aircraft would ultimately represent the first time an armed UAV operated off a naval carrier.
It is unclear if the X-47B, or its progeny, are intended to be entirely autonomous or remotely piloted to some degree.