Nerves of Steel
To understand and appreciate the nerves of steel our Intrepid Pilots had, you must watch the following film clips. This is very unnerving...landing with the deck pitching 30'; at night and low on fuel...Incredible! Turn on your sound and go 'Full Screen'...and your attention will definitely be held.
The following show the difference between Naval Aviation and any other kind, and are two outstanding videos about F-18 carrier operations aboard the USS Nimitz during weather that causes a severely pitching deck, which you can see clearly. Its more dangerous than most combat missions and the tension in the pilots and crew is very apparent. Watch Part 1 first...just CLICK on the LINKs and watch.
Submitted by a hand-full of FCMs.
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"A pitching deck on the Intrepid was not uncommon. Even the most skilled pilots experienced a bolter occasionally. Searching for subs was an all weather exercise and the final goal always was to get back aboard safely. On one bolter, I remember a yellow shirt meeting us at the Island and said he saw the top of our plane as it lost altitude at the end of the ramp. I don't think our pilots were looking for the #3 wire in rough weather - they wanted ANY wire! The old term "controlled crash" had a very real meaning back then. - FCM Ron Zielke, AMH-3(AC), VS-24, '62-'65
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"Thanks to all of you for the "Pitching Deck" CV Landing videos---Brings back memories of my "Grumman Guardian" days (nites I should say) aboard the pitching deck of a CVE at nite---No LSM in those days---just the Flourescent suited LSO.
Many nites in an ASW mission, when raining and taking water over the bow. We would have cause to wonder -"what am I doing here!" The cat shot, of course, was interesting. Catapult officer would give the firing signal after the CVE "bow" was down and we, of course, would go off on the rise of the bow. Very exciting nites indeed.
Thanks to all for helping keep these memories to the forefront. Regards, Capt Floyd Brown, USN (Ret)