I recently retired from 22 years in the USAF as an aircraft mechanic and I have to admit watching the women and men of the Navy keep these birds flying is impressive!
This takes me back to my 10 years aboard the USS Saratoga CV60. When not on watch, I would spend many hours up on Vultures Row watching the flight deck crew do their dance lining up multi-million dollar aircraft in preparation to launch!
Much respect for you guys. Such a dangerous job that is only compounded at night. one bit of inattention, one mistake, one slip up could cost you your life.
I was aboard Ike with VF 142 from 83 to 86. Some of the best times of my life without question. I worked with some of the finest men I will ever know for the rest of my life. Being up on the roof, or on Vultures Row, were the highest points of my time with the Ghostriders. What I wouldn't give if I could just go back in time for a little while and relive those moments. To those I had the privilege of serving with, may God bless you always. For those of you who took our places, be proud, keep them flying, and come back in one piece.
A lot of AF guys have the same problem. Them turbine engines are loud. Notice no one is talking all hand signals. Reason is even if you did try to talk you would have to scream and hope they heard you.
@@horserehab8454 steam catapults for a while we're the only catapults they had. Only very recently did they build the USS Gerald R. Ford which has a electromagnetic catapult
@@horserehab8454 I literally did this job 5 years on the Truman steam catapults so no hell no plus I'd never had said that just because I felt like it plus at 1am pretty much I hope it's still not taken as me hyping up catapults as if I made them or something
PO1, well done!!!! Excellent example of what flt deck ops is like. I was on the Conni for a few years in VFA25. All you guys that got me flying, thank you and my hats off to you all. All the best.
+Keith Burr Dittos...check out, see detailed response to my request to explain shooter's hand signals under: "Launching a C-2 Greyhound after a catapult suspend"
Little Blitz the flight deck is much larger these days. Those 27 charlie carriers were so cramped for space on the flight deck. Still it's dangerous business during flight ops. I can still smell the jet blast, aviation fuel and huffer exhaust after almost 50 years. Thanks for your service!
And then you would have 8 hours less of watching it for the next 3 to 5 years lol. Try from the EW platform at the end of cat 4... now that, never gets old.
My hat to all the carrier deck operators that "handled" me "gently", patiently, and politely (most of the time, when I screwed up!). Thank you for this video of the best years of my life! L (Captain USN Ret)
Bernard Tremblay What happens there is when you get handled to the "Shooter" (a Naval Aviator or Naval Flight Officer), and all the CAT handling crews have set your airplanes, and done their final checks (your hands are up in the cockpit at the time so that you do not inadvertently drop a flap, extend a speed brake, or worse on one of these handlers); the red shirts will arm the weapons if any, they step back and give a thumbs up to the "Shooter", he will then look at the pilot and give you the run-up signal (most of the time, tell you to engage afterburners, if you have them) and he stares at you. The pilot and RIO/BN if any then doe the run-up, engages burners, moves all the control surfaces, check all their instruments for proper operation while CAT crews observe for proper operation of all movable components on the aircraft. When the pilot is satisfied of his airplane, he salutes the "Shooter" and stands by for launch (locking throttles, holding stick or the launch handle) and stands by. The "shooter" looks around, pointing to the six or seven final checkers, looking one last time for their thumbs-ups. Once he is satisfied, he usually squats, one leg extended, points his forward hand towards the bow, with a sign that looks like "firing a gun"/hits the deck with that hand (or a combination of both) and the CAT officer presses the "red" button, pressure builds up until the hold-back (dog-bone) fitting holding the aircraft to the deck breaks at a predetermined tension - and off you go. My plane would usually reach 150 knots in 2.5 seconds. That is the way it was in the 80's~90's when I was "young". Ciao, L
Bernard Tremblay Well you did very good Ben, I watched your fight but let me tell you this, I weighted 165 kg "wet", coming back from a practice ACM (Air Combat Maneuvering) which translate into 15~20 min tactical formation flying to the "MOA" Military Operating Area (which is restricted to civil aviation and where the military radars assume policing of the area. Then we part from the leader depending on the scenarios that we have to practice such as offensive, defensive, 1 vs. 1, 1 vs. 2, 2 vs. 1, advantage, disadvantage, disengagement, ... The "fighting part" would last one hour - with/without the instructor in the back or in the other plane. You engage or get engaged and fight it until he or you get a fatal shot at him (recorded by computers and sensors). Then you come back - 15 min this time because you can hardly spell your own name at that time, you are wasted. When I would get off the aircraft, I would have lost 2kg ~5 lbs of fluid. I would look like an old man, sunken eyes, forced smile, I will post the pics one day. It was grueling - sometimes, you would go throw up on the grass side of the TARMAC (privately, of course). Not because you were airsick but because your were to stressed out. Of course, it is not always like that but it does get to you in time, especially in combat. Look at the pics of young and combat pilots, you see it in their eyes - even the actor Jimmy Stewart (who was a bomber pilot, a CO, and made General), you can see that he went to war with his spiny kid face, and came back a mature if not old man - great actor, but much older. Take care Ben, good video chase you got there, that is the way it is. Ciao, L
Bernard Tremblay Hi my friend - that is a very good question. Let me tell you what I can say on the web (otherwise, let's get on private emails or call one another). In the desert (Gulf war I, II, and Afghanistan), Lapua ammo was the all-around ammo of choice, usually hand-loaded (match-grade) by or for the Snipers that I worked with. They used various loads (sub- vs super-sonic) and bullets depending on Tango. The cases were all Lapua, most guns were Lapua while some used Rem 700 BDL modified accurized in .338 Lap. (I reload Lapua incidentally with OEM Lapua casings) for target shooting. At the time I served there (Afghanistan), the record Sniper distance kill was held by two Canadians from your part of the country, if I remember well - they used TAC-Millan .50 cal and hit Tango over 2,400 m away in two or three tries, subsonic. As for Somalia, I supported the operation from the sea (headquarters). I heard about the scandal but I would be the last one to throw a stone at a soldier being "too" aggressive especially since the Black Hawk incident was such a costly failure - I handled the casualties until their transfer to Germany. The "Lone Eye in the Sky" was our unit!. In any case, for having been in combat many times, you find out rather quickly that you should fire first, ask questions later or your will not make it back. I have lost 23 close companions that "trusted" civilians we were "protecting", I got a beating myself by "civies" until rescued by the military so, I cannot comment on these allegations - especially since a lot of the political/journalist accusers had never served let alone been involved in such an destructive operation. How am I doing so far? Ciao, Brother, L
Bernard Tremblay Let me be a bit more accurate on the my statement about the Sniper ammo: This is what the Marine Snipers who were providing our makeshift airfield were using for their .338 Lapua Mag weapon/ammo. The reasons given were that according to their studies, the Lapua .338 Mag was very, very consistent right from the factory (they were using match-grade and/or custom-loads depending on the situation. Of course, the bullets were of the full metal jacket type (as per Hague Convention). For shorter range engagement, or "special occasions" where they had to "blend in" with the troops, they used custom and highly accurized M-4 (with various options) with either standard issue military ammo but more often than not Lapua-cased, specially prepared match-grade ammo. Long range, our guys had Barrett's Model 82, .50 cal Browning but I do not know what brand. Chances are, they were "custom loads" as well for consistency. They usually carried their tools in very resistant specially-made cases. The rest of the common warriors who shoot like me used std military-issue ammo. Ciao, L
That was amazing to see how it works. It looks like there are two teams and each has a leader who gives the final go by pointing forward. That looks like such a complex work environment. Yes, PLEASE post a duplicate of this video with your commentary/narration over it, but please keep the ambient sound under it too. Thank you for posting this.
I have just HUGE respect for these NAVY carrier crew members who launch these aircraft. I'm watching them mostly down in a crouch position during operations, at least red n green shirts that is, n I'm thinking 'how physically exhausting that must be to crouch down like that every day, all day, to do your part of launching aircraft. I was Army, 1986 -1990, and I wanna give a HUGE shout out to Navy brothers n sisters for their commitment to excellence!
This was short ops on a nice day. You should see it in bad weather at night during some kind of battle exercise... or a real wartime op! These are mostly young kids, too. Amazing. (former Flight Deck officer on a helicopter ship and Sigs Officer on a full carrier in the reserves.
Love this video, I was a C-2A Crewchief and was always inside the plane during this evolution, seeing the aircraft go into tension before the cat shot still brings chills, it's like being loaded into the chamber of a gun, you know you're going for one hell of a ride. Awesome video!!!!!! I miss those days sometimes, GO NAVY!!
Squatting is actually better for your health as scientists have discovered by looking at people who do a lot of squatting. Just do it correctly. Been out in the provinces of the Philippines? If so then you will see everybody squatting much of the time. news.usc.edu/166572/squatting-kneeling-health-sitting-usc-research/
@ Denzel 'My Nigga' Washington; Man, you are so right!!! Our 81' cruise was a six packer, for days spent at sea. Only three port visits in nine months. Counting work-ups we spent 11 months at sea!!! But I would do it again if called!!!
The protruding antenna and the radiation symbol at the nose of the aircraft made it look really cool. Form follows function, you can tell the Prowler was a purpose build electronic warfare aircraft unlike the new EA-18 Growler which looks unassuming and plain compared to the Prowler.
Army guy here. Pretty cool to see what you guys do. I'm always amazed that the military gives us so much responsibility at such a young age. People don't believe me when I say things like...I did that in the service but it only takes a video like this to prove it. Wish i had a go pro in Somalia. Proud to have served. Thank you for your service.
Amazing!!! My uncle told awesome stories and even horrible accidents. I remember him telling me, that he had and another guy were competing for “Yellow”, both men were competitive with hand signals, movements, lots of hand communication with pilots & much more. Which my uncle got the part of “Yellow”, and the other guy was “green” Well, My uncle retired from the U.S Navy. Thank you for taking your viewers, row seats
My goodness. What an important and dangerous job you have. I see the winds blowing on the flight deck, and I can't even come to a ralization of what you encointer when the outside temperature is low and the exhaust comes your way It looks really thrilling, but I would never had the courage you have up there. You have a nation of civilians that are proud, and very thankful for you. You have a marvelous video and I say thank you. Semper Fi
I was in from 75-79, made a Med-Cruise (Italy, France Spain) October 76 to April 77 on the last cruise for the "Rosie" CV-42, FDR. Roosevelt died in office near the end of WW-II, that ship was going to be the Coral Sea, but Roosevelt being a Naval man the Navy named it The FDR. The Coral Sea became the next carrier CV-43. I explained that because i would think of what it must have been like as a sailor during WW-II back when i was on that cruise. We go through when we do, i was a Aircraft Electrician (AE) attached to VA-215 and worked on the now long gone A-7 stationed at Lemoore, CA. We were not always on the flight deck as those guys, we went up to try to get a bird up for a the launch if it had a problem or after recovery from a mission because some things can only be determined while the engine is still turning (active/ on). There is nothing else on earth that is like working on the flight deck. There is potential danger all around you, but your 18, 19, 20 something and you just know you got this, no worries mate. Over 40 years later, they are thinking the same thing. We did and now they do, no worries, god bless them, each and every one. Turning into the wind, going to launch the next group and recover the last one, that way you maintain air cover overhead at all times. The good old days......
At almost 80 years old I would LOVE to spend an hour on the flight deck and experience a cat launch and a trap. I've been in gliders, helicopters, small planes, big planes, aerobatics but never a cat launch or a trap. That would be like winning the lotto.
I was on the CVN77 with my nephew for a Tiger Cruise from Mayport to Norfolk. Three days I will never forget. Hes a purple shirt. Absolutely amazing and good food. I'm Air Force so we ate good too.
I was on the USS Constellation back in the 90's when it stopped in Sydney, Australia for a few days. I was the first one got on board and also the last one left before closure. My most beautiful 8 hours in my life.
I had heard from somewhere ? that being on the deck crew on an aircraft carrier was one of the worst jobs to have; dirty, gritty, grimy - but these guys (& women) have such an important job keeping these pilots, and the whole ship safe. So disciplined and able to work well as a team. It's just AWESOME! !!! 😁✈🚢❕ And of course a very dangerous job in itself.
CAG said that we're special today. We're not on staion for some whiskey-delta ground support DASC is gonna fill us in airborne. But we're flying a strike mission over Teheran, into Mehrabad airport. ELINT has sat images-they think know where Al Bashir is. So, get your fangs out, Hawkins. We're hunting a big game today.
+Rico Suave Those sailors are glad to be in the shade at the end of the video. Your out side burning on that steel deck. It isn't a picnic and to some of them, that deck is a cubicle. Just saying.
+Rico Suave Don't over look the luxury of going home at night and enjoying down time. Saturday and Sunday you can hit the beach, or clubs or just chill in the privacy of your own home...meanwhile, these guys are still out there doing the exact same thing for weeks at a time, up to 20+ hours per day. It looks cool in a 10 minute video, but it's a shit job.
I still remember my workcenter at 02-250-4Q on CVN-71. Thats right next to the hangar bay jet shop on the fantail. We went days unable to hold a conversation due to engine testing. Same goes for the EA6b prowler parked over launcher 2 sponson. Once the Huffer got them started, they ran until the end of flight ops.
Thank you boys for your service!! Always wanted to experience this but.... I'm a idiot..... caught a felony at 18....spoiled my chances..... my buddy did tho he got out after jumping off the deck in the Indian Ocean lol he swam for a hour before they realized he was gone. He said that he was so cold his arms would not unbend on their own. It was a crazy experience he said.
I've always like to watch aircraft start up from aircraft carriers. This is an amazing sight. It is a pity that we have (in Russia) only one aircraft carrier. But the airplanes are more beautiful =) Peace, our American brothers.
Wonder why Russia does not build catapults. My country(India) would rather we buy a steam catapult from Russia than an EMALS from US for our new aircraft carrier (IAC-2). The USA might deny us critical spare parts in the time of a war. They once denied us access to GPS in 1999 war. We learnt our lesson and made our own GPS. OTOH, Russia is a solid partner, and you have supported us in our most dire straits (1971 war). You also help us by transferring critical tech to us. None of this the USA will ever do. BTW I do agree, Russians build beautiful planes (Su-30MKI) :)
@@death_parade actually US company General Atomics under loan from the US military is actually helping retrofit an emals system onto INS Vishal, making it india's first CATOBAR system with a linear induction motor. Expect US support in military training for manufacturing in the coming years, that's how we strengthen our alliance. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_Aircraft_Launch_System
@@stillnotspicy Read what I wrote again. Carefully. I know what EMALS is. I stated in my previous comment that I don't trust the Americans giving us that technology. General Atomics is not doing it on loan. We are paying for it. They are not retrofitting it onto INS Vishal. INS Vishal is being designed with it. Don't give me wikipedia links for stuff that I already know all about. Read carefully before you reply to me again. Idiots like you might be happy to have the US help India, but wise men know, US is a snake. Its not helping India. It is helping itself.
I find today's leisurely pace astounding. 2 aircraft off two catapults in two and a half minutes. 42 years ago we would put 5 in the air in the same amount of time with the same number of cats
Huge thank you to all those members serving in the unglorious roles, you might never have a movie made about you but none of this shit works without you.
Thank you to everyone for making this video BY FAR the most popular video on @FlightDeckLife and one of the best of it's kind! If you haven't been following along - I have tons more new content uploaded so check it out, like, subscribe and share! Have a great 2018 everyone!
Served on the USS Enterprise twice and the John F.Kennedy . Did the bow cats and arresting gear. Just something I noticed when the aircraft takes tension that the pilot doesn't come to full power while your checking for proper hold back secure the of the hold back bar. Call me to old school but I have seen those bars come out during that time
In this case, the shooter is in the Integrated Catapult Control Station, or ICCS/Bubble. The operator on deck is an enlisted sailor, the Catapult Safety Observer.
Спокойная слаженная работа. Без криков и воплей. Заслуживает всяческого уважения. Молодцы. Красавчик EA-6b ещё в работе, но наверно один из последних его вылетов...
Nice day for launching. But I kept thinking deck of a carrier has to be one of the coldest places to work when it’s shitty wx. Big waves, spray, maybe precip, and always high wind. Respect for being out there thru it all.
Working the Flight Deck endures multiple weather obstacles. Depends on the location while operating. I will say that operating in the Gulf, it’s HOT as shit. Staying hydrated and ensuring proper rotation is key to successful operation.
