Sparks fly from the tail hook of an F/A-18C Hornet assigned to the Death Rattlers of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 323

---

Sparks fly from the tail hook of an F/A-18C Hornet assigned to the Death Rattlers of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 323 as full power is applied after making a bolter on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). A bolter is when the aircraft's tail hook fails to catch an arresting wire, causing the aircraft to apply full power and go back around for another landing. The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group is deployed to the 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and support missions for Operation Enduring Freedom.

---

Size: 2122px × 1515px
Photo credit: © MixPix / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: ., aircraft, bolter, catch, fails, hook, nimitz, tail, uss