These images feature an unusual air power demonstration.
Taken on Dec. 3, 2015 the following spectacular photos show an F/A-18E Super Hornet, assigned to the Pukin’ Dogs of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 143, beginning a supersonic flypast during an air power demonstration above the flight deck of aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75).
Noteworthy this air power demo was performed to show the capabilities of the aircraft embarked aboard the carrier to Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk and General of the Army and Minister of Defence of Ukraine Stepan Poltorak, who visited USS Harry S. Truman to familiarize with the equipment and operation center of the vessel.
This kind of events are usually arranged to please the personnel and typically take place over a flattop as it returns from a deployment, but in this case, given to the presence of these two special guests, this sort of air show was performed while the aircraft carrier was in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations: when these photos were shot, Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group was conducting naval operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe and Africa.
Image credit: U.S. Navy