Seeing as this video has blown up in recent days and received far more views than I anticipated I wanted to clear a few things up I see in a lot of comments: 1. The deck crew is not “slow.” A carrier operates in cycles. That is scheduled launch times and recovery times. Typically the Hawkeye is the first launch on a cycle. We get lined up on the cat early so that we can launch often down to the second as scheduled. What you can’t see in this video is the conga line of jets lined up behind us as well as in the waist catapults ready to launch approximately every 60 seconds once the cycle begins. You even hear me remark just before launch that they put us into tension about a minute early. 2. The audio takes a significant quality hit between being recorded on an iPhone and then processed into video editing software. It doesn’t sound nearly as bad in the actual helmet speakers. 3. There are numerous radio frequencies intentionally not recorded and excluded from this audio. Often times a crew member is responding on ICS to something they heard on one of the radios making their statement seem strange without context to viewers of this video. If a crew member is expressing their frustration, for example, it is NOT directed at the flight deck crew but rather to radio calls that we hear in our helmets. 4. Keep in mind there are 5 of us in the aircraft. Up front it may seem like we’re giving a running commentary of things that may seem obvious. That’s because they’re not obvious to the three crew members in the aft portion of the aircraft who have little outside visibility (especially when the wings are folded). We give a play-by-play so everyone in the crew is always aware of where we are on the flight deck and how far along in the launch process we are.
I love the running commentary about what the shooter is doing "given' him the salute, he's looking around, he's looking at *something* pressure, he's looking aft, he's looking back at us, he's touched the deck, he's looking forward" and then of course "OH YEAH....REAL GOOD!" I appreciate you keeping the folks in the back informed as my daughter hopes to serve an an E-2 NFO later this year!
It's amazing hearing their thought process. When launching from the cat "OK, he's looking aft, and now he's looking back at us". Brilliant stuff. Total respect for these guys.
You are not hearing his thought process. And, he is not doing it for the benefit of RU-vid viewers. He is following standard procedure narrating everything he and the co-pilot are doing, as well as narrating what the deck crew personnel are doing, so the 3 officers in the rear of the aircraft (mission commander, radar officer, and aircraft control officer) know what is going on. Those 3 crew members in the rear can not see the cockpit and only have 3 small windows on the starboard side. There are no windows on the port side because that is where their radar workstations are located. While taxiing on the carrier deck the wings are folded back which completely blocks the 3 windows.
@@jamesf.ryaniii7918 I was a back seater in an S3 Viking and our pilot and COTAC did the same thing so we knew what was happening prior to and right before launch.
I made three cruises on the America, CV 66, 1975 - 1978. Fifty or so of us lived in the “49” compartment, port side right about at the water line well forward. Pretty small space but we were at home. You work 12 hours a day, 7 to 7 and shift from nights to days or vice versa when you leave a port. Long lines for meals, midrats for the guys on nights, short “navy showers”, I loved the food but a lot of guys hated it, I was fortunate to be an enlisted aircrewman in the E2-C as an AT2 so I flew most days/nights. Pretty tough for married guys but being single I loved it. When you’re 21 or 22 you don’t realize what an amazing adventure it is to live and work on an aircraft carrier for seven months at a time, but as the years go by it dawns on you that selling insurance or working in a bank or whatever boring time consuming bill paying occupation you find yourself in is nothing , absolutely nothing, compared to the days of your youth when you sailed the seas and saw the world and worked on amazing airplanes and flew on and off an aircraft carrier hundreds of times and didn’t have a worry in the world.
I love these flying videos of life in the US Navy and especially reading all the comments from veterans and those presently serving, and all the unique stories, humour and banter. Launching and trapping onto a postage stamp "runway" in the ocean earns my utmost respect! Best wishes and blessings to you all from a civilian Kiwi who has flown nothing more than a gaggle of bug smashing Pipers and Cessnas a couple of decades ago. Thank you for your valuable service for our collective freedoms, David. 🛫🛬⚓🎖😀
Flew the E2 in the 80’s and 90’s. Loved how you now have glass displays up front. I always thought that the cockpit instrumentation of our Hawkeyes were severely lacking. Nice job guys!
More of this please! Seeing and hearing how tight the crew is and the checklist run throughs just flow. You all know what you are doing, in the cabin and on the deck. Even a bit of banter in there too. I like it.
First of all, thank you and all your shipmates for your service! As a civilian working for the Navy for almost 40 years I always wanted to go out to work on a carrier at sea just so I could experience a launch. Very cool. It's also nice to see the work we do during overhauls and upkeeps working to keep us all free. My first day at work as a 17 year old kid I was walked on the USS Constellation and have been in awe of our Navy ever since. Thanks again for your service and stay safe out there!!
I was a sailor, I also became an ATC few years later. We've all seen carriers, I RASed them, had the chance to even board one in harbour. This was my first look of taxiing on deck, crew location and jobs, including the nicest view/feeling it/like you're in the plane literally catapulted off. I kept watching as you passed an escort, watching the waves... beautiful. Thank you for sharing a tiny piece of what I would call... A dream job. o7
Frick’n awesome guys! Thank you and all crew for your service. I am a disabled vet (Army) and I know we have a friendly rivalry, but thank you for everything. I have been out for about 30 years. But I beam with pride for all of my brothers and sisters in the military and love these videos to see how the other half lives!
Bravo Zulu, this was a great look inside the bigeye. I flew a F14A and B but always wondered what it was like in the front seat of this. Thanks to all my Navy brothers for serving with me back in the 1980's. It was great seeing the blue ocean from their cockpit, brought so many memories back.
Yes I am sure it is not a memory your likely to forget though :) Worked on f-4 j79 engines as they transitioned to the f14A was leaving another squadron as they brought in the g.e. "motors" :) as an a.d.!worked everywhere from 6 pack,and doing night traps to a cruise on the indy in launch crew ,take a breather in a.i.m.d.:) my brother was ships company on the Kennedy worked directly for the air boss:) Everyone does work together!! Did work ups on the ranger and nimitz and med i.o. on the america and Indy:) Have worked all manner of crazy dangerous jobs in construction and manufacturing BUT never trusted any group of people more than the people on deck and in my squadrons!! This video shows what a unique aircraft and crew this really is! @ yrs of hot deck time ,never got used to being around e-2's :) Glad you made it through safely Peace Rick Wichita Kansas
@@andrewkuoppala2700 My Rio had the only seat back there. You're one of those gamers and I bet you never did anything for this country but play on your phone and question those that did serve this country.
35 years ago that would of been a problem , it’s sad because in today’s day in age some pilots literally wear glasses. Eye sight being perfect is no longer a priority. I guess life had other plans for you
@@G.D.goodwill i was the same. It was all I wanted to do growing up. I ended up becoming a chef but 20+ years later and I still think about the job I really wanted.
I was never able to join or fly for that matter, but vids like this are the closest I'll ever get. The launch off the flight deck sent a chill down my spine and I swear I felt the vertigo from when the plane leaves the deck. Thanks for the video.
Well done to all my shipmates. Keep the waters safe and secure. This is a great snap of how much work and people it takes to keep the mission going. Much respect.
That was awesome! That launch, all the rumble and the thud at the end, and the Hawkeye was flying in smooth air. I would give anything to be able to experience it just once...
Been in the back of a C2 Greyhound cat shot... Same airframe, different mission. It's a real experience. The sudden acceleration is quite the adrenaline booster!
This takes me back! I was a ATN2 with VAW 122 (hummagators later to be called steeljaws, now decommissioned) on the USS America in Vietnam. I spent a lot of time in those cockpits fixing their radios. I even had a deck launch on a COD one time, flew into Gitmo to fix a radio antenna. Great video, thanks for the memories.
My dad was a F4 and F14 pilot and he’ll tell you all day long how these guys are the shit. I love these video please keep em coming! I live next to Oceana and work at NIT next to NOB so I see you fly over all day long and I love it. You go right over the tower at the Port. Keep up the good work
The conversation they have is hilarious 😂 what a great video and thank you men and women for your service. I'll be praying for your safety and protection
Can’t tell you how many times I have watched this video. I absolutely love it. The utmost respect and gratitude for what you all do. Hope there will one day be more videos!
Sounds like fun! And it should be enjoyable. Good launch guys, thanks for sharing your innermost convo's in the cockpit. It just let's us see more of what it is like to be there! Reminds me a little of the conversations heard in our comms on my fire truck while on the road. It isn't always friendly for work but it's always a good time. I wish I could recorded them over the years (but without Admin being able to hear them, lol).
Thank you for your service, and the vital service you provide to your air groups! Your job might not get to be as flashy as the ones firing missiles or dropping bombs on the bad guys, but you give them directions, and advanced warning of anything that they might face! Salute to you and your fellow crews!
GJD. This by far is one of the best Navy Videos I've seen AND one of the funniest. (internal audio after launch) Just watching the Deck Crew going through each motion and job is mind boggling (hey, I'm Army and have a inkling of what each does) before the Hawkeye's flight.
You guys and gals rock !! 💪💪💪🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 Love your videos!! Growing up as a kid, I always wanted to fly ! I Just never created the opportunity. So I fly with you all now when I watch your videos.. Absolutely amazing!! The technology they've come up with since 1957. Thank you for the ride.. Awesome!!!
Great video. I'm a retired AF guy who has two COD traps, one on the Nimitz, the other on the Enterprise. Never got a CAT shot though. Departed the Nimitz by helo and went to port on the Big E. Navy, a different slice of life. Good times!
CAVU skies to all aviators! I am always impressed by the competence of service personnel. .....flying PAR GCAs years ago....a good feeling, "Good morning Kilo 54! Nice to have you with us......" Placing your life in the hands of very competent smart people. Never a worry they would fly you into the ground.
This is just amazing. I am so proud to have been a Naval Officer, and videos like this help awaken passion in future officers. Just shared this with someone pursuing aviation from an engineering (civilian) standpoint.. maybe she'll think about flying Navy now as well! Thank you for sharing this with us!!
I'm just a regular old private pilot but I'm always on the lookout for the opportunity to encourage someone else to learn to fly. Truly, there is nothing else like it in the world.
After reading many comments about Hawkeyes. My brother was in RVAW 110 at Maramare in 1976 when I joined. I was in stationed at NTC San Diego for A school so, I was able to visit him and was able to see the E2s for the first time. It was such an awesome thing being in the Navy and later worked as an AT where I made the first Med Cruise on the IKE in 78-79 with VA66.. Those E2s you really had to watch out for on the deck when turning at night because of their props. It was hard to tell where they were since the lower frequency they produce from the props, you could only feal in your chest where high frequencies are very directional which jets prduce. You can hear where the sound is coming from even though you where hearing attenuators. Yes I know the E2 are turbo prop jets but the prop noise is louder. On a dark night you really had to watch the advisor lights (aircraft red flashing lights) all the time even after your eyes adjusted to the dark. It did seam like a long time to launch but there are alot going on all over thst flight deck and it's alot of work to get all those birds off that deck safety and at night it's worse or in bad weather. Just remember it's 24/7 day or night, good or bad weather. I salute anyone who served both officers and enlisted now because I have been there and you know who you are. BZ.
@Frank Rizzo If you were in RVAW 110 in 75, you knew or delta with my brother. He was the PN 1(or 2) Russell for the squadron who handled all your paperwork. He retired in 1990 after doing 20 years.
@@monadking2761 I’m trying to remember the guys I worked with at that time. Russell kinda sounds familiar. Yes I had to have known him. I went to 113 after that and on to Enterprise. My name is Richard Rademaker. Does he have any squadron pictures. Gee, I’d have to look through my old stuff. I have a cruise book from 76-77 WestPac. Simmons was my PN in 113. And you were an A-7 guy.👍🇺🇸🇺🇸
@Frank Rizzo He went by Glenn; Unfortunately, he was killed 5 years ago walking across the street in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where he retired from NAS Oceania after 20 years in the Navy. If you like Google Glen Arvid Russell Virginia Beach Virginia. He was a 4.0 Sailer and Sailer of WestPac, Sailer of the , was requested for Presidential Special Services but turned it down because he did not want to wear Fresh Whites every day for the president He was well liked by many.
@@monadking2761 So very sorry to learn of your brothers passing 🙏 I remember him! And you? Retired Navy? Was in for 2 1/2 years, they said I couldn’t adapt to military lifestyle 😮
Steam gauges? I’ve never heard of that on airplanes. Just old trains. So then is this airplane really old but fixed up with all the modern “toys”? Or are these still being built new? Thanks.
@@andysmith6824 Mr. Philips can give you a better answer, but this is an E-2D, built with the so-called “glass cockpit” of multi-function displays you see here as well as 8 swept blade props, other mods I’m sure, but steam gauges are the old round dials w tic marks & actual moving parts to show changes in whatever. Don’t know if the Navy rebuilt an earlier mark, but I know there are new build E-2Ds in service. Doubtful they updated old airframes to E-2D status-flight ops at sea have to put wear and tear on these birds. Not a pilot, just an airplane nerd.
As retired Army I always love watching videos from the Navy and Air Force. Gives me a great view into the life of what it would of been like to choose that career path instead of the Army. (and a dream of what it would of been like not getting blown up lol) We may make jokes about each other but we all do it in good humor as we know we each play a part in the greater picture of the military as a whole. Can recall many times where the Air Force has either helped us out or saved out asses. So thanks for sharing!
As a crew member of CVN 69, I hope you screw tops has a good time onboard God speed to VAW-123 fly safe and we’ll catch you on the next trip across the pond.
Younger generations do not seem to enjoy the process of the experience. Thank you for posting something I would have never gotten to experience on my own, I appreciate it.
WOW! Phantastic Video. I was working as Technical Planer at Eurowings, when this Airline was operating ATR 42/72. Could visit the cockpit during take off and landing. Was before 9/11. Nothing to this take-off. Thank you.
Awesome video! I was in VC5 , Cubi point, Philippines. We flew S2C and A4s. Mostly delivered mail to the carriers and bases in Vietnam. Great experience. I was stationed at DaNang twice, not such a good experience.
Thank you guys for doing what you do,,so I can do what I am doing. My 56 years on this planet is possible because of people like you!!! Bravo men and women of our great country service people,, bravo!!👍👍👍🤗🙂
@@timothyosborn1697 being an aviator myself was hard to see but the display on the panel almost center / center left with the blue top and brown bottom is the attitude indicator, to the left of that is the speed, again very hard to see, but if you zero in (focus in) you can see the speed. AGAIN, very hard to see. Start here AGAIN :-) 7:35, you should see the left kinda like a SCROLLBAR moving. Initially starts at 50 KNOTS which is just NO SPEED. I hope this helps, if not, then ask and I will add more. I am so Glad that @Klaus Pallesen made that observation. I will always note this in the future.
Awesome video! Would you be okay with me featuring this in an episode of Weekly Dose of Aviation? Of course you will be credited both in the video and in the description.
G J D, you have presented some excellent videos. I myself was a Navy Aviation Officer Candidate in the early 70s and, unfortunately, DORed due to having trouble with math. I was an English major. But I look back and often wonder if I could have succeeded had I more confidence. Naval aviators, regardless of platform flown, are the best flyers on Earth.
I was a crew member on the E2B off the Forestall, 1970 -1976 . Great aircraft . Electronics back then was all vacuum tubes . Impossible to maintain in a high shock environment.
This popped up today, loved watching it. So dearly miss the time I served with VAW-124 on CVN-71. As the shit hot 4.0 sailor I was I actually got to fly the E2C. These are still the best days of my life. BEAR ACE 603 YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN!!!! I still think of the crew that were lost especially Lt Messier and LtJg Forwalder you were not only part of the crew you were my friends. Goggle remembering Bear ACE 603 to read the story. I was on deck that night. 😢
I miss my days flying S-3's and racing the E-2 to 7 miles on the first cat shots of the cycle. I bet with the new props you guys could have given us a run for our money.
