A U.S. Navy EA-6B Prowler about to perform a trap landing aboard USS Nimitz. (All images: Author)
Between Oct. 19 and 20, 2009, I had the possibility to spend some 25 hours on board the USS Nimitz nuclear supercarrier. I went to Manama, Bahrain, and after a long flight in a C-2 of the VRC-30 “Providers” I trapped on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier that was sailing “somewhere” in the Indian Ocean. The purpose of my visit was to prepare a report that will be published in the next months on RID (Rivista Italiana Difesa).
The following pictures are just a preview of all the images I took during my stay on the ship along with Giovanni Maduli. I will soon publish more images, reports, video and will answer some of the most frequent questions dealing with an aircraft carrier.
David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.
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2 Comments
Great work David & Gianni !!
Among the most beautiful images I’ve ever seen .
I love the “night hangar” ones: cool timing & great exposure !
I’ll waiting for the other thousands of images !
It’s really interesting to notice that a lot of Hornets & Super Hornets fly with asymmetrical loads, both on take-off or landing; probably on the port/starboard side of the wings there were some…heavy loads !
Do you know if there are some reasons why the starboard side is the one usually “free” from loads ?
Hi Mr….. “Nimitz Tailhooker” !!
Matteo
HI Matteo,
the starboard side is often “free” from extra tanks of GBU bombs since they limit the POD view. The A/F-18 carries the POD on the left side of the fuselage.
Hope this helps mate!
cheers
Maurizio Bressan
Great work David & Gianni !!
Among the most beautiful images I’ve ever seen .
I love the “night hangar” ones: cool timing & great exposure !
I’ll waiting for the other thousands of images !
It’s really interesting to notice that a lot of Hornets & Super Hornets fly with asymmetrical loads, both on take-off or landing; probably on the port/starboard side of the wings there were some…heavy loads !
Do you know if there are some reasons why the starboard side is the one usually “free” from loads ?
Hi Mr….. “Nimitz Tailhooker” !!
Matteo
HI Matteo,
the starboard side is often “free” from extra tanks of GBU bombs since they limit the POD view. The A/F-18 carries the POD on the left side of the fuselage.
Hope this helps mate!
cheers
Maurizio Bressan