Aircraft Carriers III

Two Norfolk-area bases and the aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush are set to host 350 French Navy aviators and their support personnel for training from early April until mid-May, Naval Air Forces Atlantic announced.

The French Navy operates the only nuclear-powered aircraft carrier outside the United States, and they are currently the only other Navy operating steam-powered catapults for launching aircraft as well.

But France’s carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, is currently about a year into an 18-month mid-life overhaul, so to ensure they are in shape for sea once the ship is ready, they will be knocking the rust off onboard the Bush.

“As on operations, this deployment will contribute to further enhance our interoperability with the United States Navy — I am grateful for this token of trust and for the support afforded to this deployment of unprecedented scale,” Rear Admiral Guillaume Goutay, force commander of French naval aviation, said in the release.

“This integration is possible thanks to the extraordinarily strong and lasting bond we have established with the United States, our privileged partner.”

Hosted by Carrier Air Wing 8, the core of the French detachment will feature 27 aviators who will fly 12 Rafale jets, a twin-engine, delta wing, multirole fighter aircraft capable of carrying a wide range of weapons.

The plan is to start with air–to–air and air–to–ground training at Naval Air Station Oceana and Naval Station Norfolk. The French will also spend time doing land-based field carrier landings at Naval Auxiliary Landing Field Fentress, located in nearby Chesapeake, Virginia.

Once the French aviators are qualified on shore-based carrier landings, they’ll spend a couple weeks onboard the Bush conducting day and night flight operations as part of Air Wing 8.

Meanwhile French support personnel and maintainers will also stretch their sea legs working alongside their U.S. counterparts.

“Embarking our French allies and 13 Marine Nationale aircraft demonstrates our interoperability to deliver sustained airpower from the sea,” said Capt. Sean Bailey, commanding officer of the Bush.

“This underway is greater than two professional navies working together; rather we are flying side by side as one team.”

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INDIAN ISLAND, Wash. (March 26, 2018) Sailors assigned to the Weapons department load ordnance onto an elevator during an ammunition onload aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis is conducting routine training as it continues preparing for its next scheduled deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class David A. Brandenburg/Released)

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ATLANTIC OCEAN (March 25, 2018) The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) pulls alongside the fast combat support ship USNS Supply (T-AOE 6) for an underway replenishment and ammunition onload. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Shane Bryan/Released)

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ATLANTIC OCEAN (March 24, 2018) Senior Chief Aviation Ordnanceman Julius Carter, right, from Savannah, Georgia, directs Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class Courtney Copeland, second from left, from Pollocksville, North Carolina, and Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class Kristen Champion, from Milton, Florida, to move ordnance aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) during ammunition staging in preparation of an offload. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Joe Boggio)

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PACIFIC OCEAN (March 26, 2018) F-35B aircraft sit on the flight deck of the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) as the ship transits the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California during an amphibious squadron and Marine expeditionary unit (MEU) integration (PMINT) exercise. PMINT is a training evolution between Essex Amphibious Ready Group and 13th MEU, which allows Sailors and Marines to train as a cohesive unit in preparation for their upcoming deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jenna Dobson/Released)

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PACIFIC OCEAN (March 26, 2018) The Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) transits the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California during an amphibious squadron and Marine expeditionary unit (MEU) integration (PMINT) exercise. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jenna Dobson/Released)

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bd popeye said:

Ah..actually in the Atlantic only GHWB is off loading ammo. CVN-72 is onloading. On the west coast USS John C Stennis (CVN 74) is also onloading ammo.

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asif iqbal said:

Almost as if there is a triple hanger on the supply ship

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Jura said:

The T-AOEs are very valuable ships, too bad there are only 2 left.

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bd popeye said:

Ah..actually in the Atlantic only GHWB is off loading ammo. CVN-72 is onloading. On the west coast USS John C Stennis (CVN 74) is also onloading ammo.

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Check out the F-35Bs aboard Essex!

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Jeff Head said:

Love to see those F-35Bs getting out on more and more of the LHDs.

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