Aircraft Carrier USS Abraham Lincoln CVN 72 First Look

By Michael Benolkin

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First Look

Here is a new resource (to me) that I will definitely be keeping an eye on in the future. It is Aerophoto Publishing from Italy and they are now publishing a series of the "Real Thing" videos covering a variety of military subjects. The principal behind this effort is aviation photographer Luigino Caliaro who has taken some excellent photography from a variety of cockpits from around the world. You can see some of his photo work and his biography on his website (listed below).

In this DVD entitled 'Aircraft Carrier USS Abraham Lincoln CVN 72' the camera takes you aboard CVN 72, the US Navy's fifth Nimitz-class nuclear carrier. There are no narratives, no messages, no agenda, simply some great footage accompanied by music in the background of the deck noise.

The images to the right were captured from the movie and illustrate that this is up-close footage that has everything except the smell salt air and burnt JP-8. Ignore the note in the video frame saying 'Promo - Not For Sale' as this is an artifact of the review sample we received and shouldn't be on your copy.

This video is nicely edited and provides a good feel for air operations and deck handling of the air wing aboard the Lincoln. In addition to some great peeks around the various sections of the flight deck, up with the air boss, and around some of the ready rooms, the video focuses on each of the squadrons embarked on the USS Abraham Lincoln for WESTPAC 2002.

One of the best parts of this video is that air wing 14 is aboard, still with VF-31 as the lead fighter squadron. This unit would be the last to operate the F-14 Tomcat before it was retired. Also aboard were the F/A-18C, F/A-18E, EA-6B, S-3, E-2C, C-2A, HH-60, and SH-60. The video takes a look and several of the CVW-14 squadrons with some footage taken from in the cockpits of the F/A-18C and F-14D.

In one of the bonus videos, there are a number of HUD/pod videos from the 2003 cruise extension for Operation Iraqi Freedom with strike footage and a look at the deck during a higher ops tempo.

A second bonus video takes you out to the flightline of NAS Fallon to hang out on the aggressor ramp to see and hear the adversary aircraft and crews launching and recovering. You'll enjoy some of the more unusual paint schemes on the aggressor F-14As and F/A-18s as well as seeing some old favorites among the F-5E and F-5E Tiger IIs.

I must say that this video was very well done. The photography was great, the editing was also very well done. I found it interesting to see the similarities on the deck as well as the differences.

You can obtain a copy directly from Aerophoto Publishing and at €15.90 (approximately $20.50 USD), this is a great reference to have in your collection.

My sincere thanks to Aerophoto Publishing (www.aerophoto.it) for this review sample.