Pitching Deck
 

Good account of a challenging day on an Aircraft Carrier. Two parts, each about ten minutes long. I didn't see any "terror", just good work in a tough situation.

CARRIER LANDING TERROR! Part 1
<http://www.angelfire.com/ak2/intelligencerreport/carrier1.html>

CARRIER LANDING TERROR! Part 2
<http://www.angelfire.com/ak2/intelligencerreport/carrier2.html>

I know the guy from 3:23 in on Part I (F-14 ramp strike). His NFO ejected and landed in the water. He landed on the flight deck in the fire. There is other video of that part and it will make you sick to watch it. He has burn scars on his forearms (sleeves rolled up) and neck. Last I talked to him he still doesn't remember from seeing he was going to land in the fire and waking up in the hospital.

That was very enjoyable to watch and it definitely keeps your attention. I couldn't believe 15-16 bolters in a row.

Thanks for posting.

In conditions like that it can be as much, if not more, of the timing of the deck than any obvious ball flying skill of the pilots.

Makes it hard to spot the deck when it keeps moving. I went three nights in a row with 6-7 bolters each when we were operating in heavy seas.

1st & 2nd, you kind of just accept that you knew it was coming.

3rd & 4th, you start getting frustrated and mad.

5th & 6th, you start trying to game it more with paddles feeding you info and power corrections, and a little peripheral deck spotting. Maybe a few prayers and hopes for some luck in timing.

Sprinkle in some tanking in there as you and the rest of the recovery start ripping through gas, trying to find your NVG's buried in your helmet bag, and get on/off the tanker before the next guy who just boltered shows up.

7+ you start getting scared, especially if you're blue water, or your divert is some craptastic 3rd world metropolis in say, East Africa. After some self reflection on downwind, you resign yourself to the tried and true "ball/lineup/ball/lineup" basics, flushing "techniques" and "gouge" from your mind realizing that and paddles are all that stand between you and a really bad night.

Somewhere in there you're hoping to get lucky and catch the timing right to just get aboard. When the LSO's come through to debrief you could care less what your pass was graded you're just happy to be there.

This is part of a longer multi-part series that I found pretty interesting. I believe I watched it on Netflix for those that are interested.

Carrier by PBS. Be prepared to lose 10 hours of your life to it. It's well done. Felt bad for the dudes with the pregnant ladies back home. :(

Feel worse for the guy that gets the call 4 months into cruise that his wife is 2 months prego. Seen it more than a few times.

I don't know about that. Small children are great! Pregnant women, not so much :rolleyes:

Pretty awesome vids