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Invited out by my sister and brother-in-law, I spent the evening with my family out watching the jets “bounce”, no this isn’t some sort of top secret rubberized plane that they want to see how high it will bounce after being dropped, it is the term used for practicing landing. Growing up nearby the Lemoore Naval Air Station in Visalia as a kid I often day dreamed about getting a ride in one of these jets and begged for any opportunity to visit the air show, now canceled, now I have stood right next to them as they land, what a powerful experience.
Pilots just like everyone else require lots of practice to hit the deck of an air craft carrier in the middle of the ocean and this is just the start of it. During the next couple weeks these pilots will be doing drill after drill during different times of the day to ensure their readiness to go out to the aircraft carrier and get their qualification for this particular air craft. Deemed the super hornet this jet is one of the most prevalent carrier vehicles used today.
These pilots work hard to ensure the freedom of the United States and her citizens, please join me in thanking them for the tireless work they put in to do so.
Family’s come from throughout the United States to see and support their pilots training and watch them bounce, understanding that they may never see them land on a carrier. These parents came from Florida to see their son (pilot in plane in background) fly the super hornet, before being deployed to a carrier. Photographs from the evenings events are available here for viewing, download and purchase. I look forward to many more opportunities to photograph these pilots and jets.
Please note that photographs can be downloaded by right-clicking and selecting “Save as…” and print prices have been set to my cost.