CO of VF-103 completes 1,000th career trap on USS John F Kennedy

Cmdr. David Landess, commanding officer of Fighter Squadron (VF) 103, reached a milestone with his naval aviation career aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) June 14, with his 1,000th “trap,” or carrier arrested landing.

Landess' name will be displayed in the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Fla., where a large plaque commemorates every naval aviator with 1,000 carrier landings. Fewer than 1,000 names are on the wall.

“For me, it represents pretty close to 16 years of carrier aviation, several deployments and training a lot of pilots in carrier aviation,” said Landess.

Landess completed his first carrier landing in November 1986. “I still remember it today,” he said.

Landess will be relieved as commander of VF-103 in September. Though he said the greatest part of his naval aviation career is behind him, Landess continues his fervent love of flying.

“I’ve told my relief, my executive officer, I’d happily come back as a lieutenant junior grade and fly for another 20 years,” said the experienced combat pilot who has flown in operations Enduring Freedom, Southern Watch and Iraqi Freedom.

“Anytime you get to fly pointy-nosed jets off the end a carrier, it’s fun.”

Written by Journalist 1st Class Dave Skocik, USS John F. Kennedy Public Affairs

FMI: www.news.navy.mil/local/cv67