Johnny Walker, Champion's commanding officer. In the days leading up to the ceremony, Champion Sailors had a chance to visit with their NATO counterparts, comparing tactics and systems. The ships also participated in sporting events, tours, and dinners together. Tom Dickinson, Champion's operations officer. Homeported in Naval Station Ingleside, Texas, Champion is on a routine, five-month deployment to the Mediterranean and is part of the USS Inchon Task Group.
Operational pilots look at things differently than flight test pilots.
When testing is complete a full evaluation will be forwarded to Navy leadership with recommendations as to whether the Super Hornet is operationally effective and operationally suitable. You can expect a variety of grades on it. Both the E and F models offer longer range, greater endurance, more payload-carrying ability, more powerful engines, increased carrier bringback capability, enhanced survivability and the growth potential to incorporate future systems and technologies to meet emerging threats. The first low rate initial production MV-22 aircraft arrived at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., May 27, just a couple weeks after being rolled off the assembly line in Arlington, Texas. This marks a new phase in the program that moves the Osprey one step closer to the fleet.