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Ko Piloot - USS GHW Bush (Short English version)

19 juni 2011
19 juni 2011 - USS GHW Bush

Hello, 

My name is Ko Piloot.

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I am the mascot of the Hoogvliegers foundation in the Netherlands. Hoogvliegers foundation is a charity that offers children who are ill and/or disabled the opportunity to become a pilot for one day. The goal is 1250 new pilots each and every year.

On June 10th 2011, I brought a visit to the USS GHW Bush (CVN-77), the latest aircraft carrier of the US Navy, sailing between Mallorca (Spain) and Napoli (Italy), accompanied by Joris van Boven.

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I made a very special landing onboard of the carrier in a C-2 Greyhound (COD) of the VCR-40 ‘Rawhides’ squadron.

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In a few seconds we went from a landing-speed of 105 miles per hour to a complete halt, by means of the arresting cable on the deck.
Onboard we were welcomed by the captain of the USS Bush, Brian “Lex” Luther in a room that was designed as one of the rooms of the Bush family.

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Later we went to the flightdeck and the “vulture’s row” to witness take-offs, landings and all other very busy activities on the flightdeck.

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Launch F18

{flv width="640" height="480" img="http://www.stichtinghoogvliegers.nl/static/images/algemeen/speelfilmaf.jpg"showstop="true"}F-18 launch from USS Bush (June 10, 2011){/flv}

Landing F18 
 
{flv width="640" height="480" img="http://www.stichtinghoogvliegers.nl/static/images/algemeen/speelfilmaf.jpg"showstop="true"}Landing of F-18 onboard USS Bush(June 2011){/flv}

After sleeping in the 'Distinct Visitor' room 'CIA director',

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I filled in a page in the guest-book.

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The next morning an excellent breakfast was eaten in the Chief Petty Officers mess

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and then some hours were spent well on the flightdeck in Napoli's harbor.

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Unfortunately then it was time to leave this beautiful ship and it's very nice crew.

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I want to thank all of the crew of the USS Bush and the crew of US Navy 6th Fleet PAO in Naples (Italy) for this magnificent stay onboard.
And a very great thank for the crew of the C-2 that made the very impressive tailhook landing.

And I am very happy to be a 'Tailhooker' now.

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Last but not least, I like to thank Joris van Boven for this great adventure!


With kind regards,

Ko Piloot



Like to see more pictures? Check the Dutch version, CLICK HERE, and the Ko Piloot photo album by CLICKING HERE