Originally Posted by
galaxy flyer
USMCFLYER
I know of at least one Tomcat that came aboard the wrong ship. They didn't notice it until the RIO said, "aw shucks, we came off of 67, this is 64" or words to that effect.
Funny thing about the ILs or RNAV approaches at KCKB, they all end at a runway. I'm fine with visuals, but these two mistakes are the resukt of guys jumping to conclusions and not paying attention to details. There is another posting elsewhere about setting the heading bug within a couple of degrees of the assigned and calling it OK or gripping about mil pilots be anal about those details--sweat the details and the big stuff will take care of itself.
GF
There is a story in a book written by one of the first TomCat pilots (the name escapes me at the moment) similar to that - landing on the wrong ship. I think his story is Vietnam era though. That plane didn't get off the wrong carrier without some special attention though!
Good book btw - but you realize that in today's environment that guy never would have made it through Primary.
My how times change - sometimes not for the better.
USMCFLYR
Edit:
'Feet Wet'
Paul Gillcrist was a navy carrier pilot for almost thirty years, from the early days of flying propeller planes from straight deck carriers, to the days of high-tech, lethal "teen" jets and supercarriers. In his remarkable career - from "nugget", to competent jet aviator, to test pilot, to Vietnam fighter pilot, to air wing commander, to head of "Fightertown, USA," Gillcrist flew the F-8 Crusader, F-4 Phantom, F-14 Tomcat, and a myriad of other tactical aircraft. As part of his absorbing stories
http://books.google.com/books/about/...d=76sGAAAACAAJ