Keywords: US Navy 020806-N-6747H-001 An F-A-18 Hornet strike fighter is made ready for a catapult launch.jpg en At sea aboard USS George Washington CVN 73 Aug 6 2002 -- Airman Victor Fernandez a native of Puerto Rico attaches a launch bar to the catapult shuttle for an F/A-18 Hornet assigned to the Sunliners of Strike Fighter Squadron Eight One VFA 81 during sustained flight operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom The Norfolk Va based aircraft carrier and her embarked Carrier Air Wing One Seven CVW-17 are on a regularly scheduled deployment Carriers allow the United States to bring air power where it's needed when it's needed and for as long as it's needed without requiring any basing permission from another country U S Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Heather Hess RELEASED 2002-08-06 020806-N-6747H-001 Navy http //www navy mil/view_image asp id 2194 U S Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Heather Hess PD-USGov-Military-Navy August 2002 photographs 6 August August 2002 in the United States Aboard USS George Washington CVN-73 F/A-18 Hornet on flight decks Strike Fighter Squadron 81 United States Navy |