Photo By Chief Petty Officer Byron Linder | Cryptologic Technician (Technical) 2nd Class Gloria Linder, assigned to U.S. Strategic...... read more read more
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BELLEVUE, Neb. - Service members and civilians assigned to U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), and invited guests took to the skies in a full-size EA-18G Growler flight simulator Sept. 17-18.
The simulator, brought in a trailer from St. Louis to Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., gave visitors an opportunity to pilot the electronic attack aircraft and bring the Growler to a successful landing aboard aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75).
Justin Burns, a program analyst at USSTRATCOM, explained that USSTRATCOM personnel had served as advocates for electronic warfare (EW) and the EA-18G program, and had subsequently helped extend the EA-18G production line.
“This keeps the program fresh in people’s minds, and it casts some light on our role as EW advocates,” Burns explained. “Part of our role in electronic warfare advocacy is to maintain awareness of electronic warfare capabilities in both industry and government. The Growler is the Navy’s primary electronic attack aircraft, and we felt it would be a good opportunity to showcase the simulator to both leadership and the local people.”
Don Cain, a USSTRATCOM electronic warfare program analyst, emphasized USSTRATCOM’s focus on joint capability in their advocate role.
“The EA-18G has a Navy and Marine Corps capability, and this provides electronic warfare for the joint force. In last year’s budget, we advocated to essentially buy more Growlers, to increase the capacity to support a combatant command’s operational plan,” he said.
On the simulator’s opening day, Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps cadets at University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO) were the first to experience flying the Growler. Sitting in the pilot’s seat, surrounded by four large screens, the students carefully guided the Growler onto the polygonal flight deck.
“I’ve played a lot of flying simulators, and I love them, but this one was insane. This was so much fun,” enthused D.J. Carlson, a UNO sophomore and Bellevue native. “I want to be in the air so much, and this was a great experience.”
The next day, Air Force Capt. Anthony Bernardi, a scientific and technical engineer at USSTRATCOM, and his father, Enrico, arrived to the simulator 20 minutes before the scheduled opening.
“My father’s really into flying. He has his private pilot’s license, and when I joined the Air Force he thought it was just the coolest thing,” Bernardi said. “It’s rare for him to see things like this. He’s excited just to go on base and see the static displays, so this is a big step up.”
| Date Taken: | 09.18.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 09.18.2013 18:00 |
| Story ID: | 113867 |
| Location: | BELLEVUE, NE, US |
| Hometown: | BELLEVUE, NE, US |
| Web Views: | 438 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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