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Rhinos charge Kitty Hawk flight deck

7th Fleet Release

Release Date: 3/04/2004

By Chief Journalist (SW) M.C. Mercado, USS Kitty Hawk public affairs

ABOARD USS KITTY HAWK AT SEA -- A new chapter in the book of Kitty Hawk Strike Group's history began Feb. 19, with the first landing of an F/A-18F Super Hornet on board USS Kitty Hawk's (CV 63) 4.1-acre flight deck.

It was an exciting moment on board Kitty Hawk when the first Super Hornet assigned to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, embarked aboard the "Battle Cat," caught its first trap on the nearly 43-year-old aircraft carrier.

In aircraft No. 115, Capt. Joey Aucoin, CVW 5 commander, and Lt. Cmdr. Stephen Higurea, assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 102, the "Diamondbacks," caught Kitty Hawk's No. 3 arresting cable for a safe and successful landing at 12:29 p.m., according to air department tower supervisor Aviation Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class Jerrel McKissick.

Capt. Tom Parker, Kitty Hawk commanding officer, addressed the crew over the ship's general announcing system immediately after the Super Hornet landed on deck, celebrating the newest arrival to the Battle Cat/CVW 5 team. "Welcome to the first of 10 million landings to come," said Parker.

The F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, referred to as "Rhinos" in naval aviation in order to avoid confusion with its predecessor the F/A-18 Hornet, is the Navy's newest operational, multi-mission tactical aircraft. It is the replacement aircraft for the F-14 Tomcat, which are being phased out after more than 30 years of service.

Compared to the Tomcat, the Rhino's cost is 40 percent lower per flight-hour and requires 75 percent fewer labor-hours per flight hour.

The Rhino's first operational cruise began July 24, 2002, on board USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), and saw its first combat action Nov. 6, 2002, while striking hostile Iraqi targets during Operation Iraqi Freedom, according to the U.S. Navy fact file.

Last fall, Kitty Hawk and CVW 5 said farewell to F-14 Tomcat Fighter Squadron (VF) 154, the "Black Knights," in order to make room for the Diamondbacks.

Cmdr. Michael Vizcarra commands the Diamondbacks, which operate from Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan, when not embarked aboard the Battle Cat.

"The primary difference is the Rhino is larger and it carries more internal fuel, more weapons stations, and newer avionics," said Cmdr. Luther H. Hook III, the Battle Cat's Combat Direction Center officer, a Hornet pilot who had the opportunity to fly a Rhino.

"The Super Hornet is comparable in size to the F-4 Phantom, about halfway between a Hornet and an F-14. There isn't a lot of handling differences between the Super Hornet and the Hornet. The approach speed is a little slower but there is no significant handling differences," said Hook.

"I thought they were pretty amazing," said Airman Will D. Leeker, of Kitty Hawk's air department. Comparing Rhinos to Tomcats, he said, "The intakes look about the same. The exhaust pipes are a little smaller, so the air is more compressed coming out. I think they look more like the regular Hornets. It's definitely bigger, but it's no way like the Tomcats," added Leeker, who will only work with the Rhinos a short time before transferring.

The Diamondbacks are one of eight squadrons and one detachment that comprise CVW-5. Operating from Kitty Hawk as part of the Kitty Hawk Strike Group, the Battle Cat/CVW 5 team represents a formidable deterrent to aggression throughout the Seventh Fleet area of responsibility.

"We got the Rhinos on board. It's nice to have the entire air wing back on board," Parker said to the crew. "They are the fangs, claws and horns of the Battle Cat. It is nice to have the family back together."