quote:

Originally posted by YooperSigs:
I would like to experience a Catapult launch!

And an arrestor hook landing.

quote:

Originally posted by LS1 GTO:
Also, being that it was Blacklions, my spidey senses would've been off the chart. For the superstitious in the crowd, that squadron was not known for having the best of luck in the 80s and 90s.

Yeah the joke around Oceana was they gave the Blacklions D's because all the parts shortages for them meant they wouldn't fly much. While I was around in B-models, they were on an extended 24 months between deployment, had about 5 jets, 3 of which were wrapped in tinfoil.

We deployed, did a turnaround, then deployed again the same time they finally deployed.

quote:

Originally posted by 2000Z-71:

quote:

Originally posted by YooperSigs:
I would like to experience a Catapult launch!

And an arrestor hook landing.

A "trap" in laymens terms.

quote:

Originally posted by RHINOWSO:

quote:

Originally posted by LS1 GTO:
Also, being that it was Blacklions, my spidey senses would've been off the chart. For the superstitious in the crowd, that squadron was not known for having the best of luck in the 80s and 90s.

Yeah the joke around Oceana was they gave the Blacklions D's because all the parts shortages for them meant they wouldn't fly much. While I was around in B-models, they were on an extended 24 months between deployment, had about 5 jets, 3 of which were wrapped in tinfoil.

We deployed, did a turnaround, then deployed again the same time they finally deployed.

Well the one thing the squadron did do right, if I recall correctly, they grounded Lt Dunai before she killed someone.

(She was the reason why fake fingernails are nor allowed in the cockpit.)

Hmmm. Flew with a Tomcat driver with the “Biff” callsign at NAS Meridian as a flight instructor. Can’t remember his last name but he was pretty much a loner/didn’t fit in really. I know it’s not a unique callsign but wonder if it’s the same guy?

And for those who might wonder...although coming to a dead stop in the air and landing vertically on a moving ship is fun, there’s just something completely satisfying when you feel that rapid deceleration when you catch a wire and are slung forward in the straps. I only have 10 shipboard traps (and maybe another 6-7 ashore) but each one was incredible!

My favorite one is Jerry Reed and his story of his F16 flight.

https://youtu.be/WD_A1yIfs3M

quote:

Originally posted by mojojojo:
there’s just something completely satisfying when you feel that rapid deceleration when you catch a wire and are slung forward in the straps. I only have 10 shipboard traps (and maybe another 6-7 ashore) but each one was incredible!

Yeah, it's a barrel of laughs, until they turn out the lights. Like most things in the military, there is a way to make extremely fun things into not fun at all things.

But cyclic ops, Case I, CAVU, zip lip recoveries where everyone has their shit wired tight is amazing to be part of.

Back in 1985 I spent the first 10 seconds of my birthday admiring the long green line appearing in the centre of the cockpit canopy.

The'line' was made up of the runway centre-line lighting as we flew, inverted, along the runway at 500kts.

We were, I recall, flying at about 150 feet, it felt like ten.

I would like to thank the writer of this article and nhtagmember for posting it.
Just reading about the experience makes it as real as I’d like it to be for me.

I’ve inquired enough at Balboa Naval Hospital to know that at Miramar you have to go through the dunk tank to get a ride, and the dunk tank may be too much for this chickenshit old fart.

My cousin was in the Navy and has spent a good bit of time on the Roosevelt and then on shore in VA. During that time she won some Sailor or they year or month or something. Part off the award was a ride in a F18. She said they commander took her down somewhere around the Carolina's to show her how a bombing run might be and then out over the Atlantic to show her some speed. She said it was fun but about made her sick.

quote:

Originally posted by charlie12:
...took her down somewhere around the Carolina's to show her how a bombing run might be...

Probably Dare County bombing range. Did a lot of work up there when based at Cherry Point.