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Caption:
Pacific Ocean (June 14, 2005) -- An F/A-18E Super Hornet, assigned to
the "Kestrels" of Strike Fighter Squadron One Three Seven (VFA-137),
flies off the wing of a F/A-18F Super Hornet, assigned to the "Bounty
Hunters" of Strike Fighter Squadron Two (VFA-2), during a training
flight over the Pacific Ocean near the coast Southern California. The
Super Hornet pictured is outfitted with an aerial refueling system
(ARS) pod and drop tanks. The tanker-configured Super Hornet can carry
more than 29,000 pounds of fuel including up to four external
480-gallon tanks and a 330-gallon ARS. The Super Hornet returns a
tactical airborne tanker capability to the U.S. Navy's carrier air
wings, last provided by the KA-6D/A-6E Intruder. VFA-2 and VFA-137 are
assigned to Carrier Air Wing Two (CVW-2), currently embarked aboard the
Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). Lincoln is
at sea conducting readiness training in support of the Navy's Fleet
Response Plan. U.S. Navy photo by Midshipman John Ivancic (RELEASED)
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