USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74)

[Matt Ottosen]

Just over four years ago I was able to tour the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) during CoNA at NAS North Island.  Three and a half years ago I was added to the media embark list for an overnight embark aboard a US Navy aircraft carrier.  Little did I know that the USS John C. Stennis would come full circle in this story.  This Thursday, I will be embarking on the USS John C. Stennis for a 24-hour, overnight embark.  Our DV group will be flying from NAS North Island on a Grumman C-2A Greyhound, and will fly back to NAS North Island the following day.  I'm sure I'll be returning with a lot of photos and stories to share.

Here are some of my photos from CoNA of the USS John C. Stennis.

[Chris V]

Totally awesome! Looking forward to seeing the pics!!

[Matt Ottosen]

The embark was an absolutely incredible experience.  It's hard to find words to describe the 26 hours I was aboard the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), but I will do my best as time goes on and the reality of this has had some time to sink in.  For now, I'll let my photos tell the story.

A huge thanks goes to the ship's PAO shop for all they did for us, CAPTAIN Michael Wettlaufer, Commanding Officer, USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), and to the Commander, Naval Air Forces for allowing me this opportunity.


Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye
Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 112 (VAW-112) "Golden Hawks"

[Tower Guy]

Great shot on the Hawkeye Matt, congrats on getting that opportunity and taking full advantage of it.

[Matt Ottosen]

Great shot on the Hawkeye Matt, congrats on getting that opportunity and taking full advantage of it.

Thank you, Harvey!

[Matt Ottosen]

Two things that I earned during this embark.

• Honorary Stennis Aviator (yes, I know the date is wrong)
• 1 Trap patch

This "remarkable feat" makes me eligible to join the Tailhook Association.

[Scott Youmans]

Awesome experience Matt! Looking forward to seeing more.

[Matt Ottosen]

The normal Distinguished Visitor (DV) embark has 16 DVs, our embark consisted of only three photographers.  We were each given our own escort and we could pretty much go anywhere we wanted on the flight deck, as long as we stayed on the safe side of the foul lines during launches and recoveries.  Our only real limitation was that only one of us could be over at the LSO Platform.

This one was taken from the port side bow catwalk as they launched from the waist.

Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet
Strike Fighter Squadron 97 (VFA-97) "Warhawks"

[Scott Youmans]

Now that's an action shot!

[Matt Ottosen]

Now that's an action shot!

It sure is, I ducked every time they launched!

[Matt Ottosen]

Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet
Strike Fighter Squadron 97 (VFA-97) "Warhawks"

[Matt Ottosen]

Sikorsky MH-60S Knighthawk
Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 14 (HSC-14) "Chargers"

[Matt Ottosen]

I am writing a four-part, first person account to tell the story of my embark.  Let's take a journey.

US Navy Aircraft Carrier Embark (Part 1 of 4) - The Dream
http://www.ottosenphotography.com/blog/2015/5/us-navy-aircraft-carrier-embark-part-1-of-4---the-dream

[Matt Ottosen]

At NAF El Centro, they have the white line (of death).  On a US Navy aircraft carrier, they have the foul line.  The foul lines are red and white, and they cannot be crossed during launches or recoveries.

Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye
Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 112 (VAW-112) "Golden Hawks"

[Matt Ottosen]

After spending hours on the flight deck, we moved to Vulture's Row.  The US Navy does not allow flash photography anywhere on/around the flight deck, this includes the auto-focus light.  All photos from Vulture's Row had to be on a preset focus, or done with manual focus.

Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet
Strike Fighter Squadron 14 (VFA-14) "Tophatters"
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