An F/A-18C Hornet is prepared for a night catapult launch from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) while the ship conducts flight operations in the Persian Gulf on Aug. 11, 2000. Washington and its embarked Carrier Air Wing 17 are on station in the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch, which is the U.S. and coalition enforcement of the no-fly-zone over Southern Iraq. The Hornet is attached to Strike Fighter Squadron 34 of Oceana Naval Air Station, Va. The Washington is deployed from its home port of Norfolk, Va.