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Caption:
Pacific Ocean (June 14, 2005) -- An F/A-18F Super Hornet, assigned to
the "Bounty Hunters" of Strike Fighter Squadron Two (VFA-2), flies in a
loose formation with an F/A-18E Super Hornet, assigned to the
ÒKestrelsÓ of Strike Fighter Squadron One Three Seven
(VFA-137), during 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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