Boeing’s electronic warfare jet detects enemy threats— and makes it an unfair fight by da n ral ey | photos by Bob Ferguson Bathed in a brilliant orange and yellow sunrise, EA-18G Growlers are parked in neatly arranged rows at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Oak Harbor, Wash., up to eight across, some with canopies propped open as if in full salute. Before the day can begin in earnest, base personnel form long lines and perform a mandatory “FOD walk” of the expansive tarmac. They search for the tiniest foreign object debris that could be sucked into the turbofan engines. And before the sleek, pointy-nosed jets can take to the skies, ground crew drop to their knees whenever the Photo: The “FOD walk” is a morning ritual at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island where lines of pilots, ground crew and even civilian employees scour the flight line for foreign object debris that could be harmful to jet engines. Jenu 2015 21
Frontiers June 2015 Issue
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