I’m an airline pilot and all I can say is congratulations for the extensive explanation and for the passion that you make us feel when you explain all this procedures. Not everyone is able to get this “briefings” done with such an easy and calm way but most of all in such a professional way! I really enjoyed this episode very much and once again, thank you very much! Stay safe! 👍
What gets me is the hubris about china stealing hi-tech from the USA when the USA was taking British aircraft with swing wings, canards and ejection seats. Not to mention the treacherous way FDR wangled WW2 out of Japan by feeding them Pearl Harbour. I wonder what Sun Tsu would have made of that? Winston Churchill (a treacherous half American) wangled the cost of the 1930's recession out of the UK using WW2 as a disguise, deservedly so in my opinion but still a couple of lefties don't make a right.
@@michaelmcneil4168 The Me262, the very first jet fighter in actual use, had swept wings, and the Swedish SAAB J21 was the first production plane with an ejection seat, and the SAAB J37 Viggen was the first jet with canards. What exactly are you claiming they "stole" from the british who never invented any of those things?
@@TzunSu It is hubris when You complain about someone getting something for nothing that you got for nothing from an ally with its back to the wall. An ally that was in fact supplying substandard materiel. EXACTLY LIKE CHINA WAS. Except that President Trump was not at war with China. Britain was at war with Germany and Japan not America. And for reasons of Protocol everything that we had on jets was delivered lock stock an barrel for boats made of shitty steel that were killing North American decades after the war. Two in one night (admittedly due to bad management) but the Edward Fitzgerald did no favours to its namesake did it?
Sir, I am 74 now but have such memories of my duty on the flight deck of the USS Forrestal and VF-11, a squadron of F-4's out of NAAS Oceana, VA.. My line division officer awarded me with a back-seat ride and cat-shot off #4 and we flew around the skies over the Mediterranean for about 60-70 minutes. What a thrill for a 21 year old AMS-3 plane captain! Thanks for your service and descriptions of takeoff and landings. Great stuff, sir!!! Thanks!!!
Ward is so detailed. I remember years ago when I read Robert Mason's Chickenhawk, it was so well written I believed that I could fly a helicopter - Ward's videos are like that, so now I can fly helicopters and F14 Tomcats.
Glad to hear you also liked Chickenhawk. Now we are both checked out in the F-14 and the huey. And thank you Ward. Only the best get to be Navy aircrew.
Ward Great channel, I just watched your video on Secrets of the F-14 - talking about the RIO. I didn't know you were part of the Pukin' Dogs until then. I was enlisted, joined in 1973, my first squadron was VF-143 they flew F-4J's then and we deployed aboard U.S.S. America to the Med. that was back in '74 - '75, when we came home to Miramar we transitioned to the Tomcat, during the Med cruise I designed the new Pukin' Dog logo on the tail because the old one was a little too stubby to fit on the sleek new Tomcats. Unfortunately, when we moved to NAS Oceana I was driving cross country with my buddy,(we were both AME's in the AME shop) when we were hit by a drunk driver in a FORD F-150 doing 50 mph, we were in a Chevy Vega also doing 50 mph. Not a good outcome, I am the only survivor. Anyway, a year later I left limited duty and returned to full duty back to Miramar because my parents were still in California and they requested my return to Oakland. I was assigned to VF-1, Wollfpack and made a great Westpac cruise aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise. I retired in 1993 but still wish I could be there today. Keep up the great videos. Mark
You have a gift for clear communication, something I imagine you had when you were in the navy given that you were picked to edit the Approach magazine. Your presentations here on this channel are models of clarity, thank you for doing this.
Great thoughts. I agree that this is a gift, and it's an indicator of ability to process input and act, which is dependent on....I.Q.,which, like athletic ability, and height, are gifts of one's parents and Maker of us all. Things to be grateful for and humble about, since there's nothing you did to impact the product. What one does with that is intentional, and one's responsibility to put forth best effort. And make as few mistakes as possible. Great job, Ward Carroll.
Absolutely loved working the flight deck at night, total darkness, stars everywhere. Head on a swivel baby! Totally correct Sir. Nothing better than a well oiled flight deck, flight crews, little talk. Launch/recovery non-stop. No hard fouled decks, everyone safe! Miss it! Had to laugh at the Grumman reference. As a Troubleshooter, if I didn't see fuel or hydraulic fluid spill at kneel, I knew that was a bad sign or a tight bird. Rarely ever came across a tight bird! 🤪
I'm an old Kennedy Sailor, I just want to say Thank you for bringing back some great memories. On my first cruise I was lucky enough to see the F-14As before they went to D's I don't have to tell you how I loved night cat shots. I'm an old Salt now I have two years left in the Worlds Greatest Navy I would give anything to smell, hear, and see a Tomcat fly once more, just once... ABHCS
I lived in Hong Kong during the late 1990s and had the opportunity to tour several US ships that made port calls there. Being on a US carrier with the variety of aircraft that were on deck was an amazing experience. I can only imagine the thrill it was for you to launch by catapult the way you describe in your video. Thanks for your years of service Ward.
I am a veteran in aircraft maintenance for the Brazilian air force (1985/2016) and a flight simulation enthusiast. I've been studying the wonderful F-14 from DCS for a year. Even with a lot of language difficulties and little information in Portuguese, today I can taxi until the catapult takes off and recover in CASE I. And from what was described between procedures and parameters of this post, everything was collated by the procedures in the DCS simulator that I already decorated and can do such procedures automatically. I have a VR that provides even more immersion in the F-14 experience. RU-vid gives an ordinary citizen like me the ability to see their stories, interact with real crew and even see them as they are off-mission in their homes as normal citizens. It's all very motivating for me!! Congratulations for the post, it was very educational!!! I will continue my studies.......
I found your channel recently and love to watch all of the videos you make. I was in the US Navy from 1956 to 1972. I flew the F9 and F11. I was never sent to Vietnam due to being a flight instructor although I filled out my dream sheets to go! I am at an advanced age now and haven't flown since the late 1970s. I had my own plane which was a Cessna 310. I sold it in 1978 and never flew again! But you had planes that were far more demanding to fly and I admire that. Keep up the great work Sir.
You helped to confirm what I have always speculated which is in Navel Aviation, taking off and landing on air craft carriers, there is no room for error.
What an interesting channel Ward ! I was raised in the USAF, my dad was 26 yrs in single seat fighters and the last 6 yrs as A/C in the C-141. He spent 1968 in Vietnam as A/C in phantom F4 aircraft. He has since passed away and I never talked to him about the intricacies of fighter plane operations...Wish I had now. Hindsight is always 20/20, I could listen to you for hours on end !! I have spent the last 3 and a half years as a general Electrician at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan and was on the flight line daily fixing anything electrical with the hangers and operational gear that broke. Not as cool as an aircraft carrier, but being on a warzone airfield got pretty interesting at times!
I was an earth-bound Ordie so to speak. USAF Ammo for 20 years. Did Desert Shield/Storm, and the second Gulf War...built a lot of bombs, chaff, flare, and 20MM in my career. To modify our motto...If You Ain't Ordie, You Ain't Shit!
LOL, I was like "I know that guy!" Watch yours and Rick's channels as well... My room is like Ward's... guitars, rock stuff, album covers, and flight stuff! You should give DCS a shot... closest thing we'll get to flying an F-14 (or any fighter jet for that matter).
First of all Sir, I want to thank you for the Service You gave to this great nation of ours! I have viewed several videos of yours, some of which bring back old memories of bygone days. I haven't caught your rank yet, I left the Navy November 1972 as an ADR3. I wanted to comment because of your interest in the F-14 Tom Cat. From May 1969 to September 1971 I was stationed to U.S. Navy Test Pilot School PAX River, as I was leaving PAX River I was made Plane Caption of The Quarter and was thus awarded to go with the graduating class on their Class Trip which was to all Aircraft Manufacturers in the U.S.and one of which was to Long Island Grumman Facilities where I got to see the 1st. F14 Prototype. My last 14 months of service I was Ships Company USS Intrepid CVS 11 as a COD Crew Member.
Delighted to see the glove vanes on the model. I know that they were kind of finicky and were removed quickly due to problems. The pilot could easily control the down pitch that they were intended to do automatically. Thanks for your time in uniform.
Missed a step in the launch sequence. Final checker front and back has to give thumbs up in full afterburner before launch officer salute. I was adj and did the back final check many times. Love your podcasts.
Great vid Ward, I'm ex RAAF armourer (ordnance) and helped remove sparrows from a Tomcat once in Kuwait when it had to land at our base They are huge compared to the F-18. Did RIO's ever get referred to as GIB's? (guy in back) this is the first channel I have seen from a RIO's perspective.
I'm a retired airline pilot. I've watched a lot of carrier landing videos and it drives me crazy that there's no pilot to co-pilot or pilot to deck communication on the videos. You've really done a great job explaining some of what actually goes on during the flights, and just how arduous the whole process is. Thank you.
Ward, thanks so much for the insight on what really happened during F-14 cat shots and traps. You can only get so much from reading a book or watching a video. You've really increased my understanding.
Just found this channel.. this must be one of the most knowledgable interesting and easiest guys to listen to I’ve ever heard. And what’s better he has done and seen what he talks about for real. I admire and thank anyone who serves in the forces to protect us. Thank you
Wow, this brings me back. I was in VAW-115 attached to the Independence from ‘93-‘97 as Aviation Electrician’s mate (AE). After launching our aircraft, I’d love to hang around for an F-14 launch. There’s nothing like being 20 feet from F-14 engines at full military power. Cool video, thanks!
Loved that walk through of takeoff and landing of a F-14! I've heard all the parts separately but never all at once. This trip back thru the older videos that I missed has been really enjoyable! Eventually I'll make it back to that Goose episode.
A-6s where the birds I worked with in VA-42, NAS Oceana ! I was a plane captain from 1/73 to 8/15/75 ! The first carrier I was on was the Indy ! Saw an F-4 phantom nose into the drink on cat shot & a plane with the big radar dome on top crash on the trap (landing) ! It came in port side low & came down hard on starboard, breaking the starboard main which collapsed & took both propellers !
Even though I flew in H-3's and S-3's in my Naval career as an AW. The whole brief, man up, flight deck, catapult, landing explanations brought back a lot of great memories. Thank you
Brother your contact is great! Your “situation awareness” is still flawless. please keep up the great work that you’re doing people really need to know what it is that we used to do. I was a Corpsman. I loved every minute of it would do it again in a heartbeat. Go Navy
As a carpenter I like that phrase you use at the end of your talk finish the evolution. So many things to make something look easy. Great video my son and I really enjoy them.please keep making them.
What a great video Ward. I had the good fortune to go on a Tiger Cruise on CVN 70 as the guest of my nephew, a Hornet pilot in VFA 97. This was right after Operation Enduring Freedom. I feel like I learned just as much from your video in 25 minutes as I did with 5 days on the Carl Vinson. Thank you!
Aboard Ranger, 1968-'70, CAG's plane was 100, an F-4J Phantom II. I spent a lot of time on Vulture's Row, when my job permitted. Bolters were very rare, day or night. This just shows the skill of the pilots. They were professionals, the best pilots in the world. Mooch mentioned not pulling back the power until the wire was all the way out. We had one case with an A-7A Corsair II where his hook caught the wire right in the middle. At the end, the wire rolled out from under the hook. Even though the engine was still at full power, the plane was going too slow and couldn't get in the air again. He got to the edge of the angle and, as the plane started going over, he punched out. Quite a sight. I wasn't up there that time, but I did see it on replays from the plat cameras.
True, RU-vid recommended me "Goose episode" and taht's how I found about this channel. As a DCS player - the channel is full of very interesting stuff and stories.
Great video, thank you! I had a friend in HS that became an F-14 pilot (Michael "Vida" Blue). It was a dream come true for him as it would be for anyone flying in the Tomcat!
3 years on the Kitty Hawk 1983 - 86. Favorite pastime was watching night ops from the observation deck above the bridge. Man, seeing those 5 zone afterburners fire up and deflect off those JBD's you could actually feel the heat as that Tomcat roared down the flight deck! Good times I wouldn't trade for anything. That bird had its own distinct roar that you would feel to your bones.
Sir, you have brought back many memories while I was in the Navy as an avionics technician with VF2 from 1999 to 2003, working on the majestic f14d. Nothing more thrilling than being on the flight deck during launches.
I spent 3 years on the Midway, VF161 (F4J). AQ2 AIMD AWG-10A Tech. I never knew what all a RIO did. YOU have opened my eyes to how much more involved what the guy in the back seat did. MUCH RESPECT and thank you for all your awesome insights and videos.
I was a front seater in VF-161 (79-81) and I never knew what a RIO did! Just kidding! And as an AWG-10 tech, you probably never had a detailed, intelligent discussion with a pilot about the system. Most of that knowledge resided in the back seat.
I just came across your channel and am fascinated. I am a retired Navy ETC, retired in 1988. One of my tours was with CTF-60 staff from 1982-1984, between the two Gulf of Sidra events. During that time the staff was forwarded deployed in the Med, and we rode 4 carriers: Nimitz, Eisenhower, Independence and JFK. Being on the staff I spent many hours on the flag bridge watching flight opps. Watching the F-14s on the cat was always amazing. At night, when the pilot went to burner after the JBD was raised, the engine exhaust, a bright purple flame, hit the JBD then shot straight up probably 20 ft. I never grew tired of watching the flight deck ballet.
Holy! I don't even know how I found this channel but this is such a hidden gem! Absolutely loved the content and the way you explain things! You got yourself a subscriber!
I appreciate your comment about Grumman products. I was an aviation structural mechanic from '86-'90. I still tell people the only thing that breaks airplanes faster than flying them is not flying them.
Looks like a SC20H Studio Classic on a vertical 2x12 cab, a Hot Rod Deluxe (Thought it was maybe a Blues Jr. but you can just barely make out that it has a power *and* standby switch), a Rickenbacker 620, a Les Paul (likely a Standard), what I believe is a Taylor 414ce and a Yamaha GL1 guitalele. Correct me if I'm wrong!
What a channel, bravo. Ex Air Force, we needed 10,000 ft and an open golf course to land. Brother a retired Navy Command Master Chief and Sister in-law recently retired Admiral. From San Antonio, well done!
Received my wings in Beeville in August 1967 Flew RF-4Bs for VMCJ-1, 2 and 3 including a tour in Viet Nam. This was before they collected all the RF-4s in one squadron and called it VMFP-3. Car qualled in the T-2 on the Lex and in the TF-9 on the Hornet. I was a great bomber so, of course, they made me a picture taker! I love your videos for their detail and reality.
Sitting with a smile thinking of years ago on deployments. Like the song says we remember the good times (having caught up on sleep in the intervening years:) Thanks Ward.
Thanks for your service. I did a couple of westpacs (1 on the connie and 1 on the indy), guaranteed we may have passed each other several times. I worked in AIMD, right next to your TARPS guys (regular poker group, we were).
Mooch, what’s great here is that your videos are worthwhile on subsequent views! Now, if only I could double or triple-like them accordingly…I learn more each time, so thank you, and thanks for your years of service!
Hi Ward, I too only just discovered your channel and for once can say thanks to the algorithm for getting it's shit right. At 43 yrs old I grew up idolising the F 14 and more so after top gun so a quick thanks for your great work letting myself experience your stories here.
First of all, you are a fantastic orator. I could listen to you talk all day. As a 51 year old student pilot with about 12 hours of instruction, it fascinates me to listen to veteran pilots, whether you fly 747's, fighter jets, or Cherokees....the principals are always the same. Scan outside, check your airpseed, look outside, check your rate of climb / descent, look for other traffic, look at your attitude. I realize how much more complex these planes are than my little Piper trainer, but it sure is fun to understand all of the basic things that you are speaking about, and thinking that one day that could be me! ( Lol )! I'm too old to join the Navy.
As an IC on the original CV-67 USS John F. Kennedy, my duty on her from '93-96, was probably the best I served in my 13+ years! Thanks for that video. The pilots always seemed like gods or prima donnas and never spoke to just your average enlisted personnel unless they had to when walking through a p-way (although I was in charge of the onboard Television studio so I feel like I was pretty damned important). Just kidding, all the same team. Thanks for that video. Most was familiar but I never could sit and chat with a pilot(or RIO) about their world.
Very cool brief on the F14 preflight and TO procedures. An old Nimitz Sailor, HM2, circa 1980 GONZO Station, during the Iranian Hostage crisis. Thats a rather "salty" looking flight jacket you have there....LOL
Great video! USAF C-5 crew chief here, ‘93-‘01. I remember working with the old INS nav systems, but we had specific lag/long for each of our parking spots on Dover AFB. I can only imagine the added complexity of trying to punch in your location to the INS aboard a moving ship! Also, Lockheed aircraft loved to fly too! My bird was bad about eating computers if she sat too long. But we were supremely proud of her, because at one point, she had the highest number of flight hours of any -B model in the entire inventory.
The Capt. Of my ship was Capt. L. “Pappy” Ernst. He would have the Forrestal’s F-14s do flyby’s, on the deck, all the time for his crew. That was exciting stuff.
I'm enjoying your videos. I was an AO, with the Rag VF 124, and then with VF51. I did 2 WEST PAC's and an around the horn, S America. That was 1987-1993. I left Miramar just as it was turning over the jarheads.... Sorry, old habits, I mean the Marines. I haven't spent a lot of time lingering on those times until recently. The way you describe the teamwork that goes into making those missions successful makes me feel proud.
We were there at the same time, I was an AMH, did time with the VF 124 Gunfighters , moved on to the VF 24 Fighting Renegades, then Instructor at NAMTRADET. Good times.
That was fascinating to listen to Ward. I'm a new sub after your Goose video. Looking forward to hearing you talk more about the Tomcat... hopefully can help me improve in DCS.
There is the 'How things go' when you read the manual, the publication, the MRC or Pre-Op Card, then there is the layman's explanation. My father worked for Cleveland Pneumatic (that eventually became BF Goodrich Landing Gear, before folding and moving the operation to Texas) and the F-14 gears (especially the nose gear) was his pride and joy to 'make go'. My part in the operation was making sure TPTB had Tow Bars, Hydraulic Units to service and test, Jacks to lift for Drop Checks, even the ungodly mechanical mess that was the F-14 A/C Sling... and NAN carts. I was fortune to only have to deal with F-14 PSE at Point Mugu in support of VX-9 (when I got to the Ike for my last tour, CAG-7 had already transitioned to the E/F Rhinos. I still have a solid hatred for the ETU-110/E Engine Trailer...). Before that, I only knew to curse P-3's and various Marine Helo's... but at Mugu, i got the support the Black Bunny!
When someone talks about something they love, they cannot stop the little smile that happens. I may watch this several times just to see him smile as he talks about his jacket or his model. So awesome
@@michaelsmoak1146 it’s funny you mention that because I’ve been there before watching them come in over the beach and I couldn’t get over how loud they were. Especially the S-3’s.
Ward my Grandfather was a Planker on the CV-2 so I'm always thrilled when ever The Lady Lex is mentioned. Allot of her Deck hands carried out hope the next carrier would carry the her name before the last one passed away, which didn't or has not happened because now all are being named after Presidents, there is only one left alive and he was a Marine gunner on the port side 12 × Single 5-inch (127 mm) anti-aircraft emplacements... Soon we won't have any WW2 vets still with us... Allow me to say thank you for your service as a REO
I must say, you are a great instructor. One note, though: you completely forgot to mention what keeps the airplane attached to the ship when she goes into tension, and what happens with the holdback bar when the shooter actually punches the button.
You my friend are asking about the dog bone right? It's designed to break under the right amount of pressure. That is why the weight board is important.
I was wondering why the holdback bar was not mentioned too. My understanding after four years on USS Enterprise was that the engines by themselves could not break the holdback but the combination of engine thrust and the catapult would break the holdback and begin the launch. I was an ET working on radars and ACLS and not part of the aircrew so I cannot be certain about that. Tell us more Ward.
Funny, the pilot sees everything going on around the aircraft as it is configured for launch, but he can't see the holdback bar so that's why Ward didn't talk about it (just joking). Enterprise (68,69) F4, A4, A6, A7, plus RA5-C, A3, C1, ...
I was a young design engineer at Grumman, cad was new, and navair program manager bob bowers was coming to the facility. We created a nice cad plot of f-14, perhaps model d, with his moniker on the canopy rail. He loved it.
It has a "mechanical fuse" - it is strong enough to hold the aircraft back until the cat is actuated & the mechanical fuse breaks thus releasing the aircraft to accelerate off the deck.
It is engineered to break at a specific pressure. The holdback looks (looked?) like a small dumbbell. One end slides into a slot of the aircraft, the other end slides into a fitting on the deck, and the middle section (where you would hold a dumbbell) breaks when the cat fires. Half of the holdback stays on the ship while the other half remains attached to the aircraft during the flight.
Thanks Ward. As a PLAT and FLOLS crew member this brought back many memories of launches, recoveries and 16 hour days. I was on the Enterprise IN 1974/75. We deployed with the first 2 squadrons of F14s in VF-1 and VF-2
Have enjoyed several of your videos. As a former E-2 pilot and LSO it's fun to re-live my glory days. If you really want to blow your viewers' minds you should describe Case 3 recoveries. You mentioned it but didn't really explain how difficult it is to figure out how to roll out in the groove just as the deck clears, especially when leading a division of 4 aircraft. And guys that broke at the stern always amazed me. They literally NEVER were at the abeam with the landing checks complete and on-speed. Mad respect. But oh BTW, no LSO has EVER said "left for lineup" or "bring it left"! Thanks and keep 'em coming!
