Oh the Tomcat! Used to love to park near the runway at NAS Oceana and watch them take off. So close, could wave to the pilots near the fuel depot. Miss that plane.
I've always been a fan of Aviation and the Carrier wings, but that controlled chaos of the flight deck still amazes me, Being in control of all that heavy metal, watching it launch and recover I think has to be one of the best jobs in the navy
Brings back great memories for me. I was a shooter on Kitty Hawk 92-94. Loved shooting the tomcats at sunset! Best job I had in my 23 years as a member of the navy team!
Thanks for the awesome memories from an old yellow shirt that was on the USS Constellation in '81-'82. Great job of capturing what we did as yellow shirts for me to share with my friends and family,
Great footage. Plankowner here! From shipyard to sea trials to first deployment. ABE3 Greenshirt, Cat 1...Great to see footage from my old stomping ground. I could watch this all day.
In my opinion this is the best "Shooters" ever. I have watched a lot of other carrier shooter and I found out this guy are really enthusiastic and charismatic and all the crew is stylish. I love to watch this video over again and again.
It must be pure adrenalin, but so physically harsh and dangerous. Such sacrifice of comfort and safety. I must say I'm awed by their dedication and professional chops.
Now that’s a trip down memory lane. A real airwing, fighters, medium bombers, tankers, Airborne Early Warning, strike fighters, anti submarine warfare and helicopter/plane guard. The gloss full grey and White A-6 are the KA-6D intruder. Same platform as the medium bomber A-6 but totally dedicated tanker platform. They were the ones that could give you a quick splash of fuel post strike to get you aboard the Carrier or a quick splash if you bolstered. Steve Cannon VFA-94. This video says 1991 but I am unsure if it was during pre deployment work ups or during the Maiden WeatPac of the Lincoln......Anyone remember Mount Pinatubo....the volcano in the Phillipines? Skipper James Ellis? CVN-72 CAG Webb? CVW-11. If this was the west pac this was the maiden voyage for the Lincoln and the First deployment for VFA-22 and VFA-94 after transitioning from the A-7E Corsair to the F/A-18C Factoid of the day VFA-22/94...From the time we stepped off the gang plank in Norfolk from the Enterprise (CVN-65) to the time we stepped onto the Lincoln was about 350-360 ish days....that includes retiring 10 A-7’s acceptance of 10 F/A-18C, training of all ground maintenance personnel AND training of all pilots including some ground deployment training...(NAS Fallon). Roughly about three-four months ahead of schedule. VFA-94 had a stowaway on the deployment. We had a Winged aviator but Training pipeline for the F/A-18 was back logged. He did a deployment with us as a ground officer and got to learn some fleet operations then when we got back to Lemoore he got slotted in the F/A-18 training syllabus.....Unfortunately KIA/KWF about two years later. RIP Mr. Kersgeiter!!
I was stationed on the USS Abraham Lincoln Dec 1988 - 1994.. I was an ET in the Combat System Department,, Loved watching flight ops from the Admirals bridge,,,
Airman Christian Abraham. This is PR3 Bob Maciejewski from the AIMD parachute loft. I was aboard the Abe Lincoln in January through March 1990. Did a few work up cruises. You helped me get a pair of flight deck boots. I still have them and still wear them. Thank you for finding them for me.
USAF F-15 Avionics technician and flight line Expeditor signing in. You Navy guys do some crazy stuff on the flight deck that we would never do on the flight line. No way in hell would I be that close to an F-15 intake with both engines running. Very dangerous work but you guys seem to have this type shit on lock. Keep doing what you do and be safe out there.
@DesOptions Right. and for example, when the Cat Officer (2:57) signals to launch the plane, he touches the deck before pointing towards the bow. This is so not any ramdom, pointing gesture is not mistaken for the launch command.
Back when Alpha Strikes were the shiznit.....4 ship of each loaded for bear. E-2s coordinating from above, EA-6B knocking out the radar, A-6 for the bombing backed up by F/A-18 and F-14 for intercept again backed up by F/A-18C. If we felt extremely cocky we could toss in a couple of S-3B. Primarily Anti Sub Warfare but they didn’t carry 500 pounders for nothing.
@EdgemanLL2 Thanks for the clarification and thanks for the reply. I understand the noise must be tremendous and, as a result, unmistakable hand signals are a must. It just struck me as too much, but when lives are at stake, better to go full bore, I guess! Thanks again for the reply and a Happy New Year to you and yours.
thank you for posting your "home vids" about flight ops on CVN-72. I did not fly on this one but it does bring a lot of good (or scary memories). Thanks again, L, Captain USN (Ret)
I too feel sorry for the generations that will only see drones fly! I was on the U.S.S. JFK CV-67 in the 70's I got to see it all F-8's F-4's Tomcats, Vigie's S3-A Vikings, Cod's Hello's A-4s, A-7's A-6's and E-2-Hawkeyes. Vietnam had ended and the Gulf war had not started. What a great time to be in the Fleet! We won the cold war! Now it's Hornets and droooooooooooooooooooones!(Sad)! I guess next will be unmanned Air Craft Carriers!
I Agree As Well. I Wish We Could See Those F-4s, F-8s, A-6s, EA-6s, F-14s, And A-7s Back (In Addition To The F/A-18s, And F-35s. This Would Make For More Variety In The Air Fleet). As Well As Having The USS Midway, USS John F Kennedy (67), USS Constellation, USS Ranger, USS Forrestal, USS Saratoga, And USS Kitty Hawk Back, Too
Thanks for taking the time to answer questions. I have watched this video sooo many times. I'm really intrigued by the hand signals and hand off from person to person. I have always wondered what the meaning of those gestures was. Some you can kind of figure out but others are not so apparent.
Plank owner here I was there Fire Division, DC1(SW/AW) LPO, before advancing to DCC on this vessel. Arrived in 89 as DC2, was the last plank owner to leave. Got the departure bong DCC(SW/AW) James H Clark last plank owner departing⚒🔥
I have been watching a lot of these and always so awesome to see. Unfortunate is the deck handlers on the more recent videos are definitely quite a few pounds heavier than they were in 1991. The state of our nation…
BEST FLIGHT OPS I HAVE SEEN EVER, well done SQUID :-) I was on Constellation CV64. Right now CV64 is at Cape Horn being towed to Texas to be chopped up :-( Thank you so much for the TOMCAT LAUNCHES. SQUIDS ROCK and AF doesn't have a clue, I know they are SCARED.
Question for any of you folks that have served - how do you live with the noise? Was down in San Diego, watched a pair of aircraft (hornets?) launch from Coronado. Absolutely deafening from a half mile away (or more.). Even set off car alarms. It must sound like the end of the world from a few feet away. You are,as they say, the man
Thanks for this. I can't find any of my videos. I was an AO2 with VA-95 (the A-6s in this video) and did the 91, 93, and 95 WestPacs on the Stinkn Lincoln :)
It recalls the dazzling recollection from a Navy Family Day excursion aboard the old Connie or even the Lincoln. It was thrilling and unbeatable military bang for the buck.
The A6 at about a minute in with the full Gloss Gull Grey and White is the KA-6D Intruder. Same platform but a dedicated aerial tanker. The F14 at a little over two minutes had the kneel switch. Basically a switch that allowed compression of the nose strut to allow the launch bar to fit in the catapult shuttle!
Back during the golden era of Naval Aviation, when no less than 5 different types of combat aircraft could be seen shooting off a CVA or CVN deck. Now everything is a hornet, expect to see an elongated F-18H with room for 6+ soon (Super COD).
Thanks for sharing this. I enjoy watching the activity that takes place on a flight deck. While I don't understand each role that these guys are doing, I surmise that the odd choreographic is to ensure that the way he moves cannot be confused with normal movement to the pilot??
I CQd as a BN in the A6 Intruder on Abe...just months prior to this video...off the coast of SoCal in late 90. It was her first cruise, having just moved to the Pacific from Norfolk, only months prior to her being called to the Gulf and Desert Storm.
The true Grey and White A-6. Is the KA-6D Intruder. Does not carry weapons just five external fuel tanks and a drogue system to provide aerial refueling usually a pre or post strike “ Splash” of fuel to get aboard the ship or a quick top off for the aircraft to meet the next tanker allowing maximum weapons load without exceeding max take off weight. The post strike gives a splash to have enough to safely trap on the carrier but not exceed landing weight.
@goldenboyi1989 Little bit of hot-dogging there. Not all directors do that. He is instructing the pilot to "kick" in the afterburners. The actual command for that is (6:00) as he is walking along, you see his (left hand, holding 1 finger up) "wave" a few times. That tells the pilot to max his N1. Usually they hold up 5 fingers, spread wide (indicated "go to zone 5") which is the cue for afterburners
Of all the squadrons in this video. At least three are decommissioned, VA-95, VF-114, VS-29. Both F/A18 Squadrons have been redesignated to F/A-18F Super Hornet (2 seaters). The remaining F-14 Squadron (VF-213) was re-designated VFA and nownflies the F/A-18F Super Hornet. The EA-6B Squadron still remains but transferred to the EA-18G Growler after the retirement of the EA-6B. Only the Helicopter (HS-6) and the E-2C Squadron remain as their original mission but with updated airframes.
+snapolson, I was also on the Lincoln at this time. I am a plankowner, and I aasume you are as well seeing your dates of service. Mount Pinatubo, ahhh the memories of having a dog and cat kennel in the hanger bay!! LoL I was in OI Division and worked in Combat Direction Center. great video, brought back so memories.
I love watching this vid.......must be one magic job, the 2 lads "hooking up" the catapult and the hand signals they use or the Flite commander........pity B52's couldn't land on a carrier, mind U, U'd need SOME size of boat for them.......like a condor, SOOO big U just wonder how they don't fall from the sky, but still have a graceful elegance, pity they're being scrapped..as for the "noise" ....like being at a Motorhead gig, but Motorhead are better!!!"it's a bomber......." Thanks for posting
I have always loved the way the USN launches aircraft. Especially the marshaling and all of the hand signals. Our aircraft launches in the USAF were much more sedate in comparison. :D
@EdgemanLL2 Thanks for the information. Must be an awesome spectacle and would love to experience it in person, but don't think I'd have the moxie to do it for hours on end, day after day like you and your shipmates
I flew on board abe lincoln cv 72 in Aug 91 in the Persian gulf rode it home to Alameda just in time for thanks giving have some pics of us pulling through the sf bay and of the city from the flight deck great ship
@DesOptions Its actually engaging the shuttle. Shuttle is what pulls it down the length of the catapult. The hand signal is to put tension on the catapult. Its deliberately exaggerated so that there is no mistaking the intent. Due to the noise, hand signals are the means of communication. Critical signals are intentionally unnautural-looking and exagerrated so that there is no mistaking the intent.
Nice to see many comments from veterans on this video. Could someone, perhaps, explain the various hand signals? I get the gist, but a little detail would be nice.
and some people think their jobs are intense! There is NO room for error on that bit of naval real estate. Weird to see the F-14s knowing they're retired now
At the end of the cruise we had to ferry one extra aircraft back to the states which combined with the 10 aircraft rack for our two squadrons made a 21 aircraft formation. Not being a pilot I trust one of the pilots for my squadron and it was a 21 aircraft Delta Formation so literally six rows of 1-2-3-4-5-6. That was the formation used for the arrival Flyover back at our home base of NAS Lemoore, CA. Since we couldn’t get hold of any transport aircraft we had to go Greyhound from Alameda to Lemoore. About five Greyhound Busses full with a California Highway Patrol escort for about the last ten miles from I-5 exit to the squadron areas.
It's a shame to think that all the aircraft seen in this video have been retired by the Navy now; even the older-model Hornets shown here have been removed from front-line combat units of the US Navy and now serve with reserve and training squadrons.
@BlueStarCadet08 Well, you have the ear protection from the headset. And I insulated my headset with an extra layer of the insulation (stolen from an old headseat, and cut to fit) and I used foam earplugs. Believe it or not, after all that, its not much louder than what you hear on this vid with my speakers at about 60% (slide the YT vid volume to full).
Always admire the brown shoe community. For those who have romantic dreams of flight deck ops. heat, long hours, and always danger is a constant companion. As part of the communications community always loved to watch flight ops, and do our small part to ensure successful flight ops!! Go Navy!!
I was with HS-17. We took the Lincoln Around the Horn in 1990. It was a great boat.
My best friend Mike Maloney is on this video. Pilot taking off. At 5:30 on video. Awesome thx everyone for your service on this Memorial Day.
Nothing sexier than a Tomcat launching off the pointy end in full burner !
Love this video !
Oh the Tomcat! Used to love to park near the runway at NAS Oceana and watch them take off. So close, could wave to the pilots near the fuel depot. Miss that plane.
Gosh I miss the sounds of the flight deck. Specially the F-14, the EA-6B as they taxi. Go Navy!!!
Me too bro! ABH3 V1 Div Baby!
I was on this cruise. Assigned to Fighter Squadron 213. Fighting Blacklions. What memories!!!
What division.
AO3 Hector Rodriguez VF213
I've always been a fan of Aviation and the Carrier wings, but that controlled chaos of the flight deck still amazes me, Being in control of all that heavy metal, watching it launch and recover I think has to be one of the best jobs in the navy
I was part of the crew during this operation thanks for the memories
Brings back great memories for me. I was a shooter on Kitty Hawk 92-94. Loved shooting the tomcats at sunset! Best job I had in my 23 years as a member of the navy team!
Awesome...Before shooting what was your flying background? Fighter. Attack, VAQ, VAW etc??
My bro was a plane captain for VF-111 on the Kitty Hawk those years. AN Garcia.
Stephen Cannon I was a VP NFO. When I left the ship, most of our shooters were P-3 bubbas.
The Tomcat is THE carrier airplane.... AWESOME...everytime... i LOVE it !
Truly amazing to see the work that we displayed! I am so proud to have been part of the crew. EA6B. VAQ-135 Black Ravens.
Thanks for the awesome memories from an old yellow shirt that was on the USS Constellation in '81-'82. Great job of capturing what we did as yellow shirts for me to share with my friends and family,
Great footage. Plankowner here! From shipyard to sea trials to first deployment. ABE3 Greenshirt, Cat 1...Great to see footage from my old stomping ground. I could watch this all day.
In my opinion this is the best "Shooters" ever. I have watched a lot of other carrier shooter and I found out this guy are really enthusiastic and charismatic and all the crew is stylish. I love to watch this video over again and again.
I was on this ship when this was filmed ! Amazing that you have footage. I was in pri fly Status board keeper and spotter.
It must be pure adrenalin, but so physically harsh and dangerous. Such sacrifice of comfort and safety. I must say I'm awed by their dedication and professional chops.
Thank you so much for this. My son is currently a shooter on a carrier and this is the closest I'll ever come to seeing him do his job.
Thank your son for the great service to the country bless him and his family
Now that’s a trip down memory lane. A real airwing, fighters, medium bombers, tankers, Airborne Early Warning, strike fighters, anti submarine warfare and helicopter/plane guard.
The gloss full grey and White A-6 are the KA-6D intruder. Same platform as the medium bomber A-6 but totally dedicated tanker platform. They were the ones that could give you a quick splash of fuel post strike to get you aboard the Carrier or a quick splash if you bolstered.
Steve Cannon VFA-94. This video says 1991 but I am unsure if it was during pre deployment work ups or during the Maiden WeatPac of the Lincoln......Anyone remember Mount Pinatubo....the volcano in the Phillipines?
Skipper James Ellis? CVN-72
CAG Webb? CVW-11.
If this was the west pac this was the maiden voyage for the Lincoln and the First deployment for VFA-22 and VFA-94 after transitioning from the A-7E Corsair to the F/A-18C
Factoid of the day VFA-22/94...From the time we stepped off the gang plank in Norfolk from the Enterprise (CVN-65) to the time we stepped onto the Lincoln was about 350-360 ish days....that includes retiring 10 A-7’s acceptance of 10 F/A-18C, training of all ground maintenance personnel AND training of all pilots including some ground deployment training...(NAS Fallon). Roughly about three-four months ahead of schedule.
VFA-94 had a stowaway on the deployment. We had a Winged aviator but Training pipeline for the F/A-18 was back logged. He did a deployment with us as a ground officer and got to learn some fleet operations then when we got back to Lemoore he got slotted in the F/A-18 training syllabus.....Unfortunately KIA/KWF about two years later. RIP Mr. Kersgeiter!!
That ea-6 is so loud it shakes your teeth. Brings back memories.
I was stationed on the USS Abraham Lincoln Dec 1988 - 1994.. I was an ET in the Combat System Department,, Loved watching flight ops from the Admirals bridge,,,
Airman Christian Abraham. This is PR3 Bob Maciejewski from the AIMD parachute loft. I was aboard the Abe Lincoln in January through March 1990. Did a few work up cruises. You helped me get a pair of flight deck boots. I still have them and still wear them. Thank you for finding them for me.
USAF F-15 Avionics technician and flight line Expeditor signing in. You Navy guys do some crazy stuff on the flight deck that we would never do on the flight line. No way in hell would I be that close to an F-15 intake with both engines running. Very dangerous work but you guys seem to have this type shit on lock. Keep doing what you do and be safe out there.
I was on the Lincoln from 93 to 96 and worked on th flight deck. Great video brings back some memories. Go Roof Rats V-1 Air fly 3 PO.
Nice to see the Tomcats again. I was an AT with VF-114 Aardvarks on the Enterprise. Of course that was way back in '88 :) Fun times
i think being an aircraft director on a carrier would be amazing.
@DesOptions Right. and for example, when the Cat Officer (2:57) signals to launch the plane, he touches the deck before pointing towards the bow. This is so not any ramdom, pointing gesture is not mistaken for the launch command.
Gotta love the F14 Tomcat.
ikr
Favourite US Navy plane! More after seeing them in Top Gun! :D
When we were truly bad ass!!!! A6 Intruder for strikes, F14 for intercepts and fleet deffence, and the F18 attack.
Back when Alpha Strikes were the shiznit.....4 ship of each loaded for bear. E-2s coordinating from above, EA-6B knocking out the radar, A-6 for the bombing backed up by F/A-18 and F-14 for intercept again backed up by F/A-18C. If we felt extremely cocky we could toss in a couple of S-3B. Primarily Anti Sub Warfare but they didn’t carry 500 pounders for nothing.
@@stephencannon3140 A-4s , F-8s and A-1Hs! CVA 19 & 34 1966-68
@EdgemanLL2 Thanks for the clarification and thanks for the reply. I understand the noise must be tremendous and, as a result, unmistakable hand signals are a must. It just struck me as too much, but when lives are at stake, better to go full bore, I guess! Thanks again for the reply and a Happy New Year to you and yours.
Jesus...Flight Deck ops are always impressive to watch.
Ditto.
thank you for posting your "home vids" about flight ops on CVN-72. I did not fly on this one but it does bring a lot of good (or scary memories). Thanks again,
L, Captain USN (Ret)
I too feel sorry for the generations that will only see drones fly! I was on the U.S.S. JFK CV-67 in the 70's I got to see it all F-8's F-4's Tomcats, Vigie's S3-A Vikings, Cod's Hello's A-4s, A-7's A-6's and E-2-Hawkeyes. Vietnam had ended and the Gulf war had not started. What a great time to be in the Fleet! We won the cold war! Now it's Hornets and droooooooooooooooooooones!(Sad)! I guess next will be unmanned Air Craft Carriers!
I agree 100%
1980 - 1994
VF-103
VF-101
VF-33
AIMD Nas Oceana
USS FORRESTAL CV-59
USS SARATOGA CV-60
USS AMERICA CV-66
I Agree As Well. I Wish We Could See Those F-4s, F-8s, A-6s, EA-6s, F-14s, And A-7s Back (In Addition To The F/A-18s, And F-35s. This Would Make For More Variety In The Air Fleet). As Well As Having The USS Midway, USS John F Kennedy (67), USS Constellation, USS Ranger, USS Forrestal, USS Saratoga, And USS Kitty Hawk Back, Too
tomcat what a beaut.. retired way premature
Thanks for taking the time to answer questions. I have watched this video sooo many times. I'm really intrigued by the hand signals and hand off from person to person. I have always wondered what the meaning of those gestures was. Some you can kind of figure out but others are not so apparent.
Great video. Never get tired of watching. Turn it up!
Love it!!! I was on the Indy from 93-97.
Plank owner here I was there Fire Division, DC1(SW/AW) LPO, before advancing to DCC on this vessel. Arrived in 89 as DC2, was the last plank owner to leave. Got the departure bong DCC(SW/AW) James H Clark last plank owner departing⚒🔥
I have been watching a lot of these and always so awesome to see. Unfortunate is the deck handlers on the more recent videos are definitely quite a few pounds heavier than they were in 1991. The state of our nation…
Who cares if they a bit heavier. They do an awesome job.These young men and women provide protect us and you want to bitch about there weight?
I love at 2:30 how the RIO of Tomcat 210 waves goodbye to the camera.
Well done boys! One-Team, One-fight. Go Navy, From Army, covering our feet from angels high!
Thanks George for answering the question:) Thank you for your Service!
AHHH, my old ship, I'm also a plank owner and was on it at the time this video was made. I was in V-4 div. working on the flight deck.
BEST FLIGHT OPS I HAVE SEEN EVER, well done SQUID :-) I was on Constellation CV64. Right now CV64 is at Cape Horn being towed to Texas to be chopped up :-( Thank you so much for the TOMCAT LAUNCHES. SQUIDS ROCK and AF doesn't have a clue, I know they are SCARED.
Shes been taken apart now! In Brownsville! Bastards!!
@ockroot It means "shake a leg" before takeoff. Just a performance to relax the pilots
Question for any of you folks that have served - how do you live with the noise? Was down in San Diego, watched a pair of aircraft (hornets?) launch from Coronado. Absolutely deafening from a half mile away (or more.). Even set off car alarms. It must sound like the end of the world from a few feet away.
You are,as they say, the man
Thanks for this. I can't find any of my videos. I was an AO2 with VA-95 (the A-6s in this video) and did the 91, 93, and 95 WestPacs on the Stinkn Lincoln :)
It recalls the dazzling recollection from a Navy Family Day excursion aboard the old Connie or even the Lincoln. It was thrilling and unbeatable military bang for the buck.
Thank you for sharing and thank you for your service.
The A6 at about a minute in with the full Gloss Gull Grey and White is the KA-6D Intruder. Same platform but a dedicated aerial tanker.
The F14 at a little over two minutes had the kneel switch. Basically a switch that allowed compression of the nose strut to allow the launch bar to fit in the catapult shuttle!
Back during the golden era of Naval Aviation, when no less than 5 different types of combat aircraft could be seen shooting off a CVA or CVN deck.
Now everything is a hornet, expect to see an elongated F-18H with room for 6+ soon (Super COD).
Great footage, thanks for posting!
Thanks for sharing this. I enjoy watching the activity that takes place on a flight deck. While I don't understand each role that these guys are doing, I surmise that the odd choreographic is to ensure that the way he moves cannot be confused with normal movement to the pilot??
I could watch this all day!
My cousin served on the Abraham Lincoln in Feb-Jul 1993. He was an OS3 and worked in CDC.
Ahh yes the A6 intruder. My other favorite next to the Tomcat.
Thanks for sharing this. I was a green shirt on the Kennedy from 85-89
I CQd as a BN in the A6 Intruder on Abe...just months prior to this video...off the coast of SoCal in late 90.
It was her first cruise, having just moved to the Pacific from Norfolk, only months prior to her being called to the Gulf and Desert Storm.
The true Grey and White A-6. Is the KA-6D Intruder. Does not carry weapons just five external fuel tanks and a drogue system to provide aerial refueling usually a pre or post strike “ Splash” of fuel to get aboard the ship or a quick top off for the aircraft to meet the next tanker allowing maximum weapons load without exceeding max take off weight. The post strike gives a splash to have enough to safely trap on the carrier but not exceed landing weight.
@goldenboyi1989 Little bit of hot-dogging there. Not all directors do that. He is instructing the pilot to "kick" in the afterburners. The actual command for that is (6:00) as he is walking along, you see his (left hand, holding 1 finger up) "wave" a few times. That tells the pilot to max his N1. Usually they hold up 5 fingers, spread wide (indicated "go to zone 5") which is the cue for afterburners
Of all the squadrons in this video. At least three are decommissioned, VA-95, VF-114, VS-29. Both F/A18 Squadrons have been redesignated to F/A-18F Super Hornet (2 seaters). The remaining F-14 Squadron (VF-213) was re-designated VFA and nownflies the F/A-18F Super Hornet. The EA-6B Squadron still remains but transferred to the EA-18G Growler after the retirement of the EA-6B. Only the Helicopter (HS-6) and the E-2C Squadron remain as their original mission but with updated airframes.
Only thing missing is the glorious flight deck smell. Nothing on earth like it!!! VA 196, 87-91
+snapolson, I was also on the Lincoln at this time. I am a plankowner, and I aasume you are as well seeing your dates of service. Mount Pinatubo, ahhh the memories of having a dog and cat kennel in the hanger bay!! LoL
I was in OI Division and worked in Combat Direction Center. great video, brought back so memories.
I was assigned to 95 Lizards
I was there too! VAQ-135 Black Ravens (EA-6B Prowler) - AT2 Sittner
I love watching this vid.......must be one magic job, the 2 lads "hooking up" the catapult and the hand signals they use or the Flite commander........pity B52's couldn't land on a carrier, mind U, U'd need SOME size of boat for them.......like a condor, SOOO big U just wonder how they don't fall from the sky, but still have a graceful elegance, pity they're being scrapped..as for the "noise" ....like being at a Motorhead gig, but Motorhead are better!!!"it's a bomber......." Thanks for posting
Outstanding flight ops. Launching procedure's.
love the deck crew -the real duty every day
My daddy is in this! Woooo!
I was on that boat during that time, HOOAH!
I think we lost three f-14's before we ever hit the Gulf due to crashes. One of planes landed in Singapore with only one wing.
Coolest flight launches on here. Deck orchestra well done.
I have always loved the way the USN launches aircraft. Especially the marshaling and all of the hand signals. Our aircraft launches in the USAF were much more sedate in comparison. :D
I was there at that time a plankowner in communications! My how time flies!
@EdgemanLL2 Thanks for the information. Must be an awesome spectacle and would love to experience it in person, but don't think I'd have the moxie to do it for hours on end, day after day like you and your shipmates
Un vrai régal!!!!!!!!!!!j'adore!!!!!!!!!
Jan/17/1991
Beautiful and painful memories at the same time......
Air borne Was here
I flew on board abe lincoln cv 72 in Aug 91 in the Persian gulf rode it home to Alameda just in time for thanks giving have some pics of us pulling through the sf bay and of the city from the flight deck great ship
@DesOptions Its actually engaging the shuttle. Shuttle is what pulls it down the length of the catapult. The hand signal is to put tension on the catapult. Its deliberately exaggerated so that there is no mistaking the intent.
Due to the noise, hand signals are the means of communication. Critical signals are intentionally unnautural-looking and exagerrated so that there is no mistaking the intent.
Another Plankowner here. Can't believe it but I do miss my time on the Lincoln.
@PInk77W1 : don't worry, we only have an 80 year headstart flying from carriers :)
Very cool vid. Thank you uploader.
Nice to see many comments from veterans on this video. Could someone, perhaps, explain the various hand signals? I get the gist, but a little detail would be nice.
Now, that's a heck of an idea for a video!
and some people think their jobs are intense! There is NO room for error on that bit of naval real estate. Weird to see the F-14s knowing they're retired now
Exelente demostración de coordinación y labor
Ahhh....F-14s. Nice video. Thanks.
2:20 Maverick and Goose.
Mason Slover
Great.- Were you a fighter pilot in the navy?
@DesOptions The director is an enlisted guy. But the Cat/Ag (catapult/arresting gear) officers supervise the launch and recovery.
At the end of the cruise we had to ferry one extra aircraft back to the states which combined with the 10 aircraft rack for our two squadrons made a 21 aircraft formation. Not being a pilot I trust one of the pilots for my squadron and it was a 21 aircraft Delta Formation so literally six rows of 1-2-3-4-5-6. That was the formation used for the arrival Flyover back at our home base of NAS Lemoore, CA. Since we couldn’t get hold of any transport aircraft we had to go Greyhound from Alameda to Lemoore. About five Greyhound Busses full with a California Highway Patrol escort for about the last ten miles from I-5 exit to the squadron areas.
It's a shame to think that all the aircraft seen in this video have been retired by the Navy now; even the older-model Hornets shown here have been removed from front-line combat units of the US Navy and now serve with reserve and training squadrons.
RIP Daddy I love you.
Tolle Leistung der Ingenieure. Auf super kurzer Starbahn wird der Jet auf Startgeschwindigkeit beschleunigt. Möchte auch einmal Fluggast sein.
@BlueStarCadet08 Well, you have the ear protection from the headset. And I insulated my headset with an extra layer of the insulation (stolen from an old headseat, and cut to fit) and I used foam earplugs.
Believe it or not, after all that, its not much louder than what you hear on this vid with my speakers at about 60% (slide the YT vid volume to full).
love the flight line...miss it
@EdgemanLL2 I was wondering about that.. thanks for the information, much appreciated.
If only the civilian world was run like this, SOP's, precision, responsibility, everyone being held to a high standard and accountable.
you need money for that
That's Right
Amen.
Philadelphia USA🇺🇲👍👍🙏🙏🙏🧠🫀🫁☦️🕯️🕯️🕯️💯👶👶👶👶😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😸🎠🎠🎠🩰👁️👁️🌎🏥🪖📿☕🌹🌹🌹🌹🍿😘📞🚫🥩🐴🐎🏇🏇🏇🏇🏇😜
Thats is so awesome what you guys do is amazing it make me proud to be an american with the great airpower we have!!!!!
Always admire the brown shoe community. For those who have romantic dreams of flight deck ops. heat, long hours, and always danger is a constant companion. As part of the communications community always loved to watch flight ops, and do our small part to ensure successful flight ops!! Go Navy!!
My wife and two daughters got to ride this ship in 1991. From Sudic to Cebu.
V1 and V0 - Such good times!!
Great to see a Big Tomcat!
So badass thank you Army Navy Airforce and Marines