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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),
left, and an F/A-18F Super Hornet, assigned to the "Bounty Hunters" of
Strike Fighter Squadron Two (VFA-2), conduct a training flight over the
Pacific Ocean near the coast Southern California. The Super Hornets
pictured are 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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