| There are things in life that you really have to do to | | | | command: He kneels down on one knee, so as the |
| know what they are really like; landing on an aircraft | | | | wing of the plane will go over his head, and points |
| carrier is one of them. Additionally; of the most | | | | toward the bow of the ship, and...there is no word in |
| exhilarating activities I have done, I would rank Carrier | | | | the English language that adequately conveys the |
| Qualification as co-equal with...not Airborne training at | | | | sensation of the next two seconds.The plane passes |
| Fort Benning George, not repelling out of helicopters | | | | directly in front of me (I know it was farther than my |
| when I was at Camp Pendleton with 1st Recon...I'll tell | | | | perception...which was about 3' from the nose). |
| you at the end of this article. | | | | I watched about three planes get launched. Now it is |
| I started Naval Flight Training at Pensacola Florida in | | | | my turn. There is a whole ritual in being connected to a |
| August of 1969, I was the last class to fly the F-9. It | | | | catapult, the last step prior to being positioned over the |
| was the height of Viet Nam, they couldn't train pilots | | | | cat, is a deck hand will hold up a sigh showing what he |
| fast enough. How should I say this...there were | | | | thinks is the weight of the aircraft, you give him an Ok, |
| "mishaps", primarily involving carrier qualification. I "Hit | | | | up or down, the weight is in 500 lb increments. |
| the Boat" with the F-9 (hitting the boat is Navy jargon | | | | Now approaches the moment of truth, my first |
| for becoming carrier qualified), at the time it was the | | | | catapult shot. I was spotted on the deck long enough |
| USS Lexington. | | | | that the plane burned about 500 pounds of fuel (the |
| I remember a story (there are probably 1000 about | | | | engine was running). I gave the deck hand a down 500 |
| aircraft carriers and landing there upon): The squadron | | | | sign. I get marshaled over the catapult and connected. |
| hosted a luncheon for the pilots in training, for the | | | | The catapult officer gives me the "run up" signal, one |
| married officers, for their wives. This was at the O | | | | of the last steps prior to launch is what is called "take |
| Club, a Lieutenant Commander being the host. One of | | | | tension" on the catapult. All the clock and dial gauges |
| the young brides asks: | | | | twirl around, you hear the engine sound change from a |
| "Excuse me Commander, it is my understanding that | | | | purr to a roar, the plane squats down as the power |
| when our husbands land on the Lexington...they are | | | | comes on, the fuel flow gauge almost hits the peg. |
| going to be the only one in the plane...it that correct?" | | | | The procedures of these last steps are: There is a |
| The Commander replies: "Lady, would you want to be | | | | grip just in front of the throttle, you have the throttle |
| sitting in the back seat of an airplane with a pilot | | | | lever in the palm of your hand and in the full forward |
| attempting his first carrier landing?" | | | | position, you wrap your fingers around the grip...and |
| That is right; this is a "Right of Passage" in Naval Flight | | | | hold tight...if you don't the throttle will jerk aft when the |
| Training, when you "Hit the Boat"...you are solo. | | | | cat goes off. One last check of the engine instruments, |
| The simulator that I built allows me to reenact some of | | | | you salute the catapult officer, put your head |
| these memories. A sidelight; I would say that for a | | | | contacting the seat's head rest (if you don't it will bonk |
| computerized representation of flying an airplane, my | | | | your head when the cat goes off), you hold the stick |
| simulator is about 95% accurate. For carrier operations | | | | with your elbow against your belly (if you don't the |
| I would estimate about 50%, there is no way any | | | | stick will jerk back when the cat goes off...resulting in |
| simulator can duplicate the acceleration of a catapult | | | | an over rotation...very bad, very-very bad)...And... |
| launch or the opposite of an arrested landing. But; it is | | | | This is one of those things that is impossible to reduce |
| still fun to fly, and it really does hone your pilot skills. | | | | to writing. The best I can say is: You don't know what |
| I will start my virtual carrier flight on the hanger deck of | | | | acceleration is unless you have been shot off of a |
| the USS George Washington, CV-73. The airplane is | | | | catapult. Zero to One Hundred and Twenty (knots) in |
| the same F-14 in the movie "Top Gun". You leave the | | | | two seconds! To say it puts you back in the seat is an |
| ready room, go to the hanger deck, pre-flight the plane | | | | understatement! Your feet come up off of the rudder |
| and strap in. You get towed to the aft starboard | | | | pedals. |
| elevator. Up to the flight deck...you start up and do the | | | | You almost lunge forward as the plane departs the |
| initial power on checks. | | | | ship. This is good, it facilitates the next control |
| A digression about taxing on the flight deck of an | | | | movement. The acceleration abruptly stops allowing a |
| aircraft carrier, one of the things they tell you in ground | | | | very easy transfer of your left hand from the throttle |
| training is about taxing, which is: look at the taxi director | | | | to the landing gear handle. You retract the gear. |
| and only at the taxi director. The emphasis is on the | | | | Did you ever notice, if you are watching any movie or |
| only. They tell you, "If you have to, hold your hands to | | | | video of a jet being launched from either of the two |
| your head like blinders on a horse." They also tell you, | | | | forward catapults, that the plane will immediately turn. |
| "We really can't teach this, you have to learn it for | | | | Let me tell you why that is. If the engine decides to quit |
| yourself." Why? It's tight quarters on the deck of a | | | | (because of the somewhat great G-forces being |
| carrier, even the George Washington...you get directed | | | | placed thereon), it is most likely to be right then. What |
| around and sometimes your wheels are 3 feet from | | | | does the pilot do? He (or she in today's Navy) applies |
| going over the edge...your wing is hanging way over | | | | the universal emergency procedures...eject. What |
| the water...which you are 75 feet above! That is why! | | | | would happen if the plane did not turn under the same |
| (and besides, not all that many planes get taxied off | | | | conditions? The pilot would land in the water a couple |
| the deck). | | | | of hundred of yards directly in front of the ship. What |
| As you are taxing around they need to put you | | | | would happen next? |
| someplace out of the way until it is your turn to be | | | | Oh, this is one of the other tidbits of carrier operation |
| launched. I got spotted on the far port side of the bow | | | | they will tell you in ground school (if it will do your heart |
| (bow...what brown shoes call the pointed end...the back | | | | any good). If for any reason that you and/or your |
| of the ship is the round end). The catapult in use at the | | | | plane are deposited in the ocean directly in front of the |
| time was the forward one on the starboard side. This | | | | ship, with the ship bearing down on you...they will stop |
| was an absolutely perfect place to observe the | | | | the propellers. Not that they care about you, they don't |
| catapult operation! The deck hands marshaled the | | | | want to nick their precious propellers (when they run |
| aircraft to the catapult, connected the plane, the blast | | | | you over). |
| deflector goes up, then the standardized procedures | | | | It used to be if you were a Navy Pilot; it meant that |
| between the pilot and the catapult officer; the final | | | | you were carrier qualified. Not any more, I don't know |
| gesture being the catapult officer giving the launch | | | | when that changed. |