USS Eisenhower CVN 69

[G.I.B.]

I was flying off the coast of Florida yesterday and snapped these pic's. I thought I'd share them.

I was a BT2 and sailed on the Connie CV-64, 1970's. Fair winds and following seas to all.

 

[tamrock]

Amazing ship. Last summer I toured the Midway in San Diego. I think it was built in 1946 ? Unbelievable the size and that one's no doubt bigger.

 

[Peyton Manning]

they allow you to fly that close?

 

[fyrffytr1]

I was on the Enterprise in the early 70s. That was a big boat!

 

[BosnMate]

Amazing ship. Last summer I toured the Midway in San Diego. I think it was built in 1946 ? Unbelievable the size and that one's no doubt bigger.

The Enterprise had a 4.5 acre flight deck, I would expect the Eisenhower to have the same or perhaps even be larger.

 

[BosnMate]

they allow you to fly that close?

The fire control radar probably had cross hairs on him. I expect there were some sailors in Combat Information Center, on the ship, that were keeping an eye on him also.

 

[BagLady]

One of my brothers was stationed on that ship. We toured her when she was in Norfolk, Virginia...or maybe it was Maryland..anyhow, it was around 1989.
Unbelievable how huge those ships are!! And a friggin elevator to bring choppers below deck!

 

[tamrock]

The Enterprise had a 4.5 acre flight deck, I would expect the Eisenhower to have the same or perhaps even be larger.

Interesting. You get a different perspective of the size of an acre when you see it from a gigantic man made slab of steel. Just doesn't look the same as a piece of ground.

 

[G.I.B.]

they allow you to fly that close?

I have a nice zoom lens.

 

[G.I.B.]

The fire control radar probably had cross hairs on him. I expect there were some sailors in Combat Information Center, on the ship, that were keeping an eye on him also.

I was using a discrete code- they knew who I was.

 

[DCMatt]

Around 1999, when my brother was on the Ike, I did a "Dependent's Tour" with him out of Norfolk. 80 miles off shore we were allowed on the flight deck and everyone got earplugs. They did an airshow starting with a supersonic fly-by. They launched and recovered various aircraft. Did a simulated "man overboard" rescue. Fired the Phalanx CIWS. Dropped cluster bombs... The food wasn't bad, either.

It was an awesome display of power and a real WOW! moment in my life. We were allowed to go to any part of the ship except the reactor.

Pretty sure they don't do that sort of thing anymore. It was less than 20 years ago and what different world we live in today...

Thanks for sharing the pics and bringing back a fond memory.

DCMatt

 

[Peyton Manning]

I have a nice zoom lens.

I always thought they have prescribed limit and anything breaching said limit was fired upon

 

[G.I.B.]

I always thought they have prescribed limit and anything breaching said limit was fired upon

Lemme check-

Yep, still here.

Maybe they are lousy shots.