U.S. Marine Col. Ian R. Clark, the chief of staff for Marine Corps Installations West, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, describes his life as a helicopter pilot and what it takes to become one during an interview on Camp Pendleton, California, Oct. 16, 2020. Clark is an experienced pilot who…
By Robbin Laird On November 17, 2020, a small number of journalists, most from the local Norfolk based media, flew from Norfolk Air Station to the USS Gerald R. Ford at sea, less than 100 miles off of the Virginia cost. We flew on the venerable C-2 Greyhound, but this…
By MC1 Jeff Troutman Off the Coast of Virginia, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) and its embarked Carrier Air Wing 8 are conducting the first-ever fully integrated carrier strike group operations for a Ford-class carrier, under the leadership and operational control of Carrier Strike Group 12. The operation also…
Sailors assigned to USS Gerald R. Ford's (CVN 78) weapons department move and build MK-82 500-pound class inert bombs May 30, 2020. Ford is underway in the Atlantic Ocean conducting integrated air wing operations. 05.29.2020 Video by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Seelbach USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78)
By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Riley McDowell USS Gerald R. Ford Public Affairs ATLANTIC OCEAN — Combat Systems divisions assigned to USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) have helped the ship earn its Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) certification November 17 while underway in the Atlantic Ocean. The certification, ensures that the…
Launch of a Black Dagger target missile at Fort Wingate NM in support of a White Sands Missile Range test mission. The Black Dagger was intercepted over WSMR as part of a Missile Defense Agency test of the THAAD radar system and PAC-3 missile system. GALLUP, NM, 10.01.2020 Video by…
By Robbin Laird The day before we flew to the USS Gerald R. Ford, I sat down with Rear Admiral Meier, Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic, in his Norfolk office, to discuss the way ahead for Naval Air Force, and the next generation large deck carrier. I would call it…
By Robbin Laird I have attended and reported on the last two International Fighter Conferences, both held in Berlin, in 2018 and 2019. Unfortunately, this one was held on a Zoom stage due to the COVID-19 world. This year I was especially looking forward to coming to Berlin, because my…
