Typical example of a hangar queen. The Super Hornet suffered some technical issues during the deployment that could be resolved on board. So the aircraft was partly cannibalized to keep sister ships alive. As can be seen, the radar, the fin tip launch rails and a hinge of the vertical stabilizer was removed

This dual seat Super Hornet is a Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) 3 aircraft that was ordered in the US Fiscal Year 1999. The aircraft was delivered to the US Navy in September 2001 and started to fly with Fleet Replacement Squadron VFA-122 (NJ-134) from NAS Lemoore (CA). From 2003, the Rhino was assigned to the operational fleet with VFA-102 (NE-107), then in 2004 with again VFA-122 (NJ-135). In 2004, the F started to fly with VFA-211 Checkmates. After the Enterprise cruise the Hornet swapped to VFA-106 (AD-221) where it was last noted as such in early 2020.

The red shirts just finished their armament job on this Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 211 Checkmates Super Hornet to the aft of the Big-E. The green shirts are the Carrier Air wing maintenance personnel, and work on their aircraft directly. They are often the equipment troubleshooters. Nice to see that the massive USS Enterprise is picking up speed for another launch, looking at the wake in the Persian Gulf.

Final checks on the Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 211 Checkmates F/A-18F before it is connected by the green shirts to the shuttle of the catapult. The red shirts ordnance sailors have checked the Super Hornet load (in this case the fueltanks and AIM-9X) or while the sole yellow shirt crewman is the aircraft handler/director that oversees the movement of the aircraft and all other shirts on and near the aircraft he is directing.

Directed to the cat of the Big E (USS Enterprise) for another Operation Iraqi Freedom mission, this full colour and heavily armed commanders Super Hornet of Strike Fighter squadron (VFA) 211 Checkmates.

Dancing Super Hornet, its suspension tested to the max after a bolter (the pilot missed all four cables).