Carl Vinson Sets Trap Record

USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) reached a historic milestone with the success of its 200,000th trap on its flight deck July 13.

Lt. Ben Hartman and Lt. Ian Hudson, attached to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129, said they were honored and surprised to learn they got the 200,000th trap.

Cakes were presented in Wardroom III to the aviators who landed the EA-18G Growler, and in Arresting Gear Room 4, to the Sailors manning the V-2 engine room who manned the arresting gear for the landmark trap.

"It feels good to be part of Carl Vinson’s history. It's a new community we’re apart of, so everything is new and exciting,” said Hudson. “It takes 25 years plus to accumulate 200,000 traps on an aircraft carrier.

“It’s really surprising we got the 200,000th.”

The aviators expressed how proud they were to be manning the aircraft, but also recognized the Sailors who made the monumental achievement possible.

“It definitely feels good, but it’s more of a testament to the guys working on the flight deck and the arresting gear. They’re the ones working hard all day every day,” said Hartman.

“This is a testament to the kind of Sailors we've had working this flight deck for the past 28 years,” said Cdr. Richard Wiley, Carl Vinson’s air department head. “Two-hundred thousand traps means we've done it right, and we’ve done it safely for a long, long time.

“Carl Vinson, also known as the ÔGold Eagle,’ has built a legacy of excellence, and it’s been built by the Sailors we had out there today and the men and women who served before them.”