No formation landings in UPT
07-02-2020, 01:36 PM
#21
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Originally Posted by firefighterplt
I discussed this years ago at the duty desk. The theory was that in a Hornet, with weather below TACAN mins, all you’ve got is the PAR to get you down. If you’re NORDO, that means you’re sucking LAU down to the runway—formation landing. There simply isn’t enough time to execute flight lead sep on final if you’re breaking out at 200’ AGL. Made sense to me.
Only did it a few times. Once was a syllabus item, others were prebriefed ‘why not’ form landings.
It was fun, and a good tool for the toolbox, imo.
Only did it a few times. Once was a syllabus item, others were prebriefed ‘why not’ form landings.
It was fun, and a good tool for the toolbox, imo.
07-02-2020, 03:55 PM
#22
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Originally Posted by Excargodog
Must have made for a ..... interesting ... trap.
07-02-2020, 06:43 PM
#23
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It’s not about practicality in the real world, it’s about doing something difficult, and doing it well, that makes a better pilot. The Navy doesn’t need to send it’s students solo to the Boat in a T-45, they can do that in the FRS in their fleet airplane. But the confidence after getting your 5 traps and launching for the beach has value for a young aviator well beyond the training value of the maneuver by itself.
“We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard”
“We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard”
07-03-2020, 06:20 AM
#24
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Originally Posted by RckyMtHigh
It’s not about practicality in the real world, it’s about doing something difficult, and doing it well, that makes a better pilot. The Navy doesn’t need to send it’s students solo to the Boat in a T-45, they can do that in the FRS in their fleet airplane. But the confidence after getting your 5 traps and launching for the beach has value for a young aviator well beyond the training value of the maneuver by itself.
“We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard”
“We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard”
07-03-2020, 08:17 AM
#25
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Originally Posted by USMCFLYR
My contention - much like the formation landing or takeoffs - is that the FIRST time you see something like that doesn't need to be in your fleet aircraft; AND if you can't do it in successfully in training, then you don't need to be in the Strike/Fighter pipeline (or graduating with your wings).
07-03-2020, 08:54 AM
#27
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Originally Posted by rickair7777
Yeah there have been fleet airplanes which would have resulted in numerous hull losses and fatalities if they were used for initial carrier training. Walk before you sprint.
07-03-2020, 09:01 AM
#28
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Originally Posted by galaxy flyer
I’m showing age here, not USN but have known dozens, doing one’s first traps in the Vigi would have been interesting. The plane would have left the fleet much earlier thru attrition and NFOs would be in alcohol rehab quicker or just refused to fly,
07-03-2020, 09:07 AM
#29
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Originally Posted by galaxy flyer
I’m showing age here, not USN but have known dozens, doing one’s first traps in the Vigi would have been interesting. The plane would have left the fleet much earlier thru attrition and NFOs would be in alcohol rehab quicker or just refused to fly,
Heck - I was impressed enough with the ones who flew the T-28s as their first plane AND their first carrier qual!
I'm still waiting for someone with better Google-Fu skills than mine to find another formation landing mishap in the training command of any service (or fleet!)
07-03-2020, 09:36 AM
#30
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Originally Posted by USMCFLYR
Heck - I was impressed enough with the ones who flew the T-28s as their first plane AND their first carrier qual!
The next day a squadrons worth of F-9's showed up, flown by factory pilots. All the squadron guys got a manual to read that evening, and then the next morning each one got tutored while sitting in the cockpit with a factory pilot looking over their shoulder. That afternoon they headed off to the boat. He said it was a miracle they got all the planes and pilots onboard in one piece. Good 'ol days.
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