Knighthawks earn ‘Safe for Flight’ in Super Hornet

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Knighthawks earn ‘Safe for Flight’ in Super Hornet
By Cathy Heimer, Jet Observer

Since returning from deployment last December, VFA-136 has been in the middle of a transition. After years of flying the F/A-18C “Charlie” Hornet, the “Knighthawks” have been getting ready to fly the newer, more technologically advanced, F/A-18E Super Hornet. The transition meant a great deal of work for the squadron, including months at various schools for both the aviators and the maintainers. It also meant several trips to USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) for the pilots to requalify on carrier landings.

But nearly six months of hard work paid off when VFA-136 Commanding Officer Cmdr. Klas Ohman was “handed the keys” to his brand new jets on June 27 by Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic Capt. Thomas Halley, certifying the squadron was “Safe for Flight.”

Flying their new single-seat Super Hornet may not appear to be much different than flying the single-seat Hornet, but according to Commander, Carrier Air Wing 1 Capt. James Paulsen, the two aircraft are vastly different.
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“It looks similar but in actuality, it’s very different to fly. What they had to do is basically give up their old practices and basically relearn an entirely new system. They prove they are able to do that on their own,” explained Paulsen. He added that as part of the transition, not only did the pilots have to learn how to fly the new plane, but maintainers had to learn about upkeep for the Super Hornet as well as replacing tools and all technical manuals and logs for their new aircraft.

With VFA-211 also set for a much less formal transition from Lot 23 to Lot 29 Super Hornets, Paulsen said with pride, “With all AESA (radar), we will have the most lethal air wing in the fleet. The capabilities in the cockpit are just unbelievable.”

AESA radar, also known as APG-79, is a little larger than 8 by 10 inches. At just one-half an inch thick, AESA is about the size of a magazine and is designed to easily slide in and out of the front of the jet. AESA is capable of performing its own self-diagnosis with built in tests, so there is less down time trying to diagnose problems.

As part of the celebration, Ohman and Maintenance Officer Lt. Cmdr. Elliott Clemence flew two of the squadron’s new Super Hornets immediately after receiving the Safe for Flight designation.

Ohman then spoke to the squadron during a command quarters afterwards. “The flight couldn’t have gone any smoother. To sum it up, you guys are just superstars. It’s just incredible.”

Ohman said that in just a little more than a year, the squadron has gone from “having 13 programs off track and a bunch of practical drills that we basically failed,” to having inspectors find only two programs that only had minor problems.

“The inspectors had to dig down to find those issues,” he added.

Ohman reminded his squadron that the practical drills they performed, “are key to our everyday safe operation.

While being evaluated, “32 of 34 of those drills were graded outstanding and that’s just incredible. That’s due mostly to the team back here. You’ve done an awesome job,” he said with pride.

Ohman recognized several outstanding Sailors with awards for their work during the transition. ATAN Amanda Berg and SKSN Christopher Julson were each surprised by the presentation of a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. Julson’s tool control program was noted as being the best “up and down the flightline at NAS Oceana.”

Berg’s knowledge of her job as a plane captain was also praised by inspectors. “They couldn’t stump her with questions. She knew everything about the jet,” said Ohman.

“These are two examples of the incredible teamwork you guys have done,” he said as he presented the NAMs.

Ohman was especially pleased by the squadron’s improvement because throughout the past six months, half the squadron has been away at various schools, learning to fly and maintain their new Super Hornets.

After years of flying in the aging F/A-18C, flying his new jet was a great change for Ohman. “It flew perfect the first time. We took them up to 45,000 feet and back low again.”

After the quarters, Ohman noted how the entire flight, from launch to recovery, “was incredibly routine, because they (squadron members) always do excellent work.”

While he was pleased with the incredible amount of support the Knighthawks received from VFA-106 throughout the transition, Ohman said “it was an incredible feeling to leave from your own hangar, with jets maintained by your own people, and come back to the same place that you’ve started from.”

To Ohman, earning the Safe for Flight certification for the Super Hornets means, “It’s the start of a new era and the end of a long road.”

“It’s incredibly rewarding to find myself in the squadron at a time when we’re going from the oldest F/A-18 in the fleet to the absolute newest. I’m humbled to be here and incredibly proud to be part of this organization that did it and did such a good job at it,” he said.

Paulsen, who has been flying the F/A-18C with the squadron for several years, also addressed the squadron during their quarters. “Welcome to the 21st century! Congratulations on successfully doing your transition. I know it was hard, getting your safe for flight. You guys have been maintaining the fleet’s oldest used cars in a dealer’s lot full of brand new cars.”

Praising the squadron’s efforts throughout the transition Paulsen said, “Because the jets were so old, we had to terminate some of them before we left on cruise. We had to rebuild jets that had not been maintained to Hawk standards by other squadrons and you accepted (those jets) from those squadrons. You guys did all that and more and you never complained. Despite not having all the new toys, your aviators kept pace with the newer Hornets, the ‘Rhinos’ in the air wing, taking them into combat. It speaks a lot to the talent, the leadership and the dedication here.”

Now you finally have the latest and greatest jets in the fleet. Today these jets are the most lethal weapons system on this earth. You guys are now one of the most lethal warfighting units,” he said.

“Take good care of these. Some of our kids are going to be flying these 30 years from now,” Paulsen told the squadron.

Source
http://www.oceanajetobserver.com/articles/2008/07/04/news/top_stories/top03.txt