Dynamics all over. The yellow shirt (flight deck operations) on the left is directing the S-3B in position at the catapult under the careful eyes of two white shirts (deck safety officers), walking left and right of the wings. A green shirt (equipment) in the middle shows a weight board to the catapult officer (sitting right) with the weight of the aircraft projected. The catapult officer programmes the catapult's steam to the right level in which the Viking can reach its take-off speed. The yellow shirt shooter (also right) will then be ready for its procedure to launch the aircraft.

Catching the number 4 wire at the TR. Aircraft usually go for the number 3 wire. Pilots are aiming for that wire, as it is the safest/most effective one. They never aim for the 1st because that one is dangerously close to the edge of deck. If they come in too low on the 1st wire, they could easily crash into the stern of the ship. It is acceptable to snag the 2nd or 4th wire, but for a pilot to move up through the ranks, he/she has to be able to catch the 3rd wire consistently. In the squadron room the achievement of each pilot is logged, catching too many times the wrong ones cost you beers

Picturing from the off set angle corner of the flight deck is an experience you will never forget. This Prowler was launched from catapult 4 (the left catapult opposite the island, just near the edge of the flight deck) and is pictured at some 165 miles per hour (about 260km/u) with only a 28mm lens (and the picture is not cropped!) So it's really close. That speed, that noise!

Ready for some armament to be attached to its pylons, on deck of the TR during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Being directed over the busy deck of the TR during Operation Iraqi Freedom, the yellow shirt must be very sure of his profession, not hitting the big props of this Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 124 "Bear Aces" Hawkeye.

Nicely preserved at the March Field Air Museum

A Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 87 "Golden Warriors" baby Hornet on the deck of the Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) while sailing in the Persian Gulf during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The squadron is normally based at NAS Oceana (VA) and tranisitoned to F/A-18E Super Hornet in 2015.

A Hornet resting at the Theordore Roosevelt's deck, awaiting a new Operation Iraqi Freedom mission. The aircraft is loaded with a targeting pod on the intake and underneath the left wing (station 2) a Mark 82 1,000lb Guided Bomb Unit. This Hornet crashed on 13 June 2008 after a midair collision with F-5F BuNo 160965 of VFC-13.

This Sea Dragon was written off at 2 April 2002 at Bahrain International Airport after its engine failed and caught fire just after take off. The pilots of the massive helicopter were able to return to the base and following a crash landing the aircraft was destroyed. All eighteen occupants survived and the helicopter was struck of charge on 30 July 2002.

A Helicopter Combat Support Squadron (HC) 2 "Fleet Angels" UH-3H Sea King at the Muharraq platform. The squadron runned Detachment 2 at this location. Strikingly is the nice arabic 740 on the nose cone. The UH-3H is a cargo, utility transport conversion of the SH-3H Sea King. The SH-3H Anti-Submarine/Surface Warfare systems were removed to make space for cargo.

An Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 141 "Shadowhawks" EA-6B Prowler awaiting permission to taxi to the cat. The ground crew is checking the aircraft, quite a dangerous environment with all those air breathing intakes.