Viking Departure

An S-3B Viking crew, assigned to the Topcats of Sea Control Squadron 31 (VS-31), is launched from the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74). The Stennis Carrier Strike Group and Carrier Air Wing 9 are conducting a dual-carrier exercise with the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group and Carrier Air Wing 7. This marks the first time the Stennis and Eisenhower strike groups have operated together in a joint exercise while deployed to the 5th Fleet area of responsibility. The S-3 is expected to remain in service with the US fleet through 2009.