Standing next to a catapult during a launch is really impressive. That incredible acceleration of the launched aircraft, the wing that buzzes over your head, that noise... best thing to encounter in aviation photography (I think)!

Tomcat of Fighting Squadron (VF) 31 "Tomcatters" launched from the USS Theordore Roosevelt (CVN-71) while deployed in the Persian Gulf.

Launch!

F-14D resting on the deck of the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) during its sundown cruise.

A Grim Reaper of Fighting Squadron 101 awaiting permission to taxy to the catapult of the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) during the final Tomcat Carrier Qualifications.

A Grim Reaper caught the Theodore Roosevelt cable and came to rest, after the well known controlled crash. AD-163 was the full colour bird of the squadron, normally this was the double nuts, or AD-100.

The final F-14 Tomcat Qarrier Qualification (CQ) took place in March '05 on board USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) off coast Virginia. During the CQ, Tomcat crews prepare and qualify themselves in carrier ops. They had to make a certain number of catapult starts, arrested landings, touch-and-goes, and those by day and night. When concluded they are qualified to go on deployment. These crew eventually departed with the CVN-71 to the Persian Gulf that marked the sunset cruise for the F-14. The crews belonged to VF-31 and VF-213 but used aircraft of Fleet Replacement Squadron VF-101 Grim Reapers.

A Jolly Rogers Super Hornet on deck of USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71). The aircraft carried an unusual high modex, revealing it was once assigned to VFA-106, the Fleet Replacement Squadron, for east coast training.

Carrier Qualifications on board USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) off coast Virginia. The ship accepted aircraft from both west and east coast fleets, so this Super Hornet, normally based at NAS Lemoore (CA), was flown over to the east coast to train pilots.

Beautiful painted Tomcat of Fighter squadron (VF) 213 Black Lions on the deck of the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) in the Persian Gulf during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The cat launch... you have to see it (and feel it)! Especially from deck level near one of the four steam catapults of an American super carrier. The steam pressure builds up and pushes an average aircraft in just two seconds from 0 mph to some 150 mph (240 km/u) in 310 feet (94 m) with up to 3.5g's (recalculating this acceleration compared to an average car, that would be something as an acceleration from 0 mph to 60 mph (100km/u) in 0,8 sec!

Double Nuts S-3B Viking manoeuvering to the cat of the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) in the Persian Gulf during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The squadron commanders aircraft on the cat of the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The ship was sailing in the Persian Gulf and operations continued 24/7 with multiple launches and recoveries during the day. This baby Hornet was launched during first light.

There are Tomcats and there are beautiful Tomcats. A classic picture of a towed Tomcat over the deck of the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71). The aircraft was on its way to the the rear of the flight deck where it was positioned for an upcoming morning launch. Many Tomcats were scrapped at AMARG to prevent spare parts feeding to Iran. Luckily, this beauty was relieved from that fate. Since September 2006, 164342 is preserved at the Wings over Miami Museum at Kendall (FL).

C-2A about to touch down at the USS Theordore Roosevelt (CVN-71), closely observed by three F-14Ds. The Carrier On-board Delivery aircraft is a true work horse and flies all day long between the carrier and shore bases to supply the floating city rotating personnel, food, spare parts, post, journalists (like me), general cargo, and so on. Unfortunately, in due time, these beautiful prop planes will be replaced by CMV-22B Osprey tiltrotors.

F-14D of Fighting THIRTY ONE taxiying over the deck of the USS Theodore Roosevelt during the sundown cruise of the Tomcat.

A Black Lions F-14D during its landing at the USS Theodore Roosevelt in the Persian Gulf (or Arabian Sea). Fighter Squadron (VF) 213 was busy at that time with their final cruise with the F-14 Tomcat.