ACDNEWS - American College of Dentists

12 August 2011
Experience of a Lifetime—Visit to the “Ike”
On July
15 th and
16 th , I fl ew
on a Navy
“Greyhound”
along with
11 other
civilians and
landed 200
miles out to
sea on the
aircraft carrier,
U.S.S. Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), otherwise
known as “Ike.” The ship carried 3,000 sailors,
average age of 22, and 11 jet aircraft. This carrier is
the training facility for new pilots who were experiencing
their fi rst landings, fl y-bys, and take-offs from
an aircraft carrier. The carrier just fi nished a facelift
in Norfolk, Virginia, before going back to sea. It is
heading to the Persian Gulf next winter.
We were treated royally beginning with our initial
experience of putting on earplugs, headsets, helmet
and lifejackets and taken to the fl ight deck where we
experienced the unbelievable noise of the jets and
the intense heat from the engines. We then visited
the newly upgraded and very impressive computer
rooms, kitchens, and medical and dental facilities,
as well as the hangar where sailors were practicing
how to put out a fi re on a jet. As a dentist and Fellow
of the College I found the dental clinic particularly
interesting.
I was
amazed at
how hard
our sailors
work at
sea—14
to 16 hour
days are not
uncommon.
There is
little opportunity
for
sunlight,
only on
the hangar
deck.
The carrier
is a
city unto
itself. They
distill their own water, have a full bakery, and can
fi x anything on the ship—including all medical and
dental equipment, as well as jet engines and computers.
The pilots were also practicing night landings
which went on until 2:00 a.m. We were given semiprivate
sleeping quarters; we found sleeping with the
“boom” of airplanes landing three decks above a bit
loud for getting a good night’s sleep!
We also toured the bridge, and other observation
deck areas. We were given wonderful mementos of
our trip and a photo album by the Ike’s commanding
offi cer before being catapulted off in our Greyhound.
It truly was the experience of a lifetime and I thank
those involved for making this opportunity possible.
Barbara Kay Winkler
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