FRIDAY FOTO Extra (August 8, 20104)

Fall Guys

U.S. Army photo by Maj. Edward Laue

Special operations troops assigned to U.S. Southern Command track with their fellow parachutists from Colombia during an international free fall event at Fort Tolemaida, Colombia, July 30. The parachute drop was part of Fuerzas Comando 2014, a commando skills competition for military and polic special operations forces from the Western Hemisphere.

We know we just ran a photo from Fuerzas Commando last week as the Friday Foto. But were taken by the sharp colors and contrasts in this Army photo when we were looking fro this week’s FRIDAY FOTO.

This year, the U.S. team — including Green Berets from the Army’s 7th Special Forces Group — finished 2nd out of 17 teams, the best performance by a U.S. team since the competition began 10 years ago. By the way, the Colombian team came out on top, taking first place for the sixth time. The team from El Salvador finished third.

To see more photos of the free fall drop and the closing ceremonies, click here.

 

FRIDAY FOTO (August 8, 2014)

Super Hornet’s Nest

U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Everett Allen

U.S. sailors and naval aviators prepare for flight operations on the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73)  in the East China Sea.

This photo of aircraft lined up on the Washington’s flight deck show both the single seat Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet and the twin-seat F/A-18F (also called the Super Hornet). Both versions are twin-engine carrier-based multi-role fighters. Both planes can fly faster than Mach 1 and are armed with a 20 millimeter gatling gun-style nose cannon. The Super Hornets can also carry air-to-air missiles or precision guided bombs.

The markings of two-seater equipped Strike Fighter Squadron 102 (VFA-102), nicknamed the Diamondbacks (note the rattlesnake emblem on the aircraft’s tail)  and the single seat F/A-18Es of Strike Fighter Squadron 27 (VFA-27), known as the Flying Maces (note the armored fist clutching a mace tail emblem).

Click on the photo to enlarge the image.