A V-22 Osprey recently flown from Okinawa, Japan, is temporarily parked on the flight line at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan, while final induction coordination occurs between FRC WESTPAC, NIPPI Corporation, and the flight crew of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 265.

May 11, 2022

FRC WESTPAC Inducts First Marine V-22 for Maintenance with New Contractor

OKINAWA, Japan — Fleet Readiness Center Western Pacific (FRC WESTPAC) is inducting its first Marine Corps V-22 Osprey with Japanese industrial partner, NIPPI Corporation, for maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services at their facility in Yamato, Japan.

Dr. Randall McClain, left, and Dr. Ben Harvey stand in front of a single crystal X-ray diffractometer, which is used to determine the chemical structure of molecules.

May 10, 2022

NAWCWD Researchers Break Ground in Magnetic Molecules

CHINA LAKE, Calif. — Dr. Randall McClain and Dr. Ben Harvey, research chemists working for Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD), published groundbreaking research in the field of single molecule magnets.

A CH-53K King Stallion (right) and a CH-53E Super Stallion are staged during a redesignation ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina, Jan. 24, 2022. The squadron received its first CH-53K King Stallion, and the ceremony signified the beginning of the Marine Corps’ modernization from the CH-53E Super Stallion to the CH-53K King Stallion in support of the expeditionary warfare vision for future-force employment. The CH-53K is an optimized vertical, heavy-lift, sea-based, long-range solution for the Marine Corps and will provide three times the lift capability of its predecessor.

May 10, 2022

HMH-461 Conducts Redesignation Ceremony

NEW RIVER, N.C. — Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 461 held a redesignation ceremony Jan. 24 at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina.

A CH-53K King Stallion aircraft undergoes night aerial refueling tests over the Chesapeake Bay in June, 2021.

May 10, 2022

CH-53K Test Team Wins DON T&E Award

NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, Md. — The CH-53K King Stallion test team, part of the Heavy Lift Program Office, is the recipient of the Department of the Navy Test and Evaluation Working Integrated Product Team (WIPT) award for 2021.

Yokosuka D4Y “Judy” Units Book Cover illustration

May 10, 2022

LITERARY REVIEW: Yokosuka D4Y “Judy” Units

NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, Md — LITERARY REVIEW: 'Yokosuka D4Y “Judy” Units' By Mark Chambers with Tony Holmes. Osprey Publishing, UK. 2021. 96 pages. III.

Book Cover

May 10, 2022

LITERARY REVIEW: Chinese Air Power

NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, Md. — LITERARY REVIEW: Chinese Air Power By Yefim Gordon & Dmitriy Komissarov, Crécy Publications, Manchester, England. 2021. 400 pages. Ill.

An MQ-8C Fire Scout attached to the “Sea Knights” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 22, Detachment 5, takes off from the flight deck of the Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Milwaukee (LCS 5), Jan. 6, 2022.

May 9, 2022

Navy’s MQ-8C Fire Scout Deploys with Radar Upgrade Aboard USS Milwaukee

PATUXENT RIVER, Md — The Navy’s upgraded MQ-8C Fire Scout deployed Dec. 14 aboard USS Milwaukee (LCS-5) to support operations in U.S. 4th Fleet area of responsibility.

Then-Lt. Carl “Chebs” Chebi (pictured right) and Lt. David “Killer” Culler during their time at TOPGUN in 1992 in San Diego, Calif. (Photos courtesy of Vice Adm. Carl P. Chebi)

May 9, 2022

NAVAIR’s Newest Commander Sets Sights on Integration

NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, Md. — Vice Adm. Carl P. Chebi, who came aboard in September 2021 as Commander, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), shares his priorities with Naval Aviation News.

The ordnance department of Marine Wing Fighter Attack Squadron 314, works diligently to refuel and load their F-35C Lightning II with the AIM-120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missile as VMFA-314 performs simulated offensive and defensive air operations, as well as close air support training missions in support of Jungle Warfare Exercise 22 across Okinawa, Japan. JWX 22 is large-scale field training exercise focused on leveraging the integrated capabilities of joint and allied partners to strengthen all-domain awareness, maneuver, and fires across a distributed maritime environment.

May 9, 2022

F-35C Brings Advanced Strike Capabilities to Jungle Warfare Exercise

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — As 3rd Marine Division recently commenced Jungle Warfare Exercise 22 (JWX 22), a large-scale, joint force exercise, Marine Wing Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314 integrated the capabilities of the F-35C Lightning II. VMFA-314 supported ground operations from their position deployed onboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), displaying their ability to deliver long-range strike capabilities and close air support from an aircraft carrier.

Sailors assigned to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2 conduct flight operations on the ship's flight deck, Jan. 17, 2022.

May 8, 2022

USS Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group Returns from Deployment

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group (CSG) returned to San Diego, California, Feb. 14, marking the end of an eight-month deployment to U.S. Third and Seventh Fleet’s areas of operation.

Sailors taxi an F-35C Lightning II, assigned to the “Argonauts” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147, on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), Jan. 22, 2022.

May 8, 2022

Navy’s F-35C Brings Unparalleled Capabilities to USS Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group

AT SEA — Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147 completed Feb. 14 its first-ever operational deployment with the F-35C Lightning II aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70).

USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) prepares to steam alongside USS Nimitz (CVN 68)

May 8, 2022

USS Carl Vinson Celebrates 40th Commissioning Anniversary

AT SEA — Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) celebrated its 40th commissioning anniversary March 13, a milestone in the ship’s long history of service.

A CMV-22B Osprey prepares for landing on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), Jan. 21, 2022.

May 8, 2022

Navy’s V-22 Achieves Initial Operational Capability Designation

AT SEA — The Navy announced Feb. 18 initial operational capability (IOC) for the CMV-22B Osprey, confirming the platform’s operational readiness following the successful completion of its maiden deployment.

CH-53 Super Stallions are staged on a flight line at Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., March 12, 2015. Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 464 conducted Air Delivered Ground Refueling training in support of 2d Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division to increase unit proficiency and expand interoperability.

May 8, 2022

A ‘Day in the Life’ of Marine Corps Heavy Lift Maintainers

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C. — Personnel with the H-53 Heavy Lift Helicopters Program Office recently visited Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 464 at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina, to gain “day in the life” perspective of the squadron’s aircraft workload and facilitate communications between Marine personnel and the program office.

U.S. Marines deliver cases of food using an MV-22B Osprey in support of Joint Task Force-Haiti for a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief mission near Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Aug. 27, 2021.

May 7, 2022

Disaster Relief Mission to Haiti Highlights Navy/Marine Corps Interoperability, V-22 Capabilities

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — When called on recently to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance, Naval Aviation Training Support Group (NATSG) personnel did not hesitate to displace from their duty station to join a Marine squadron not only to render aid, but also to augment necessary squadron maintenance, operations and supply departments.

Aviation Machinist's Mate Airman James Nickley inspects corrosion on the main rotor head of the MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter in the hangar bay of USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75)

May 6, 2022

How Naval Aviation is Solving Its Billion-dollar Corrosion Problem

NAS PATUXENT RIVER, Md. — Before joining the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD), physical chemist Dr. El Sayed Arafat had never really thought much about corrosion. But over the next two decades, it became his specialty.

Amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli, departs Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., April 7, 2022.

May 5, 2022

3rd MAW Demonstrates Lightning Carrier Concept

NAVAL AIR STATION NORTH ISLAND, Calif. — The Navy and Marine Corps demonstrated a key capability when they operated 20 F-35B Lightning II jets from America-class amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli (LHA 7) March 30 through April 8, fully exercising the Marine Corps’ “lightning carrier” concept for the first time in naval history on an amphibious assault ship.

Illustration by Ted Wilbur

April 1, 2002

Hot Rod Was Here, Too

Gramps from Yesteryear: March-April 2002