Join the “Bounty Hunters” of VFA-2 flying the F/A-18F Super Hornet from USS Washington

June 17, 2016 Aircraft Carriers

David Cenciotti

Here’s another cool, long Naval Aviation video.

The following video was filmed by F/A-18F Super Hornet pilots from the “Bounty Hunters” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 2 embarked on the USS George Washington (CVN 73) aircraft carrier in 2015 during the Southern Seas deployment within the U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet AOR (Area Of Responsibility).

The video offers the usual collection of cool footage: air combat, formation flying, low level flying, high and low altitude air-to-air refueling (including “buddy” refueling from another Super Hornet), firing practice and much “condensation clouds” generated during high-g maneuvering.

During the deployment the F/A-18F Super Hornets of VFA-2 took also part in the 56th edition of UNITAS, the U.S. Navy‘s longest annual multinational maritime exercise held in two phases: UNITAS Pacific, hosted by Chile, in October 2015 and UNITAS Atlantic, hosted by Brazil in November 2015.

Enjoy!

Salva

About David Cenciotti

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.

Bountyhunter says:

June 19, 2016 at 5:55 AM

I can always tell when it’s the bountyhunters, although many squadrons have stripes on the side only VFA2 uses red, white , and blue. These are called Langley stripes, a left over from when the original VF2 flew off the USS Langley. I’m a plank owner of VF2 when recommissioned back in 1973. The Tomcats looked good with them, the Hornets are just dog nuts. May the wind always be favorable, your shooting always be straight and the hand of God always watch over you. As I close my eye’s I have no fears knowing who ever wishes to harm us wiill need to get by all of our service men and women. As you top out at 50,000 feet don’t forget to reach out and touch the face of god. Fair winds and following seas.

The Bountyhunter (it’s my handle)