Thank you for your service you did an amazing job and we are so grateful for your sacrifice! Please stay safe and God bless former Navy brat/dad was a test pilot
I respect and admire officers who treat their subordinates with good leadership without losing the nicely and respectfully touch, there's nothing better than that in the service.
Forget being a pilot which most of us fantasise about, working on the deck of a U.S. carrier must be one of the most thrilling and responsible jobs out there! I could watch stuff like this all day and not get bored. Great upload. Thanks
I love this stuff! And to think i spent 7 1/2 years as an Air Force electronic tech slaving over a hot soldering iron ! I did get to learn to fly a Cessna 150. Also had two missions aboard an SR-71 Blackbird. But those Navy folks get all the glory!
@@floydrasmussen255 SR-71 ...? Bloody hell ... I take it you were in the back seat ... ... or was it in the trainer one, which are almost as rare as the A-12 'Oxcart', which was ithe SR-71's predecessor ...
I wrote the initial PC (Plane Captain) and AO (Aviation Ordnance) training syllabus at Boeing Aerospace for the first F/A-18E/F's back in the late 90's. Then I went to China Lake and taught it to the Navy.... wonderful time in my life. Love this jet!
Right on! You did well and I thank you. I was the Maintenance Master Chief at VFA-122 when we re-commissioned the squadron to train pilots for the FA-18E/F and was part of the Fleet OPEVAL working with VX-9 at China Lake. Also was the MMCPO of CVW-14, which included VFA-115 on the USS Lincoln for its first full deployment. I loved that aircraft and all the great people surrounding it.
The scenery... Standing on a flight deck, the water all around, the massive power of the nuclear reactor propelling the carrier onward and whilst all of this, having a little chat with your workmates. This is one of the best videos I have ever seen on youtube. Thank you for uploading and not spoiling it all with music. This moment, preserved in this video, is priceless. All the videos about carriers are topped off with workstress and here you have a little glimpse into the real daily worklife on a carrier. Priceless.
ya you don't remember levitating do you? 3 electromagnetic wheels spinning, 2 spinning 1 direction, the most inner spinning the opposite direction. blah blah blah. i know it is sickening. knowing how to develop the future
The officers know that it's the enlisted that makes the machine run. I never realized it took that long to get a plane in the air. I am former Air Force but I give much respect for what these guys do, especially on a hot tarmac and a pitching deck.
Great watching the guy doing all the hand signals, and all the other crew doing checks. Love the US Navy Carrier ops. Thanks for sharing!, Total Respect, from Scotland.
This stuff should be on a TV channel of it's own. I could watch it for hours. Amazing stuff. The carrier is like a small Earth...except everyone is useful...knows what they are doing...and get along XD
@@Soflogamer I've lost my family down here, up there, everywhere. if he's my brother, why do I get the feeling he wants me dead like every other species in existence. knowledge is dangerous in this life, UFO Technology can get a guy written off if the intel is not written down so some other sick bastard can steal the intel and make an absolute fortune. good thing I haven't detailed all the intel nor really written anything down huh. this way, when the freak show gets loose, y'all can think y'all gonna get a clean getaway when y'all murder my now pathetic dream I have no family
because of you and the other deck hands and other personnel on that magnificent vessel we have the greatest military in the world. Thank you many times over.
From one Gunslinger to another...thanks for a great vid.. I loved it! During my time with the Gunslingers we had just gotten back from the Tonkin Gulf and had transitioned to A7-E. Great days at NAS Cecil Field when we were home. Great stuff.
Well done. As a retired AFCM I held many qualifications from signing an Aircraft Safe for Flight A-sheet to Quality Assurance representative on three different platforms and held four different NECs. All that said, my most cherished qualification was my Plane Captain certification I first earned in my first year of service.
Long time F-16 crew chief, worked with a lot of the Hornet guys off the Bush when they'd divert to Turkey back in 2017. After this video, I understand some of the procedures that Naval maintainers do that seem a little "odd" when they're performed in a hard stand on dry land. Wouldn't mind shadowing a crew on a deck some day. Respect among brothers in aviation, safe travels. Also, 402 was the tail number of my last jet before I moved to the phase dock... so that is pretty neat.
All you did was gas the jets. Where’s the adrenaline rush? And y’all are always in our way lol. I’m an AO. Red and grapes always got beef on the boat lol
As a retired Marine 0369MSgt, this video brought back so many memories of a 19yo PFC getting assigned to the Marine Department, USS Enterprise CVA (N) 65 on March, 1965. From then until May, 1967 I watch flight ops from the 03 level day and night. Man what a sight to see. I remember befriending the only Marine aviation onboard for combat ops over North and South Vietnam. I'm not sure but he may have gone down during a sortie. I cannot begin to measure the amount of respect I have for all whom work on "The Most Dangerous Place To Work in the World" and that is the flight deck of a air craft carrier. As an observer from the 03; I've seen stuff down in the flight deck that would keep one up at night. A JOB WELL DONE! Semper Fi
Cool. Infantry Platoon Sergeant of rifle platoon in Vietnam at age 22 was the greatest (1969). I lost Marines in combat and I have 2 Purple Hearts. I love being a Marine still, "once a Marine, always a Marine". I grew up in the Corps from 18 to 39 and everyday was a highlight. Thanks for letting me share bro. Take care always.
@@DevilDawg-mk7tg Heck yeah, nice work, and thanks for your time, both in combat and now sharing little bit about it Heard Marines usually get bad knee issues from ops, that true for you?
VF-74 Bedevilers, 1973, CVA 59, Carrier Quals, brown shirt. You guys have a lot more hand signs than we had. Your pin bags are smaller and way more organized than ours. I got hit in the face with a flying pin bag, one day. Thanks for the memories! Carrying tie-down chains is gooood exercise.
As a member of the Marine Detachment aboard the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), I spent countless off-duty hours on the 0-? level (can't recall which one) watching flight ops. The piolots and flight deck crews performed like a well oiled machine. What an experience!
@@andreasbiesenbach9947 communicating with the pilot on start up sequence. What stage he should be at based on the flight deck's current state. The first motions are engine start up. The rest is telling the pilot what's happening around the aircraft, like the pilot can't see or tell if the chains holding the front landing gear are on or off, so he has to watch that guy's motions to tell him what's next.
-Hello your video is absolutely beautiful and sublime in faith, there's no music that hides the real sounds that you hear on the flight deck, we really see all your maneuvers to attract a plane on the flight deck and all your procedures before the catapulcation of the plane, your video is a pure beauty, really, I love and I adhere, former soldier !!!!
Home ported together at NAS Oceana but in separate Carrier Air Wings. I served with the 31st attached to the 11th while the gunslingers of the 105th are with Carrier air wing 3. Every time I watch one of these videos it makes me regret my decision to leave the service even more
I was a Plane Captain in 1968-69 VA 43 in Oceana training aviators for Vietnam in A-4s. It seemed a lot simpler and faster, but it wasn’t at sea. And I suspect the plane was less complicated. Good times! I was 19.
GO pro, cell phones no such things back in time, only my memories i can hear noises, the taste of the air at sea every time i want to i just have to close my eyes, i will never forget these years at sea....
I was a flight deck coordinator for VFA132 (now decommissioned) onboard Coral Sea CVA-43 (also decommissioned) did I mention I am 72 years old. It's been a long time since I last worked on the flight deck but I still miss it even to this day.
I was an ABH on the Kitty Hawk and Saratoga. its been awhile for me too, but when I read all of these comments in here, both new and the older, we are all on the same page and have the same sentiments. I miss it too. Just the being out at sea and all of the scenery, and 'smells' of the flight deck, the atmosphere, the sunrises, sunsets, and the different weather, while out at sea. and then the flight ops, the box lunches, heading down to the 'Fly hole' for a break... then back up on deck, smelling Jet fuel and Diesel fuel... "Ya gotta be there", as the Ol' saying goes. But when I was in San Diego on Coronado Island at "Naval Air Station North Island" where the KITTY HAWK was, and with the west packs, and back when Hong Kong was fun, and the P.I. and it all, I kind of put this song here, as fitting for me, for my time on the Kitty Hawk, though its about submarines, It still works, for me... being up on the flight deck, late at night, on dark waters....... especially when I was up at 11 o clock at night, with just the dim flight deck lights on while we were repotting planes, the wind in my face, the ocean scent, the errie silence, though with "that sound" of the turning radar, and the faint sounds of a few tow tractors on the other end of the deck, a distant light from something, some stars to see, a faint moon glow..... But then, I changed the name of the ship in the song of course.... where the lyrics that go: "No memory, tell me what's wrong with me, why am I alone here with no rest..... and now the name of the ship's not the same, how long has it been, the Kitty Hawk...... ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-3plxaiFE8UM.html
Absolutely amazing video! Much respect to all of you Navy guys and gals. Being born and raised in a Navy town I opted for the USAF. Being a CC on F-16's it was always strange seeing so many people involved in a launch as well as the lack of direct comms with the pilot. Even during a Red-Flag exercises the Navy folks still did it this way. I can understand why as keeping ones proficiency in carrier ops is paramount. It's curious though seeing the Navy QC doing checks over the plane before taxi whereas in the AF the CC(plane captain) was the final authority. There were final checks at the EOR just prior to takeoff but they were done by everyday line personnel such as CC, Weapons or Avio. We NEVER saw QC unless there was an audit or spot check. Cheers!
Those white shirt final checkers aren't QA, they're troubleshooters. Troubleshooters (or shooters) are experienced in-platform final checkers who get pulled from the maintenance shops. They're typically E-5 with plenty of experience not just launching and recovering as final checkers, but also doing their inrate maintenance in their respective shops. The plane captain cannot be relied upon to final check aircraft because they're typically the most junior guys in the squadron.
Someone once said that movement of Aircraft on an Aircraft Carrier is like a well choreographed Ballet , well i can see what they mean , i knew there was different colours shirts and each had a specific job but the, Brow Shirt guy and those hand signals wow well done guys keep up good work fascinating
Brown shirt hands them off to a yellow shirt who hands them off to a crew of white and green shirts who then hands them off to the final yellow shirt, who throws the plane off the ship onto the next mission.
So thankful for the service these young men and women do for our country. It’s due to their service that we ENJOY our FREEDOM! Proud to call these United States of America my home!!
Imagine being under operational pressure to launch 12-20 aircraft....!! And, almost immediately after, recovering the ones coming on deck! Working on any flight deck for any period of time will make the rest of your life almost "irrelevant".
This squadron while at Cecil Field took the “Battle “e” three years in a row , the Gunslinger emblem came from the show Have Gun Will Travel from the50’s . The star Richard Boone was a Ordnanceman in the Navy in wwii? Also has the coolest arrival and departure song there is!
Vfa 105 was my sister squadron in 70 -72 on the Saratoga. I was in VA 37 flying the old a7a. Ae shop, with, slick, jc, grif, Seger, barney, benny and others. Chief Mac was the shop chief.
It is very rare for a fighter pilot officer to talk to support personnel. The vast majority are arrogant and arrogant. This teamwork conversation is legend.
Not the officers I served with, I was in a helicopter squadron stationed in NAS JAX back in the day, we went to sea on the USS AMERICA when it deployed. The officers and enlisted men were on the same basketball team, we got along well in our squadron.
VFA-105 was my sister squadron when I was in VFA-37 back 97-98. VFA-105 had a couple chicks in the AE shop and they were both banging the Chief of the shop and they found out about each other. It did not go over very well and I could hear the catfight all the way nextdoor in my hangar!
Totally terrific video; thank you! In terms of work health & safety, I wonder what the impact of jet exhaust on you all is. Particularly immediately following an aircraft’s take off. I hope it’s minimal. Stay safe 👊🏻
Anecdotal, but I’ve been “around” it for 27-years. From the F-14 A/B/D to the H-60s, C-130 H/J, C-27, F/A-18 C/D/E/F and Growler. Worked on deck for years as well and I’m still in a working environment with many guys who have a lot more time than I do. Out of all of us, none of us have any known lung issues, as we have to have annual physicals via medical.
I did this as a yellow shirt (not pictured in this video). Be careful what you wish for. When I was in the gulf (more than once) it felt like it was between 120F and 135F all day long. It's harder at night (no lights) and very dangerous. I saw a number of accidents and injuries.
Hey Toni O'Hara. Yeah it's definitely a reality check. My nephew says the same thing you do. He also said that the challenges and rewards are worth it but it is very dangerous and you have to stay focused. It's not as fun as the videos make it look.
Pamela Raffel Is he on the flight deck right now, or was he in the past? What does/did he do up there? It's very cool and fun when you see it on a 15 minute RU-vid but in reality....well you get it :-)
I was in 105 from 91 to 95. Did cruises on the Kennedy and IKE in 105 with lot 13 "C" models. We actually have a 105 "E" model jet "650" in San Antonio for SLM. I will check the side number and report back. We will get her fixed up and to you here pretty quick. It has a crazy logo I never saw before. Interesting there boys. Fascinating launch sequence. I have launched 1000's of Hornets in my days. When did emergency aux scoop come into play here? Isn't that an 84 or 336 day requirement? I can't remember now. I got out in 95 and went directly to McDonnell Douglas flight test. We never did that one. Just wait until you start getting Block 3 upgrade jets back. Vastly different jets there boys.. Delivery ?? ahh 22-23 maybe.
Great content, thank you so much for your contribution. Very atmospheric by this close-up perspective. Can someone explain why the blast pipe gets a hit by his fist (14;58)?
Love these videos... In the process of writing a novel about carriers and warfare. Would love to learn about the signals that the brown shirts and other colors use for launching an aircraft. Also if there is a website that would help me in my writing, I would appreciate it.
It's a shit life for the PC. Carrying 60 lbs of chains while ducking and dodging jet blast for 12 hours/7 days a week is shit. A maintenance master chief can make the PC hand wipe dirty planes when not prepping an AC. The people were great but the amount of shit work thrown at the line shack was crap.
travis garbett I see these comments a lot. It's the coolest job in the world- when you watch it on a nice day on a 15 minute RU-vid video. I seem to remember having to do this in the gulf and having it feel like 140F with the float coat, boots, and some hot jet exhaust hovering around the deck just for laughs. There's also the sore neck you have at the end of the day from looking in every direction all day long ha ha. Have you actually been on the flight deck? ABH here.
@@TOhara-eb2lp I was a PC for VFA-213 from 05 - 10 and deployed twice. These videos show the easy part of working the flight deck and not the bullshit that goes with prepping it for the next flight or the next days flight ops. I don't ever regret those days but I wouldn't want to do them again.
travis garbett A few years ago a friend of mine was looking at these jobs on the Navy website while thinking about joining up. He asked me if the ABF's were the stupid ones since all they did was pump fuel (never mind dealing with impurities). I have no regrets but I told him that we were all equally stupid for being up there in the first place :-)
