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Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Vetrepreneur

Posted in Corporate, Military, Pixels in Print

I just received some copies of the latest editions of Vetrepreneur. It’s always excited to see my pixels in print!

Vetrepreneur is a magazine that focuses on military veterans who own a business. I traveled just outside of Austin, Texas to photograph
Mel Parker, for the cover and editorial story. Parker, graduated from West Point, served in the 82nd Airborne Division and is a former Paratrooper and veteran of the first Gulf War. He is presently the Vice President and General Manager of Dell’s North American Consumer and Small Business Division. Parker credits many of the skills and experience he gained in the military with making a huge difference in his corporate career.

For more information on Vetrepreneur Magazine visit their WEBSITE

Posted in Corporate, Military, Pixels in Print Tags: 82nd Airborne Division, Cara Renee Photography, Dell, Gulf War Veteran, Mel Parker, Paratrooper, Vetrepreneur Magazine, West Point

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Monday, July 2, 2012

An Evening at the Museum

Posted in Editorial and Fashion

A rare opportunity … to work surrounded by the impressive collections at The Art Museum of South Texas.

The word photograph comes from the Greek language meaning to “draw with light”. The Art Museum with it’s the floor-to-ceiling windows that bathe the white plaster walls in soothing light couldn’t have been a more perfect location to photograph evening gowns from Julian Gold. Architect of The Art Museum of South Texas, Philip Johnson, described the purpose of his design was “light is the essence” of his inspiration for this cultural center for fine art.

The Art on exhibit served as the inspiration, context and backdrop for the photo shoot.

It was a humbling place to work… among so many world renowned artists on exhibit. The Art Museum was spectacular location and a perfect place for any sophisticated event or celebration where one wishes to be surrounded and inspired by art.

Special Thanks to the following… who support art and helped create it.
Vicki Beck, at the Art Museum of South Texas for the inspiring location for the shoot, the lovely and talented Megan Martinez from Chaos Makeup, Jenna Vzral, hair stylist and Kari Morrison at Julian Gold for providing the couture gowns for more information please visit their website Julian Gold.

To see more work from the shoot check out my other posts

Have a look at this: A DAY AT THE MUSEUM and BRIDES BECOME MODERN ART

Posted in Editorial and Fashion Tags: Art Museum of South Texas, Cara Renee, Cara Renee Photography, Chicago, Julian Gold

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Thursday, May 3, 2012

Honoring Military spouses

Posted in Aviation, Military

I had the distinct pleasure of photographing and working with Babette Maxwell, Executive Editor and Founder of Military Spouse Magazine.
As Babette talked about the mission of Military Spouse Magazine and her work with the Spouse of the Year awards, the first thing I noticed about her was her boundless energy, which she definitely needs, as she is also the mother of three boys and a proud military wife. This pint sized dynamo of positive energy has been on mission since 2008, to recognize and honor the spouses of our nations military members.

The May 2012 issue of Military Spouse Magazine listed it’s 2012 Branch Award Winners. They are an impressive bunch of six winners representing the Coast Guard, Army, Marine Corps, National Guard, Air Force and Navy. If you are looking to read about some truly inspirational people who are making this world a better place, pick up the May edition of the magazine and get to know these movers and shakers supporting military members and their families. From these six impressive branch winners, one will be chosen as the award recipient for the 2012 Spouse of the Year.

I had the opportunity to photo document the National Guard Spouse of the Year Branch Award Winner, Christine Gilbreath. She is truly inspirational and it was a great honor to work with her and her husband Staff Sgt. Scott Gilbreath. Christine was a member of the Army, before moving to the Texas National Guard and used to work on Chinook helicopters. Thanks to 2-149th GSAB the “Rough Riders, we were able to incorporate a Chinook (very COOL! ) into the photo shoot which was a perfect backdrop for an environmental portrait highlighting Christine’s military service to our nation, as well as the families she supports through her role as the Battalion Family Readiness Group Advisor. So excited to see these images in print! You can read more about Christine and her area of focus for the nomination below. Stay tuned… the 2012 Spouse of the Year will be announced May 10th in Washington, D.C.!

To find out more you can visit Military Spouse Magazine online here https://baseguide.com/

Special thanks to Ted Demianczyk, Creative Director at Victory Media and 2-149th GSAB the Rough Riders

© Cara Renee Photography All rights reserved. Please see Copyright information or contact me at cara@cararenee.com
None of these images are in the Public Domain.

Posted in Aviation, Military Tags: 2-149th GSAB, 2012 Military Spouse of the Year, Air Force, Army, Army National Guard, Aviation, Babette Maxwell, Cara Renee Photography, Chinook, Christine Gilbreath, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Military Spouse Magazine, Navy, Rough Riders

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Friday, November 11, 2011

Twilight Skies and Midnight Blues

Posted in Aviation, Blue Angels, Military

As we approach the twilight of another airshow season this Veteran’s Day weekend, here are some of my favorite images from the year. Many of these were captured long after the crowds of spectators had left and the last flights of the day.

Twilight skies... after the crowds of spectators have left the flight line, there is quiet stillness on the tarmac. A sharp contrast to the energy, excitement and jet noise earlier in the day.

For Blue Angels GySgt Ben Chapman (left) and GySgt Joe Alley (right), the day was over only when the work was done.

Burning the midnight oil... SSgt Casey Brey and GySgt Jim Fullerton perform maintenance checks on Fat Albert.

GySgt Ben Chapman

Midnight Blue skies over Fat Albert Airlines

Special thanks to the “Bert Boys” Major Edward Jorge, Captain Benjamin Blanton, Captain John Hecker, GySgt Ben Chapman, GySgt Joe Alley, GySgt Jim Fullarton, SSgt Casey Brey and SSgt Jarred McIntosh.

Posted in Aviation, Blue Angels, Military Tags: Aviation, Blue Angels, C-130, Cara Renee, Cara Renee Photography, Fat Albert, Fat Albert Airlines, Marines, NAS Pensacola, Navy, The Blue Angels, The Blue Angels Fat Albert Airlines, Veteran's Day

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Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Traps and Cats on the USS Abraham Lincoln CVN 72

Posted in Aviation, Military

I was nominated by Dennis Hall and Guy Kawasaki for the Navy’s Distinguished Visitor program to photo document everyday life on the aircraft carrier the USS Abraham Lincoln. Check another one off the “bucket list”! This was an opportunity of a life time!

The SEALs motto is " The only easy day was yesterday".

The night before the embark, we met up at Mc P’s, a local pub and grill that is a famous hangout for Navy SEALS.

CAPT Donald Auten,USN Ret (left) and LT Aaron Kakiel (right)

We were welcomed by CAPT Donald Auten, author of the book “Roger Ball” and LT Aaron Kakiel from Public Affairs. Don and Aaron answered many of our questions about what we would see and experience the next day.

The SEALs are referred to as FROGMEN

Our embark began the morning of August 6, 2011. As I drove over the bridge from San Diego to NAS North Island for the pre-embark brief, I heard the devastating news of the helicopter crash in Afghanistan and the tremendous loss of so many of our US Navy SEALs. The extraordinary sacrifices of US Navy SEALs and their families is sobering to think about.

The birthplace of Naval Aviation.

CAPT Tom Nosenzo Force Operations

We were briefed about the history of Naval Air Power by CAPT Nosenzo. He also explained the Core Capabilities of the United States Navy which include:

Forward Presence
Deterrence
Sea Control
Power Projection
Maritime Security
Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Response.

Greyhound Anniversary Patch

LT Matt Kohlmann, a pilot from the squadron VRC-30 Providers, briefed us about our flight in the C-2A Greyhound “COD” or Carrier On board Delivery. The C-2A is a carrier based transport that delivers high priority items like jet engines and other critical parts, as well as passengers and mail.

AWF1 Carlos Cortes

We were briefed on all the safety gear and how to brace for our first “Trap” on the USS Abraham Lincoln. We were told to cross our arms across our chest, grab our vest, place our chins down, and put our feet up on the seat in front of us.

This is how the "Pros" look!

The C-2A "COD"

The pilots shutdown the engine on the side closest to us as we headed out in a single file line to board the Greyhound. Soon we were airborne and about 45 minutes later, we received notice from the crew that we were about to land on the carrier and within seconds, the aircraft came to a complete stop… a successful arrestment! The “trap” happened very quickly. It was a smoother landing than I anticipated… considering that we went from 120 miles per hour to zero in three seconds.

USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) is America's fifth Nimitz-class aircraft carrier.

Memorabilia from the ship and private collection of Commanding Officer Captain John D. Alexander filled the reception room.

CAPT Alexander welcomed us with light lunch while we got our sea legs. I felt some motion, but not to the extent I did on board the USS Makin Island, (see previous blog USS Makin Island). During introductions, the CO, (short for Commanding Officer) paused every few minutes like clockwork, while the thunderous rumble of another aircraft launched or caught a wire. It appeared through CAPT Alexander’s years of service, long pauses during conversation, became an essential habit while communicating on board an aircraft carrier.

This racing helmet is one of the most valuable possessions on board the ship.

That’s a lot of coins in that display cabinet! They’re called Challenge coins and part of Navy tradition. The coins are given and exchanged among military members. Each military member should to carry their current command coin at at all times… if not, and they are asked to show their command coin and cannot, the next round of beverages is on them!

Actual letter from Abraham Lincoln

President Abraham Lincoln memorabilia is located everywhere on the ship. I was amazed to see this actual handwritten letter from President Lincoln. Our 16th President had beautiful handwriting. Penmanship seems like a lost art in the age of keyboards and touch screen technology.

CAPT John Alexander, Commanding Officer of the USS Abraham Lincoln

I noticed that someone had "penciled in" how to respond to the current course just to the left the Helmsman.

I was able to observe sailors navigate and steer the ship… part of the responsibilities for these young sailors!

Every aircraft is closely watched and evaluated prior to each catapult.

A tremendous amount of time is spent training military personnel as precision is key to success, safety and survival on an aircraft carrier.

It takes a rainbow of colored shirts to catapult an aircraft off a carrier. On the flight deck, different colored jerseys are used to differentiate job responsibilities.

Purple-Aviation Fuels
Blue-Plane Handlers
Green-Catapult & Arresting Gear Handlers
Yellow- Aircraft Handling Officers
Red-Ordnancemen
Brown-Air Wing Plane Captains and Air Wing Line Leading Petty Officers

"White Shirts"are Air Wing Quality Control Personnel.

They inspect the aircraft and are safety observers such as Landing Signal Officers (LSOs), Air Transfer Officers (ATOs), Liquid Oxygen(LOX) Crews and Medical Personnel.

The "Shooter" is a Catapult Officer

Yellow Shirts are Aircraft Handling Officers, Catapult & Arresting Gear Offices and Plane Directors.

The Catapult

The Green shirts are Catapult/Arresting gear Crew, Air Wing Maintenance Personnel, Hook Runners and Photographers.

Steam for the Catapults

The catapults currently work off steam produced from the carrier’s propulsion system, but will be retrofitted with a magnetically driven system in the future.

The shield behind the aircraft is called a Jet Blast Deflector, or JBD for short. They help protect against the jet blast produced on takeoff.

This 50 lbs Holdback bar is used in catapulting aircraft off the carrier. The holdback requires a sufficient amount of force to be generated for launch before it releases. After 100 catapult launches, each bar must be refurbished.

Check out the steam from the Catapult!

Pilots call the “Ball” which refers to the Fresnel lens on the deck which guides the pilot to a precision landing at the appropriate glide slope to the carrier deck.

When the Pilot calls “Ball”, the Landing Signal Officer (LSO, also called “Paddles”) responds back to the pilot “Roger Ball” in confirmation that everything is good for their approach to the carrier.

Photo sequence showing a "Trap"

"Tailhook"

A “Trap” or landing on an aircraft carrier is commonly called a “controlled crash” since they have to come down hard and fast as opposed to a flared landing on a land-based runway. If a pilot is not in a good position to land, the LSO will “wave off” the pilot requiring him to climb away from the carrier. A pilot “bolters” when he is too high for his arresting hook to grab a wire. When that occurs, the pilot has only a split second to go to full power and take-off having to circle back to try again.

After the tailhook retracts, the wire is carefully fed back into position for the next landing. As the pilot “calls the ball,” arresting gear crew have to ensure the settings are correct for the type of aircraft and weight. With aircraft landing less than a minute between each other, those wires and the crew get a work out!

We went up and down these narrow stairwells all day…it’s a pretty good workout with 35lbs of camera gear strapped on.

Next up the Hanger Bay… aircraft are stored and maintained in the Hangar Bay which is directly below the flight deck.

This elevator is used to move aircraft up to the Flight deck from the Hanger bay.

Captain Timothy Kuehhas, Executive Officer of the USS Abraham Lincoln hosted dinner for us on board the ship.

CAPT Kuehhas presented caps with our “call signs” embroidered on the back. Pilots use call signs which are “unique” nicknames used during radio communications between aircraft during flight. Call signs are not chosen, only “given” by your fellow squadron pilots. There’s usually a pretty good story behind them!

Red light at night illuminates the hallways.

After sunset the hallways transition from white lighting to red. The red lighting allow for eyes to quickly make the transition from inside the carrier to outside on the dark flight deck. It also helps camouflage the carrier so that when the crew goes in an out of doorways the red lit hallways are less visible.

If you look closely, you can see the E2-C2 Hawkeye's arresting hook has caught the wire.

At night the carrier and deck are remarkably dark. It was truly amazing that pilots are able to land in such low light conditions. On this night, there was a low cloud ceiling making it even more challenging for the pilots because of the rapid transition required from flight instruments to the visual optical landing system, or as they call it, “the ball.”

Raymond L Roker, CEO and Creative Director for URB let me snap a quick photograph of his sleeping quarters for our embark. It's about as wide as he is tall.

As DVs, we stayed in sleeping accommodations appropriate for a Navy Lieutenant Commanders. In the female officers quarters we had a little suite area in addition to our bunks with several photographs of Abraham Lincoln decorating our walls.

We were able to take a hot showers the next morning before our departure.

These particular showers and restrooms are for female Officers and Chief Petty Officers. You have to climb pretty far up the Navy career ladder to get these accommodations.

An aircraft carrier is a bit of an obstacle course...Marilyn Terrell, Chief Researcher at National Geographic Traveler navigates through the small doorway with ease.

While the rest of the DVs headed to their respective “racks,” I had much more I wanted to see on board the ship. There were more stories I wanted to hear from sailors. Public Affairs Officer, LCDR Steven Curry gave me the OK to walk around the hallways of the ship. Not surprisingly, Marilyn (one would expect a person who works for National Geographic Traveler was also an adventure junkie like me) was also up for a little more exploration on board the carrier. We figured we could sleep when we got home… so off we went through the maze of hallways. We knew we would get lost despite the alpha-numeric markings around the ship, but figured we had six hours until having to meet back with Public Affairs and catapult back to San Diego, we were confident we would be able to find someone on board who could steer us in the direction of our sleeping quarters before our departure.

We found an open door.... the Greenies!

How lost could one get on an aircraft carrier? Pretty lost in a matter of minutes.

BOWCATS

We noticed all of them were studying. We spoke with sailors ABE3 Zachary Clayton, AB Marcus Moody and Bow Chief Gabriel Quinlin all very professional and part of this impressive group of young highly motivated individuals working long hours in difficult jobs at all hours of the day or night.

ABE1(AW/SW) Jeff Medina Quality Assurance

It was 11:30 pm when ABE1(AW/SW) Jeff Medina stopped by to check in with the Greenies an make sure that fellow crew members were studying for their advance placement tests for promotion. It’s not his direct job responsibility, but he cares a lot about the crew and wanted to make sure that they were preparing. It was impressive that he took time out of his day to check back in and make sure that they were doing what they needed to be successful in their Naval careers.

One of the several Ready Rooms on board the USS Abraham Lincoln

I knew if we found “Ready Rooms ” we might find pilots who could give us a first hand account about landing on an aircraft carrier.

Pilots and Electronic Warfare Officers (EWOs) we watched them land on the carrier earlier during night flight ops.

Finally we found these newly qualified Aviators from Squadron VAQ-129 “Vikings” who fly the EA-18G Growler. The Vikings were exclusively a Prowler Squadron but are currently transitioning to the newer replacement airframe the Growler. They had been on the night schedule and were up for chatting with us about their experiences. It’s a Naval tradition for pilots to grow mustaches when they go to the “boat” to get their carrier “quals”… now that they are “qualed” some had already shaved them off. Thankfully, LTJG Laura Combs walked us back to our quarters so we could prepare for our departure the next morning.

My interpretation of what it feels like to be catapulted in a COD of an aircraft carrier.

All to soon… the whirlwind embark on board the USS Abraham Lincoln was coming to a close. I was very excited about our catapult or “cat” off the carrier still ahead. I had asked the pilots the previous night what should I expect… some say it’s like a roller coaster. It’s really hard to explain… it happens so fast. Once again, I was surprised that is was remarkably smooth, with just as the pilot rotated off the end of the carrier, climbing to altitude as we headed back to San Diego.

A truly amazing experience and so much fun! We all wanted the COD to turn around and do it again.

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Photo documenting the men and women of our military and sharing their stories is one of the amazing opportunities that being a photographer has afforded me. I have meet some impressive individuals that are able to come together, function cohesively usually in harsh environments and perform extraordinary tasks. Observing the dynamics of the crew aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln is inspiring, and I enjoyed being able to share the story through the lens of my camera. After sorting through thousands of images this is just a small sampling of what I captured in my short stay aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. There is so much more to see and so many more stories to tell.

There are several people to thank for providing this opportunity to photo document a day at sea aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.

Rear Admiral Troy Shoemaker, thank you for hosting the Distinguished Vistor program and providing a tremendous opportunity to experience a typical day in the life of the Navy and Marines first hand. Captain Alexander, thank you for letting us come visit the ship and crew aboard your “home away from home”, the USS Abraham Lincoln, Captain Kuehhas, thank you for hosting a wonderful dinner and to LCDR Steve Curry and staff, I appreciate your generous time escorting us around. To Steve Fiebing and LT Aaron Kakiel, thank you for coordinating the details and logistics of our embark. Special thanks Dennis Hall and Guy Kawaski for nominating me to the Distinguished Visitor program. What an amazing experience! If you would like to read about other embarks, please visit Dennis and Guy’s blogs.

And finally, to the impressive, dedicated, and hardworking sailors onboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, thank you for your time and service to our country.

Dennis Hall
Blog: AvereGroup.WordPress.com

Guy Kawasaki
Blog: GuyKawasaki.com

Posted in Aviation, Military Tags: Aviation, C-2A Greyhound, CAPT Donald Auten, CAPT Nosenzo, Cara Renee, Cara Renee Photography, COD, Commanding Officer Captain John D. Alexander, Coronado, Distinguished Visitor, EA-18G Growler, Landing Signal Officer, Marines, NAS North Island, Naval Aviation, Navy, Navy SEALS, Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, President Abraham Lincoln, The Vikings, US Navy SEALs., USS Abraham Lincoln CVN 72, VAQ-129, VRC-30 Providers

9 comments

Dennis Hall ... call sign "Daddy" - September 15, 2011 - 8:47 am

Hello “Flash” !!

Fantastic photography and graphics! I appreciate that you provided subtle details as well, e.g. the light switch … White on or Red on with the accompanying shot of the passageway bathed in red glow. Wonderful.

I am so glad that our goal “to get you out to the fleet” is accomplished, but you’ve only gotten your feet wet. Let’s look ahead to more Navy embarks, e.g. on the Big E … the USS Enterprise CVN 65 in the Atlantic.

Your photography will make thousands of warriors and their families most happy … oh and a few of your immediate shipmates, too.

Oh, and one more thing. Great blurred shot of the C-2 catapult shot. Yes, that’s what it’s like alright!

Anchors Aweigh! Dennis call sign “Daddy”

Cara Renee aka "Flash"" - September 15, 2011 - 9:32 am

“Daddy”
Thanks so much for the feedback! There were many fascinating people and details to document on board the USS Abraham Lincoln. It was an amazing experience… thanks for nominating me!

Marilyn Terrell - October 2, 2011 - 1:08 pm

Thanks for posting these terrific photos, Cara! They helped me remember what an amazing experience we had, especially exploring the ship at night.

admin - November 9, 2011 - 1:12 pm

Marilyn,
It was an AMAZING experience… so glad to have met you!

Tom Nosenzo - October 31, 2013 - 3:42 pm

Spectacular photos. I am so glad the someone recommended you for the program and the Navy saw fit to include you.

Cara Renee - November 1, 2013 - 12:17 am

Thanks…I am very grateful to have had the opportunity!

Elizabeth Picray - February 4, 2024 - 2:11 am

I was serving the with the Lincoln, towards the end of my enlistment, when you were aboard. What a trip down memory lane! The CO and XO were my last, and Captain Nosenzo was my previous XO. Several other familiar faces there, too! Normally only see those in my cruise books.

Cara Renee - February 4, 2024 - 2:55 pm

Thank you for your comment and happy to hear you enjoyed the walk down memory lane. It was such an honor and amazing experience!

Women in Business: Conquering Fear and Gaining Power | Ann-Tran - March 2, 2014 - 12:13 pm

[…] the cable and we went from 120 mph to 0 in 3 seconds. I was still alive! Then the adventure really began. I wouldn’t have traded the experience for […]

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Case of the Winter Blues

Posted in Aviation, Military

Not when you’re with the Angels in El Centro…

There is no rest for the weary…especially if you are a member of the U. S. Navy’s demonstration squadron the Blue Angels. After their homecoming shows in Pensacola in November, team members immediately transition to their new roles and another season begins. From mid-November through mid-March, there’s a winter break from airshows due to weather… but not for the Blue Angels. During this winter period, the Blue Angels begin integrating new team members and prepare for the next air show season.

In early January, to get away from everyday life distractions, the pilots and crew head out to their second base of operations, Naval Air Facility El Centro, California. El Centro provides the right environment to build a cohesive team of Blue Angels. It has very stable weather conditions which is key if you need to get a lot of flight time in. During this time, the pilots focus intensely on flying and new members of the crew must prove that they can be part of the team to earn the coveted Blue Angels’ crest.

My journey began with a flight into San Diego and then a 2 hour drive out to NAF El Centro. The base is called a Naval Air Facility because it is not home to one particular squadron or airframe. The base is used by multiple squadrons and aircraft platforms for training purposes.

At the entrance of the base, there is a bit of Blue Angel history on static display… some of the team’s previously flown aircraft.

F-11-F1 TIGER 1957-1968 • F-4J PHANTOM II 1968-1973 • A-4FII Skyhawk 1973-1986•F/A-18 HORNET 1987-PRESENT

The team spends January through mid-March, in El Centro at their home away from home in Pensacola. NAF El Centro offers consistent weather for the team to hone their skills.

To watch the first practice of the day, we drove through winding roads of the Imperial Valley desert to the bombing ranges of SHADE TREE target where the Blue Angels practice.

A few of the left over, inert practice bombs from military training exercises were scattered about the area.

The crew members head out early in the morning to set up all the communication gear prior to each days several practice sessions. AT2 (AW/SW) James Tangman,Video Technician, tapes each practice. The video is immediately driven back to base after each practice so that every detail of the performance can be scrutinized by the pilots upon landing.

LT John Thompson is the team’s Maintenance Officer. LT Thompson has a check list of the maneuvers and relevant weather conditions, as well as other details that he communicates to the pilots during flight. He helps evaluate the practice from the ground perspective from the airshow center marker.

LT Jason Smith, the team’s flight surgeon is also present at the Communications cart.

On the left, MC2 Rachel MC Marr Public Affairs, LS3 (AW) Andrew Schweitzer from Logistics. AM1 (AW/SW) Jason Mennella Quality Assurance, works to coordinate the audio so that it is timed with each maneuver and LT Tickle’s narration.

AT1 (AW/SW) Curt Metzger uses a mirror to signal the pilots.

LT David Tickle number 7 is the Narrator for the airshow. He practices narrating the performance while watching the maneuvers.. a challenging task in the dry hot desert.

LT Todd Royles number 8, is the Events Coordinator. LT Royles works closely with LT Tickle, perfecting the timing of the narration.

MCC (SW) Kurt Anderson lends a hand to AD2 (SW) Zack Grunwell, Power Plants. Chief Anderson explained that each member of the team is cross-trained and can perform basic maintenance on the aircraft. This ensures that while on the road, during airshow season, any member on the team can jump in and help support basic functions such as oil changes or topping off fuel.

AM2(AW/SW) Harold Ramsahai from Paint Shop prepares to paint yellow markings on the jet. The pilots uses these markings to align and position the jets during formations… referred to as “flying paint”.

That tailhook looks like it may have actually caught a wire! Normally there is a crew of 240 service members supporting a squadron of approximately 25 jets. The Blue Angels, given the nature of their mission, have about half the number of service members supporting the team.

This is the flight schedule… showing the time as well as which aircraft will fly. Opposing solos and the Diamond formation fly separate practices.

This year is the Centennial of Naval Aviation. A good year to get out to an airshow!

LT C.J. Simonsen, Opposing Solo, shakes hands with AE1(AW/SW) Shawn Adkins from Quality Assurance.

The back of a mini-van serves as an “office” on the road where the pilots check the maintenance reports on their respective aircraft prior to “walking” to their jets.

While many of the pilots have flown the Hornet prior to joining the team, precision requires practice. They will be flying and performing maneuvers in closer proximately than they are allowed in normal flight operations as well as under different conditions. They do not use a G-suit to handle the increased gravitational forces they experience with many of the maneuvers because the inflation and deflation of the bladders in the suit may bump the “stick”. The pilots also need to get used to an additional 35 lbs of forward pressure on the “stick”. For most of us, holding a 35lb pound dumb bell for nearly an hour is a challenging task, especially while flying within inches of other aircraft! The resistance helps them with control when they fly closely in formation, as minor movements on the “stick” won’t result in large deviations… important when flying a mere 18 inches from another aircraft. This type of flying requires a physical training and muscle memory… Winter Training.

Major Brent Stevens, number 3 jet, shakes hands with Crew Chief AT1 (AW) Anthony Koppi. Each Crew Chief is assigned to an aircraft and pilot. They take pride in ensuring the jet is meticulously maintained.

I was able to tag along for a ride in the runway truck as the jets taxied out for take-off.

The ground crew follow the aircraft to address any last minute “issues” that may occur.

We RACED down to the end of the runway to get ready for the Diamond to take off. Pretty wild ride!

To view more photographs from my Winter Training with the Blue Angels please take a look at the slideshow.

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There are several people to thank for allowing me to document the El Centro story.

A special thanks to the members of Blue Angels Public Affairs

LT Katie Kelly, Public Affairs Officer, MC3 Julia Casper, MC2 (AW) Jennifer Blake and MC1 Russell Tafuri. MCC Kurt Anderson many thanks for your generous time, coordinating my visits out to the Imperial Valley, tour around the hanger and answering all my questions about the team. Special thanks to MC2 Rachel McMarr who tirelessly and without one break during my all day long visit… met me very early in the morning at front gate, escorted me to the desert, through the hanger, out to the flight line and onto the runway. I can’t thank you enough for your time and patience.

I appreciate and thank all members of the team for allowing me to come visit during this pivotal time in the team’s training.

To view the entire aviation collection of books, prints and posters click here to visit: The Store

None of these images are in the Public Domain.

Posted in Aviation, Military Tags: Aviation, Blue Angels, C-130, California, Cara Renee Photography, El Centro, Fat Albert Airlines, Imperial Valley, Marines, NAF El Centro, NAS Pensacola, Navy, The Blue Angels, The Blue Angels Fat Albert Airlines

6 comments

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

A day at sea aboard THE USS MAKIN ISLAND

Posted in Aviation, Military

I was nominated by Dennis Hall, Founder of Avere Group and Guy Kawasaki, Co-Founder of Alltop.com to attend a Leaders to Sea embark to the USS Makin Island (LHD 8). Dennis and Guy volunteered several hours coordinating our trip to observe the hardworking men and women who serve in our armed services. I was honored to be selected and enjoyed the experience from start to finish!

Our journey to sea started in Coronado, a small “island” in San Diego Bay. The island is home to several military operations… Naval Base Coronado, NAS North Island and Naval Amphibious Base, which is home to the Navy’s elite SEALS.

Vice Admiral D.C. Curtis, Commander, Naval Surface Forces Commander, Naval Surface Force U.S. Pacific Fleet hosted our Leaders to Sea visit.

CDR Jason Salata, Public Affairs Officer, spoke with us about Commander Naval Surface U.S. Pacific Fleet. The Pacific Fleet is comprised of approximately 160 ships.

At any one time, 50% of the Navy's ships are at sea worldwide performing a variety of missions. Although the mission of the Navy is to defend against threats against America, the vast and varied fleet of ships and aircraft of the United States Navy provide the capability to support disaster response and humanitarian assistance.

Next up... off to NAS North Island and Halsey Field to get a ride on the SH-60 Seahawk helicopter.

Prior to boarding we reviewed emergency procedures and received a floatation device, goggles and a helmet.

The view from the window of the helicopter of the USS Makin Island. The ship is named after a daring raid by Marines on the Japanese held Makin Island on August 17-18, 1942.

The Seahawk is a twin-engine helicopter used for anti-submarine warfare, anti-ship warfare, cargo lift, search and rescue and special operations. The Seahawk deploys sonobuoys and torpedoes, and can also extend the range of the ship's radar capabilities.

Chief Petty Officer Lill and Ensign Logan from Public Affairs were waiting for us to begin our tour around the ship.

We were escorted from the Seahawk through a maze of hallways. The letters on the left are the compartment “address” of your
current location on the ship. With over 1000 sailors staffing the USS Makin Island, I was surprised to find an occasional empty hallway and complete silence. Many areas of the ship were hubs of activity with deafening noise from Harrier operations.

Captain J.W. Landers, Commanding Officer of the ship, shared a Navy tradition with us... our welcome cake was cut with ceremonial dress swords. He then graciously hosted us with a wonderful lunch prepared on board. Thank you, Supply Officer... that cake was awesome!

While we ate lunch... I could feel the ship sway back and forth as Captain Landers talked to us about some of the unique features of the the USS Makin Island (LHD 8). The ship features a dual propulsion system (think hybrid car) Gas Turbines at high speeds and Diesel Generators to power the Auxiliary Propulsion System using the ship's electrical grid at low speeds.

Petty Officer 1st Class Powers discussed how landing craft are launched from the USS Makin Island. The ship can take on water in a controlled "flood" so that a Landing Craft, Air Cushioned (LCAC) can embark/disembark closer to water level. LCACs are used for transporting, ship-to-shore assault elements of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force.

LCDR Rottnek discussed how to "steer the ship" with the Machinery Control System

Petty Officer 1st Class Tavarez monitors the ship's performance.

How do you feed 3000 people? A huge kitchen and good recipes. Each chef on board has the ability to add their own "spin" but the recipe cards help with the large volume of food that needs to be prepared each day.

Supply has a large role to ensure that the ship can feed all the Sailors and Marines on board. Gung Ho is the USS Makin Island motto which means "Work Together". It can be seen all throughout the ship... even on the T-shirts of the crew on kitchen duty.

The USS Makin Island has a 6 bed OR and has the second largest ship hospital with 4 surgeons and 4 nurses on board.

Captain Cedric E. Pringle the Executive Officer of the USS Makin Island showed us the state of the art medical and dental facilities on the ship.

Anchors Aweigh...check out the size of the links!

Then, up to Vultures Row to observe flight operations...

The AV-8B Harrier is a short-takeoff vertical landing tactical strike aircraft. The Harrier has 4 rotating nozzles that provide its direct-lift capability enabling the aircraft to hover. When landing the nozzles are pointed downward for take off the nozzles point backward.

Each member of flight operations has a colored vest which corresponds to their role on deck.

An amazing opportunity to see the short takeoff capabilities of the Harrier.

Just before departing we were able to stop by the ships store where I purchased USS Makin Island coins. The Challenge coin is a tradition where the coin is meant to be carried at all times. A challenger could ask to see the coin, and if the challenged cannot produce a coin, they are required to buy a drink of choice for the member who challenged them. If the challenged member showed a coin, then the person who challenged them is required to pay for the drink.

I am so happy to be able to share this experience through my photographs. There are several people to thank for providing this opportunity to photo document a day at sea aboard the USS Makin Island.

Vice Admiral D.C. Curtis, thank you for hosting the Leader to Sea program and providing a tremendous opportunity to experience first hand, a typical day in the life of the Navy and Marines. CDR Jason Salata, thanks for your enthusiasm and support of the Leader to Sea program and to LT Alec Zirkenbach, for coordinating the details and logistics of our embark.

Captain Landers, thank you for hosting us on board the USS Makin Island. It was an amazing experience…. the technology of the ship is impressive and the crew aboard are equally so. Captain Pringle, your generosity of time and information was greatly appreciated. Thanks to all for sharing an amazing day on board the USS Makin Island!

Finally special thanks Dennis Hall and Guy Kawaski for nominating me to the Navy for it’s Leader to Sea program. It was an amazing experience! If you would like to read about other embarks please visit Dennis and Guy’s blogs.

Dennis Hall
Blog: AvereGroup.WordPress.com

Guy Kawasaki
Blog: GuyKawasaki.com

To see more images from my visit please click on: VIDEO

Posted in Aviation, Military Tags: Aviation, Cara Renee Photography, Commander Naval Surface Forces, Coronado, Harrier, Marine Attack Squadron, Marines, MCAS Yuma, Navy, Seahawk, The Blacksheep, USS Makin Island

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