The Fighting Checkmates of VFA-211 wring out their Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornets during flight operations in this Boeing Company video shot during the squadron’s ongoing deployment with the “Big E,” USS Enterprise (CVN 65). Enterprise, commissioned in 1961, is the second oldest ship in the fleet after the sail frigate USS Constitution, and is now on her final deployment before decommissioning.

The last squadron to fly the venerable F-14A Tomcat, the Checkmates completed the transition to the F/A-18F Super Hornet in 2005 at NAS Lemoore, Calif. Upon their return to NAS Oceana, Va., VFA-211 became the first operational east coast Super Hornet squadron, completing back-to-back combat deployments in support of OIF and OEF. In early 2008, the squadron transitioned to the Block II Super Hornet, equipped with APG-79 radar, the world’s most advanced airborne intercept radar.