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USS Carl Vinson Takes Custody of Tilly

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS071106-05
Release Date: 11/6/2007 1:35:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Candice Villarreal, USS Carl Vinson Public Affairs

NEWPORT NEWS, Va (NNS) -- USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) reached another important milestone in its Refueling Complex Overhaul (RCOH) process after regaining custody of its crash and salvage crane Oct. 15 at Naval Station Norfolk.

The crane, more affectionately referred to as "Tilly" by the ship's crew and Sailors around the fleet, was turned over to the aircraft carrier after it completed its own scheduled six-month overhaul process and passed an acceptance inspection.

"This is a huge step for us," said Chief Aviation Support Equipment Technician (AW/SW) Bill Cross, of Carl Vinson's Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department. "Tilly is a key piece of equipment for our ship, and getting this crane back signals just how soon we're going to be finished with our shipyard period and preparing the flight deck for operations once again."

Tilly was overhauled by the private military contractor DynCorp International under the authority of Naval Air Systems Command. The scheduled overhaul was a six-month process in which the crane's safety and operational functions were rigorously tested and inspected.

"We completely rebuilt this crane from the ground up, and every part on it is either refurbished or brand new," said Thomas McLin, a crane crewman with DynCorp. "We worked on the engine propulsion, hydraulics, rigging, and electrical systems. We tested the travel functions and load-tested this crane. Nothing was left untouched."

Each aircraft carrier has a crash and salvage crane designated for the removal of damaged aircraft and other heavy equipment from the flight deck. Because of its ability to move large pieces of machinery, aircraft, and equipment, Tilly plays a key role in mission-essential air operations.

The "Gold Eagle" will reload the crash and salvage crane onto the flight deck after the completion of its RCOH period and return to operational status.

According to Cross, Tilly is the first piece of aviation support equipment to be placed back into the custody of Carl Vinson since the ship began its overhaul period in 2005.

"If we don't have Tilly working properly, we don't fly," said Cross. "We're on an aircraft carrier. We need this capability to conduct our mission."

Carl Vinson is currently undergoing its RCOH at Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard. The RCOH is an extensive yard period that all Nimitz-class aircraft carriers go through near the mid-point of their 50-year life cycle.

During RCOH, Carl Vinson's nuclear fuel will be replenished and the ship's services and infrastructure will be upgraded to make it the most technologically advanced aircraft carrier in the fleet and prepare it for another 25 years or more of service.