Aircraft Carrier Ops

[Barb-SAN]

While browsing YouTube today I came across some videos of "Aircraft Carrier Ops". They give some some insight into the pilot skill required to land on a moving target. :eek: Some of these military pilots then go on to fly for the airlines after they leave the service. You may meet one if you ask to meet the pilots on your flight, and ask about their experience. :)
Em, Capt. Hutch, did you do this??

Cockpit view of carrier landing (good conditions): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snL4kUsTDOY&feature=related

"Pitching Deck Carrier Ops": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVgBayUfPJU&feature=related

Cat shot off Navy ship (take-off): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgchJYJFQG8&feature=related

Hornet Demo USS Kitty Hawk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmZWujAQFqQ

There's lots more on YouTube...

[Passenger Mark]

Great Videos Barb!!!!!

The cockpit view landing was really good!

Thanks for posting!

[Barb-SAN]

Here's another catapult launch from the pilot's perspective:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDGvQHru8-o&NR=1
I wonder if he/she's wearing a helmet-mounted Go-Pro video cam? http://gopro.com/

I have a pilot friend who does formation flying. She just got the Go-Pro, and uses it to record her flights, and loves it. Hands free videography, of course. Just turn it on...and then the pilot can focus on flying while the cam records the entire flight.

[Captain Hutch]

Barb-San,

Wow, some cool shots, thanks! No, I never did any of the carrier stuff, but it sure would have been great to have done that. Watching that makes you proud to be an American and know that we have the best fighter pilots in the world.
That hands off video camera would have been nice to have back when I was flying fighters. We weren't allowed to have video cameras in the cockpit because one day an A-7 (single-seat) was making a rejoin with another A-7 while watching thru the lens. Because the picture in the lens makes you feel a lot further away, the guy collided with the other A-7 since he didn't realize that he was so close. One of the A-7 pilots had to bail out, though I can't remember the results of what happened.

Hutch :thumbsup: