VAQ-130 flew one of their final EA-6Bs to the Naval Air Depot (NADEP) in Jacksonville, Fla., Feb. 22, marking the end of an era for the Zappers who had been flying the Prowler airframe since 1975. 

Zapper 502 was piloted by Lt. Dustin Schraud, along with electronic countermeasures officers Lts. Ernesto Arboleda, Matthew Dowdy and Christian Long.  Aircraft 502 was the Zappers’ oldest aircraft, coming off the production line in 1975, logging 10,165.8 hours and 1,833 catapult shots and carrier-arrested landings. 

In its final deployment, aircraft 502 was part of a stable of jets that completed 100 percent of all assigned combat mission tasking totaling 1,276 mishap-free flight hours into Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as well as Operation New Dawn in the skies above Iraq.  Its performance on deployment was a testament to the maintenance efforts put forth by Zapper maintainers.  Before departing, several Zappers took a few minutes to sign the cheek panel to farewell 502 on its final flights. “It was great to be part of this historic event for VAQ-130,” said Arboleda. 

As VAQ-130 now moves forward with EA-18G training, aircrew began syllabus flight training on March 7 at the fleet replacement squadron, VAQ-129, to learn to fly and fight the Navy’s newest airborne electronic attack platform, the EA-18 G Growler.  Additionally, several squadron maintenance personnel have also begun hands on training with F/A-18 E and F maintainers at NAS Lemoore, Calif.

The Growler, an adaptation of the already successful and established Super Hornet airframe, presents a new platform for aircrew and a new series of challenges for all those who maintain the aircraft.  Through training, however, it will provide a new skill set for both the aviators who take it in to harm’s way, as well as the maintainers who keep it flying.  Together, they’ll become technical experts in the Navy’s newest flagship for electronic attack. 

The Zappers anticipate completion of the fleet replacement squadron in late 2011, only to begin training and integrating with Carrier Air Wing Three and USS Harry S. Truman Strike Group.

“The Prowler was a very capable electronic attack aircraft; I’m excited about what the Growler has to offer,” said Dowdy.