I spent 21 years in the Navy, spent my time on the flight decks of more than one Carrier. I can proudly say that Naval Aviators are the best there are. Landing a plane on a pitching deck, at night with no moon, that takes a very special type of a person.
I wonder if they ever found that perpetual oil slick from the USS Coral Sea? The oil skirt around the hull always had a thick sheen of POL while it was in port at Alameda NAS. 🫡
Watching this leads me to believe it was filmed in 2005. CDR (Commander) David Fravor retired from the Navy in 2006. I found this on the Internet: CDR (Commander) David Fravor is a retired naval pilot and Commander of VFA-41 also known as "The Black Aces". He is one of the primary witness in the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident. He was featured in the 2008 PBS documentary Carrier and has been interviewed on Joe Rogan's podcast The Joe Rogan Experience. Fravor joined the military at the age of 17. He has a career spanning 24 years, 18 of which was as a Navy pilot. He had completed five tours to the Persian Gulf starting after Operation Desert Storm. He commanded a squadron of 12 airplanes consisting of 330 people. Fravor retired in 2006.
The woman he's going out with at 10:40 could easily be the identitiy-hidden female pilot from the documentary "Unidentified:"-- same hair, jaw, lower face etc. I think it's her. Watching her chew gum here it really seems possible. ON Hulu now, originally History Channel
The ocean is huge and powerful, an aircraft carrier is small and insignificant. You have to see it to believe it. I was a navy sailor for four years, all sea time. I saw it.
I think about my time in the military and the one thing that I always tell guys who are thinking about joining is that it's a young man's playground, the most fun you will ever have while facing the most danger you will ever see. My God, some of the best memories that I will ever have and I will cherish them forever. Only those who have been there will understand that grin on my face as I rock my last days away on my front porch.
My cousin tells stories about landing the E-2 Hawkeye on a pitching deck. He was the first to acknowledge it's not as bad as landing an F-14 (career based fighter of the time), but he described the E-2 as like jumping the Grand Canyon in a milk truck. In pitching seas where the deck is swapping 15 degree grades in each direction, timing becomes a huge factor. With an approach speed of 135 kts, timing the landing is next to imposable, so luck plays a huge part. We own these guys a truckload of gratitude for hanging it out there.
11:27 "Come on Jell-O, come on Jell-O" referring to Vincent "Jell-O" Aiello, the pilot we see at 3:00 and these days the host of the Fighter Pilot Podcast
CDR Fravor CO VF41 Black Aces. 11:00…. “Never ask your men, or women, to do something you’re not willing to do yourself.” The epitome of leadership. Bravo fucking Zulu CDR!!!!!
this was (is) a double-edged sword. He risked showing lack of confidence in the pilot he replaced. On the other hand, he clearly knew the exceptional circumstances that existed. I think he made the right decision.
I’ve watched this video multiple times, as a retired submariner I have a new found respect for my surface shipmates. My son is an AC on the Regan. I appreciate you posting this for everyone to see.
The pilot in the beginning, Cmdr. Favor, is the same guy that talked about the UFO encounter on the news a year or so ago. Extraordinary pilot and leader. It makes the encounter story more credible in my eyes.
That is amazing, I did not know this! Just off this short piece alone, you learn a lot about the individuals on board that boat. The way that man carries himself, I feel bad for any enemy pilots that ran into him...
I was a Flight Deck Troubleshooter on 2 Nam cruises. This video brought back some crazy, wonderful memories. I LOVED working the "Roof" and still have TREMENDOUS respect for our pilots!
I served as enlisted with VF-11 on the USS Forrestal in the 1970"s. I remember a few nights when it took hours to get all the birds back. This video captures it so well. I felt like I was back on the boat while watching it.
I expect quite a few got sea-sick their first days aboard, but they do get used to it. What I can't imagine, as a GA pilot myself, is landing on a pitching deck! That has to be difficult! I bet more than one had a rather rough landing. And landing exactly so your tail-hook catches (or if it doesn't, hopefully the net will!) -- bless them all!
I imagine some of those pilots got the wet diaper award. That's where you pee your pants. I would have. I served on a carrier, but I wasn't flight crew or a pilot, and I thank my lucky stars I wasn't but those pilots did have my complete and utmost respect.
Incredible bravery, skill and professionalism not only from those pilots but the rest of the crew too. I'm a British ex serviceman and would be honoured to serve among these amazing people.
That last pilot went up to replace a less experience pilot. He didn't want to be out there and he certainly wasn't going to let someone else do it. On top of that he was the last pilot to get aboard so he had no support in terms of extra fuel. Amazing.
Yes, he took a chance IF there wasn't another tanker up there, but I'm sure he knew what he was doing, (another tanker COULD have been sent if needed) still, he went willingly for his men, you have to hand that to him! They DO look out for their own. Safe landings to all of them!
James Hanscombe - that’s why he’s the Commanding Officer of that wing. He showed great leadership recognizing the situation and taking the flight himself. Then he landed on his first pass. That’s very impressive.
A mark of a great officer who cares about their team. Willing to stand in place during dangerous situations as to not risk the lives of someone less experienced.
Only because he couldn't convince the 'other guy' not to conduct the operation in the 1st place. Failed at Diplomacy, Succeeded in the Battle. Politics.
The carriers always looked rock solid to us. We were on a DDG (Guided Missile destroyer. 512ft. Beam; 60ft at widest point. We did some rock-n-rollin'. Amazing to see a pitching deck like this. Fair winds and following seas shipmates.
From someone who wore AF blue for 25 yrs, I have nothing but the highest regard for carrier crews, from the pilots themselves to the deck crews, whether they're refueling crews, weapons, or any of the other positions. Arguable the single most dangerous work environment there is...even on a good day. Props to our Navy brethren and sisters!
Jodi was Air Force SK. And yes, a cable could snap but unlikely these days. Several people have lost limbs to arresting cables coming apart in the past.
Watching carrier ops at night is crazy. The pilots are incredibly skilled to land on a moving postage stamp at night with very little lighting. Most chop I ever saw was heading out of the Med into the Atlantic. 40 foot waves. Nearly the entire ship was secured. No air ops, of course.
jamesd2128 I agree. I'm fascinated with carriers and have seen a number of documentaries on them. I know they edited and revised this one a bit even after initial release, but I'm trying to remember which documentary series ended with the command staff expressing surprise at some of what the enlisted chose to share. I don't think it was this one, but I can't remember which other one it might have been.
I'm thinking it might well've been this series. I was surprised and pleased that the DOD didn't put the kibosh on this documentary, given that the contents were not all sunshine and lollipops. The straight shooting I observed in this series, made me all the more impressed by the men and women of the USN.
jamesd2128 lol. Have you ever deployed on a carrier? They definitely polished that documentary up. They didn't show them eating the same thing for two weeks because we're running out of food. They don't show where 150 people are using toilets that you are not able to flush for 48 hrs because you are not in an area to dump the shit in the ocean. They didn't show you sitting in the gulf for 2 months in a 120 degree oven. They didn't show the JP5 (jet fuel) tainted water you drink. I can go on and on.
So much respect for these women and men who do this day in and day out. Makes my trails and tribulations of "pitch for speed and power for altitude" mantra in landing a Piper Cherokee on a stable, fixed runway seem like a darned joke. Thank all of you naval aviators for all that you do, everyday, everywhere!
I love the contrast of the younger guys laughing and betting whether or not the pilot gets on board and the older guy at 17:10. You can tell... he knows.
One career that is NEVER routine and boring !! Hats off to these courageous pilots and also the carrier deck crews , you HAVE to be very switched on at all times to do any of these tough jobs. From an ex British Army paratrooper.
So awesome worked on a carrier for a few years as a jet mechanic and SAR swimmer for HC-1 and loved hanging out on the catwalk at night after 12 hour shift was over watching the night launches and landings. Every one of my rescues were all at night, sea state 5-6 with no horizon. God bless our Navy pilots, best in the world.
I was army and while never on a fighting Navy ship I sailed across the North Atlantic from New York City to Bremerhaven , Germany on a 600 foot troop carrier in the middle of January, pitching deck is a very nice word for what we experienced.
I was a Navy Airdale during the Viet Nam era, and stationed aboard the oldest active carrier in the Navy, the USS Essex (CVA-9) during the middle of 1968. We flew missions in the north Atlantic during some really rough seas and pitching decks. Our squadron flew the Sikorsky SH-3A twin turbine anti-submarine helicopters during takeoffs and landings for rescue if needed. Some of the main compliment of fighters aboard were the Phantom F4s! What a plane that is..they are still being flown in parts of the world. I used to park myself near the fantail and watch those two "fireball" engines light up the sky as the launched from the catapult! During that tour, I've seen flight operations continuing during 30 foot plus seas. One night they finally got all the planes back on the deck, and almost not soon enough. The swells raged up to 50 feet that night, and were so tall that the bow was dipping into the waves! That weather lasted almost three days. I never experience anything so rough!
3:38 We were off the coast of Japan at the start of our Deployment (Kitty Hawk's last from San Diego before transferring to Yokosuka). We were having some pitching deck thanks to a distant Typhoon, a Pilot from VF-51 tried coming aboard and the result you see is of a ramp strike. Both Pilot and RIO survived. Pilot though, came down in the flames and suffered severe burns and had to be medivaced back stateside. RIO suffered only a sprained ankle and was flying again in a few days. Until about 10-15 seconds before the rampstrike... I was watching recovery ops from my SRBOC sponson directly under the ramp on the 03 level. I could literally slap the round down right under the ramp. I was just shutting the inner door on the lightlocker leading out onto the sponson when she hit.
I think the most surprising thing for me was the last pilot on the deck earlier saying "Do I agree or disagree with it? It's not for me to say. It's probably beyond where we needed to be". Put that in contrast with the Captain's basically saying "No, we need to push through and do it". In the end when the captain scraps the night ops ahead of time, you can see the pilot was right. What is amazing is an officer publicly criticizing the captain. As a former military person myself, that kind of criticism is usually given behind closed doors, and I respect the navy here for allowing it.
Joseph Haynes An AT2 is an E5 sailor who has the rating of Petty Officer 2nd class (Sergeant in Army or Marines, Staff Sergeant in Air Force) and the rate of Aviation Electronics Technician (AT). ATs work on aircraft communications and navigation equipment. AQs work on airborne fire control and radar systems. AXs handle airborne antisubmarine warfare equipment, and AWs are inflight antisubmarine equipment operators. I was a TD2 Training Device Technician. F-4B/J radar interception trainer.
Joseph Haynes Don't feel like the Lone Ranger! Spec #s vs ranks confuse me, so we're even. The Navy system is more logical since it gives you rank and job category all in one simple alphanumeric.
Thank you all for your service and your sacrifices you are truly a rare breed. Just being on that pitching deck would be terrifying and to try to land on one for get it. You folks are amazing.
Number one it's a job like anyother and how ya handle it is like anyother. In civilian life there are also jobs where ya need to pay attention to detail and how ya do your thing... The Navy taught me that from my inception and I never once dumped a single plane in the drink not once. The flight deck spelled home and good food to me... I am grateful to every man and woman I ever served with... In my day we were the best of the best couldn't be beaten by nobody... I owe my life to the U.S. Navy.
I'm impressed and amazed at the skill all of you have. Thank you so much for your missions that you go out on and come home from. Thank you for being out there. You are always so very much appreciated and grateful for your service. Semper Fidelis
As a member of the crew who shot this it was terrifying to try to hand on whilst the carrier bopped around .. These carrier crews and pilots are ultra professionals ..
Wow, god bless our aviators. I could feel the tension just watching this on my computer, I cant imagine in real life the pressure these folks feel every day.
I was an aviator in an A-6 squadron on USS Eisenhower. I got 329 carrier landings. The two places pitching deck was the worst was the North Atlantic and the Indian Ocean. I've seen the deck pitch AND yaw...at night. I've been in the last night tanker many times. It was scary at the time, but great memories.
im the enlisted guy in primary flight control at scene 0833 in the video . i was standing up looking out the window to see how many aircraft were in the flight pattern to land ( by looking for the blinking light) as well as im looking at cat 1 and 2 to get the aircraft number to input it in ISIS board :) That night Suuuuuucked, but damn i miss those days !
CDR Dave Fravor and I were in the same Classes in Flight School. I loved the Challenge of Pitching Deck Launch and Recovery. In 26 years of my 30 year Navy Career. I wouldn't change a thing.
Keep at it. When you can consistently plant it on the numbers, on centerline and stop in two stripes, you can apply to the AOC program. Then someday maybe you can have your very own "night in the barrel".
@@williamsanders5066: "chuckle"... A pilot friend once remarked to me: "In a three hour flight, there are two hours and forty five minutes of boredom, and fifteen minutes of sheer terror."
Shipboard operations is never routine and night ops are always tense. Landing was always the greatest challenge but launching off the pointy end of the boat into the pitch black was something you never get use to.
I'm ex USAF, not a pilot, an engineer, - I was in flight test and the navy test pilots were mind glowingly good - yes I know USAF jocks ARE incredibly good too... this gave me white knuckles just watching it - the runway is NOT supposed to pitch and roll!! Hand salute to the Navy personnel -tough and VERY dangerous job! Thank you!
in the civilian world a lot of these fly commercial airlines...you can always tell the navy guys from the AF guys.....AF guys use the whooolllllleeee runway...lol..navy guys are up, wheels up and headed for the outer pattern by the time they pass the tower..lol
@@savoy69 and when landing the navy pilots tend to put the plane down a little harder , both branches have great pilots just different ways of landing and taking off
@@savoy69 This doesn't even make sense. Rotation speed dictates the point of lift-off, not style or experience. It's a aircraft performance and physics thing. With that said, I'll take this moment to say that Navy guys have to land on a ship, cool. But they land with full head-wind and almost zero crosswind (the ship lines up for them in the most favorable way) and take off IS automatic (they do nothing other than apply full power), and landing CAN be auto as well depending on the circumstance. This isn't 1950 anymore.
The photography on this posting is absolutely excellent. Watching Top Gun on a big screen was the standard I measure it against,and this was a pleasure to watch.
It's the squadron CO's job; take care of his people and lead by example. He took his nugget pilot's tanker flight for her, then showed the kibbitzers in the ready room an OK 3 wire on his first pass. Can you spell PROFESSIONAL?
I wonder if he gets dinged by his superiors for failure to delegate? Like, why are you doing tanker runs as the CO when you should be doing awesome leader stuff blah blah failure to develop your pilots and so on.
Greg Shane Maybe, but I doubt it. His superiors have all been in his shoes and faced the same kinds of decisions. They also are aware that the successes of women in Naval Aviation is still a sensitive PR issue. If his nugget tanker pilot has a successful flight, it goes unnoticed. If she fails spectacularly, it's bad PR. It's a lose/lose situation. Guess who has to write the letters to next of kin of the two crew lost in the event. Guess who gets to sit in front of a board of investigation if she crashes on deck and starts a fire that threatens the entire ship. He knows her landing record. You and I do not. It's all about risk management.
You guys rock man you impressed me so much I'm getting Goose Bumps up and down my shoulders you guys are so awesome God Bless America thank you for your service you guys are so awesome I'm proud to be an American I Love You Keep On Truckin I love
Really what about the rescue helo's ? Huh they go out in the shit when you crashed. Then they have to fix your possibly horribly busted carcass. Coast Guard.
17 years CPO CSG5/CVW5. This work is no joke. You better be in your game, or go home. There is absolutely no room for error. Keep that head on a swivel shipmates, and it’ll be a fine NAVY DAY! 🫡
We used to hover , waiting to land doin flite ops in the So. China see! The Phantoms and A4's were comin back from bombing runs in the No. Vietnam. I was aCH53 Crew Chief w/ HMM165.1972/73. Landed on 5 Dift. carriers. Served on 4 LPH's.#3,10,11 & 12.Semper Fi.
I was an AF flightline rat, could not imagine doing what I did on a pitching ship. Even the below deck maintenance would be a nightmare. My dad was a Radar Operator on a destroyer in 1959 or 60, he has told me some pretty crazy high seas stories.
I will also say this about carrier pilots. They are not afraid to say when something scares them more than flying. I was an instructor at NPTU Balston Spa. We got a couple of Naval Aviators that were going to be XO's on nuclear powered aircraft carriers so they had to be Nuke qualified as well as aviators. I was EOOW when one of the prospective XO's had their final casualty watch in Maneuvering as EOOW. We finished the 3 or 4 casualty drills and ended the watch. I went back my office and a few minutes later, this Commander knocked on my door and asked if he could come in and talk. I said of course and he sat down. He looked at me and said "Chief, I don't know how you do it. I would rather be in combat over Vietnam with a MIG up my ass than in that box during a casualty." It is just what you are trained to do.
I would hope that every time I fly on a commercial airline that the pilots are x-NAVY pilots! These pilots have got to be the best in the world. Hats off to them all!!! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸⚓GO NAVY⚓🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
You allude to the point which Capt. Chesley Sullenberger made after the 'Miracle on the Hudson' which was his experience level versus that of the new crop of pilots. His comments ticked off a lot of pilots but he was exactly right.
@@MrLikeke Airline pilots don't need to have 2000hr in an F4 these days. It's frankly pretty easy work. Most kids straight out of college could learn to do it.
@@lachyt5247 I direct your attention to the Pilot Records Improvement Act (PRIA) which was necessitated by several high profile accidents. At the basis is the hiring process which allowed unqualified pilots to fill the seats. As a working pilot I have known some pilots who were woefully unqualified. So ill equipped that they constituted a danger to their passengers and the general public. I don't scare easily but some of these pilots have truly scared me. Several I was able to see the writing on the wall - that an accident was in their near future. Lo, they did have accidents which destroyed aircraft and have caused fatal injuries. I agree that it is easy work and it is not required to have thousands of hours of mil time. But it's not a bad idea since the bottom of all this is it is a 'people problem' (not only 'human factors') and mil discipline is beneficial to the career. I am not an accident investigator yet I have associated with a good number of them. Plus, I personally know the aviation directors of several university or state aviation departments. No, I am not a Riddle rat, I came up the hard way, I paid out of pocket at Part 61 schools and some advanced training at Part 141.
My old Squadron - VF-41!!! I served with the Black Aces, flying the F-4J Phantom from 70-74 under Guy Cane, Raymond A. Ways, E. J. Hickey and I believe, another CO, whose name I cannot recall. Three Med cruises and a couple of North Atlantic cruises on the USS FDR (CVA-42) in some of the worst weather imaginable. I rotated out just before the squadron transitioned to the F-14.
Okay, they are getting tossed around some, I understand how this is VERY difficult for the pilots flying from the ship. For the rest of the crew, they don't know what rough is! Take a look at the escort ships, the cruisers, destroyers and maybe a friendly frigate. THOSE are the ships getting tossed around. I have been down in the roaring 40's of the South Pacific in an 11,000 ton cruiser with swells taller than the ship! When walking down a passageway you had to walk on the floor and sometimes put a foot on the wall to not fall over. We had to strap ourselves into our racks and wedge ourselves in so we wouldn't fly out and we didn't get much sleep! That said I have 4 family members currently serving in the US NAVY! Thank you to all, GO NAVY!!
Keith Johnston And because they're so thin skinned a 20MM round can go right through the hull and out the other side. Ever hit a soup can full of water with a rifle bullet?
This ship went around the horn during a hurricane with 100ft swells. The rest of the fleet turned and ran. Believe me with enough water this big baby will move. That is water over the flight deck by the way.
Try that on a 206' flat bottom LSMR in 80+ ft seas, I saw waves higher than the bridge. It took us some 3 months to cross the Pacific, one storm after another. Now that's one hell of a ride. There were a lot of boots who were saying prayers every night, and kissed the ground when we tied up at Yokosuka. But I'd do that again before I'd try to land on a pitching flat top..
I was watching a documentary that said pilots stress levels were at their highest when coming back to landing on the deck. Even higher than that in combat scenarios. Much respect to these guys. Can't imagine how hard it is to do this, especially at night!
Not much light at night, hard to see props wind milling. The most respected job on the roof. Hats off to the ABs and PCs who handle the bird farms flock. SEMPER FORTIS
The best video ever of what it means to be a Navy pilot. I wanted to fly Navy, got hit with a baseball bat in 5th grade. (pick up game and I was a catcher.....no protection....dude swung and let go, hit my left cheek.) Left eye goes crossed. No depth perception. Russia, China????? Go away because of these men and women.
nikonian1116 everyone’s got a story like this, chances are 99% of you ‘colorblind’ ‘cross-eyed’ ‘too tall’ guys never would have made the cut regardless. Don’t beat yourself up over it.
Everything looks different at night, even for this Sailboater in places well familiar during the day. I can't imagine landing at night on a deck that is kicking around like that at speed.
You soldiers, sailors, pilots, and all the military who support the pilots and their roles , you have my humble thanks and I honor your commitment to duty. May God richly bless and divinely protect you as you selflessly serve the greatest nation that the world has ever seen. Thank y’all so much. May God’s hand be upon you and your families.
I was in VF-154 during the Vietnam war. Two Westpac cruises, 1967-68 and 68-69. We were in a typhoon on one of those cruises. Everything top side was locked down. The hangar bay aircraft were protected as best they could. There was a small tv in the library and in the ready room I believe and waves came over the bow. During that typhoon I never felt any rolling of the ship at all that would toss me out of my rack. Sea legs helped navigating the passage ways. Was glad to get through it.
Last pilot is a BOSS!!! That one pilot everyone respects cuz he has the balls to tackle on head first the toughest situations and looks out for his peeps
Us Navy ,and Marine pilots the best of the best in the world. as A retired Marine GySgt 22 + years Honorable service. thank you for your service in our great Military in defense of our Country.. "Semper Fi"
Now THESE are pilots !! I’ve been a pilot for 25 years, flying a lot of aircraft types, but I wouldn’t make a pimple on one of these guys ass ! They are incredible and earn our respect every day. Blue skies guys and Thank you !
Our military deserve the salaries of the NFL, not a regular 9-5. This is how fucked our government is. Yeah. We may have the best military(not) but barely any money to live off of. Give our troops FHE salary of a NFL 1st string qb
@@xReaperDen I wouldn't say barely any money. These pilots are officers and make a respectable amount. I would love to see them being payed there fair share though.
The brash self-confident arrogance of Navy carrier pilots may grate on me, a lot, but I understand why they are that way, and I find myself admiring and respecting what they do.
I was on the Nimitz 83-87 Operation Specialist, Navy pilots cool and laid-back compared to surface officer!!!!! Lt Drew (Dark Gable) Brown invited a young OSSN (I was mess cranking) into the ward room to talk, tellig me all about Muhammad Ali and his dad, who was Boudini Brown one of Ali's handlers.
I think being brash, arrogant and self confident is part of the job description and if it isn't, it should be. U.S. Navy pilots, the absolute BEST in the world! GO NAVY! 🇺🇸
That is the attitude you have to have to do what they do. People that aren't supremely self confident would never have the balls to even get on the cat.
As a Ret. USAF veteran, all I can say to Our US NAVY, is a Hand Salute, and thanks to all that served. As we go forward in life, you see the depths of training in every environment make soldiers for life in every arena.
I have the highest respect for my flyboys, especially the carrier pilots. It was something wild to watch them fly over and come back on nite sorties during Desert Storm. They won that war and the tankers cleaned up on the ground. We have a great military when its in the hands of a competent CIC.
1st saw this on the PBS series 'Carrier'. So glad I found it here on UA-cam. Mad respect for all the crew & pilots. How the crew stand on that deck to bring the Pilots in under some of the craziest circumstances...I'll never know!
michmvp: Oh, yeah. Even more difficult on the flight deck at night. Fifty years later, I still have visible marks on both shins! Good God; has it been 50 years...?
michmvp: I was Aviation Ordnanceman with VA-192. Did two WESTPAC cruises in Ticonderoga (CVA-14) and one in Oriskany (CVA-34) in the 4 years I was in the Navy. Thanks for asking.
I was an AO also. Fresh out of boot camp, followed by AO "A" School and then to VF-101 at NAS Oceana where I lasted 6 months and then attended STA-21. Loved the Navy!
I was on USS Independence CVA 62 for 4 years,,, we have some of the best pilots in the world. A great ship... I was 18, worked on the Meat Ball, and the TV cameras in the deck,,, a thing about those landings. We could have caught the back end of a storm or were going into one. Often times they are hard to avoid. Once we get out of storm,, its back to flight operations. But they have to get the plane back on deck no matter what the weather is like. So many Brave Pilots,, Bravo Zulu to you all and all who serve.
Marine Corps Air is always entertaining to watch at the boat!! Two cruises aboard the good ship Nimitz in '91 and '93 flying the venerable A-6E Intruder. No HUD, no goggles, steam gauges all the way. Best flying of my life, keep it up guys (and girls).
This is why we have the best Navy in the world. You can steal all the blueprints and manuals you want. But generations of experience and training; from building to sailing, can't be copied out of a book.
I’ve heard stories & interviews for years . Tu to actually see the horizon moving up & down , it’s just a wow moment ! Combine that with the visual aid of a piece of paper representing a pilot view @ night & I can only say that I’d prefer to not do anything remotely similar to! Newfound respect for carrier pilots ! Thank you guys for being the tip of Americas spear , I realize why I sleep so soundly ! This from a Security Bn marine !
I spent 21 years in the Navy, spent my time on the flight decks of more than one Carrier. I can proudly say that Naval Aviators are the best there are. Landing a plane on a pitching deck, at night with no moon, that takes a very special type of a person.
My cousin was a Marine Corps fighter pilot. He says without a doubt the scariest thing he ever did was night landings on a carrier.
I was a crew chief on ac Ch-46E helicopter we used to do night time landings on a one spot ship. Yes it's dangerous to land on a ship at night.
U.S.S. Coral Sea c.v. 43 , A.O. , they don't call them sea legs for nothing .
I wonder if they ever found that perpetual oil slick from the USS Coral Sea? The oil skirt around the hull always had a thick sheen of POL while it was in port at Alameda NAS. 🫡
No L B
Look 😊 12:23 oo
B
on a side note
CDR Fravor is the pilot that encountered the Tic Tac
Watching this leads me to believe it was filmed in 2005.
CDR (Commander) David Fravor retired from the Navy in 2006.
I found this on the Internet:
CDR (Commander) David Fravor is a retired naval pilot and Commander of VFA-41 also known as "The Black Aces". He is one of the primary witness in the 2004 USS Nimitz UFO incident. He was featured in the 2008 PBS documentary Carrier and has been interviewed on Joe Rogan's podcast The Joe Rogan Experience.
Fravor joined the military at the age of 17. He has a career spanning 24 years, 18 of which was as a Navy pilot. He had completed five tours to the Persian Gulf starting after Operation Desert Storm. He commanded a squadron of 12 airplanes consisting of 330 people. Fravor retired in 2006.
The woman he's going out with at 10:40 could easily be the identitiy-hidden female pilot from the documentary "Unidentified:"-- same hair, jaw, lower face etc. I think it's her. Watching her chew gum here it really seems possible. ON Hulu now, originally History Channel
It's incomprehensible to me that something that big moves up and down that much that fast. Crazy. Much respect to the sailors that manage all of that.
Much respect to the ocean to be able to move those massive carriers.
Lol 😅
The ocean is huge and powerful, an aircraft carrier is small and insignificant. You have to see it to believe it. I was a navy sailor for
four years, all sea time. I saw it.
@Wormhole798 been on a few dependants cruises. When you think about the closest land beeing 100 miles below you. Reality check
Incomprehensible is when you finally see how big the Pacific Ocean is.
I think about my time in the military and the one thing that I always tell guys who are thinking about joining is that it's a young man's playground, the most fun you will ever have while facing the most danger you will ever see. My God, some of the best memories that I will ever have and I will cherish them forever. Only those who have been there will understand that grin on my face as I rock my last days away on my front porch.
Carrier, One of the best military documentaries ever!
My cousin tells stories about landing the E-2 Hawkeye on a pitching deck. He was the first to acknowledge it's not as bad as landing an F-14 (career based fighter of the time), but he described the E-2 as like jumping the Grand Canyon in a milk truck. In pitching seas where the deck is swapping 15 degree grades in each direction, timing becomes a huge factor. With an approach speed of 135 kts, timing the landing is next to imposable, so luck plays a huge part. We own these guys a truckload of gratitude for hanging it out there.
Much respect to your cousin
So nice to see David Fravor in here. Great show! Thank you for your service beautiful people.
11:27 "Come on Jell-O, come on Jell-O" referring to Vincent "Jell-O" Aiello, the pilot we see at 3:00 and these days the host of the Fighter Pilot Podcast
i thought that sounded like him
I was gonna say, BABY JELLO!
CDR Fravor CO VF41 Black Aces. 11:00…. “Never ask your men, or women, to do something you’re not willing to do yourself.” The epitome of leadership. Bravo fucking Zulu CDR!!!!!
this was (is) a double-edged sword. He risked showing lack of confidence in the pilot he replaced. On the other hand, he clearly knew the exceptional circumstances that existed. I think he made the right decision.
UFO man ;)
@@groth3395 It looked bad to me, too. His decision shamed her needlessly.
I’ve watched this video multiple times, as a retired submariner I have a new found respect for my surface shipmates. My son is an AC on the Regan. I appreciate you posting this for everyone to see.
I've watched many submarine videos to see what my Dad did & plz let me say thank You for your service❣️✌️🇺🇸🙏
@@The-ii5mjVery much appreciated, as well. Much respect for your family as well.
The pilot in the beginning, Cmdr. Favor, is the same guy that talked about the UFO encounter on the news a year or so ago. Extraordinary pilot and leader. It makes the encounter story more credible in my eyes.
I thought he became POTUS and led the fight against the aliens in Independence Day! 😉
Exactly. I could not have put it better myself. A truly exceptional Naval Aviator and Commanding Officer.
That is amazing, I did not know this! Just off this short piece alone, you learn a lot about the individuals on board that boat. The way that man carries himself, I feel bad for any enemy pilots that ran into him...
Fly Navy. 🫡
M
I was a Flight Deck Troubleshooter on 2 Nam cruises. This video brought back some crazy, wonderful memories. I LOVED working the "Roof" and still have TREMENDOUS respect for our pilots!
Fravor is a good solid dude.
That's what a real leader looks like.
And taking that tanker flight for his junior female pilot because of the risk. True leader 👍
It’s the difference between a director and a leader. Leaders don’t ask their people to do anything they wouldn’t do themselves.
I served as enlisted with VF-11 on the USS Forrestal in the 1970"s. I remember a few nights when it took hours to get all the birds back. This video captures it so well. I felt like I was back on the boat while watching it.
I was literally stressed out watching this video. I can't imagine what these guys were feeling. Mad respect for these aviators.
I expect quite a few got sea-sick their first days aboard, but they do get used to it. What I can't imagine, as a GA pilot myself, is landing on a pitching deck! That has to be difficult! I bet more than one had a rather rough landing. And landing exactly so your tail-hook catches (or if it doesn't, hopefully the net will!) -- bless them all!
I feel the same way......there is not enough money to ever get me to try that stuff.
I imagine some of those pilots got the wet diaper award. That's where you pee your pants. I would have. I served on a carrier, but I wasn't flight crew or a pilot, and I thank my lucky stars I wasn't but those pilots did have my complete and utmost respect.
Not just the aviators but all the sailors on the ship, too.
SMaze17 As opposed to figuratively stressed?
Incredible bravery, skill and professionalism not only from those pilots but the rest of the crew too. I'm a British ex serviceman and would be honoured to serve among these amazing people.
That last pilot went up to replace a less experience pilot. He didn't want to be out there and he certainly wasn't going to let someone else do it. On top of that he was the last pilot to get aboard so he had no support in terms of extra fuel. Amazing.
David Fravor was the last pilot, the Squadron C/O. He loved his men.
Yes, he took a chance IF there wasn't another tanker up there, but I'm sure he knew what he was doing, (another tanker COULD have been sent if needed) still, he went willingly for his men, you have to hand that to him! They DO look out for their own. Safe landings to all of them!
I know the pilot who was replaced. She could have done it. This struck me as posing for the cameras.
James Hanscombe - that’s why he’s the Commanding Officer of that wing. He showed great leadership recognizing the situation and taking the flight himself. Then he landed on his first pass. That’s very impressive.
@@kszirovecz Agreed -- ALL those officers are pretty impressive, and we thank them for serving their country!
An awesome experience. Great respect for all the pilots, but what commander Favor did for his young pilot was very special and shows true leadership.
A mark of a great officer who cares about their team. Willing to stand in place during dangerous situations as to not risk the lives of someone less experienced.
Only because he couldn't convince the 'other guy' not to conduct the operation in the 1st place. Failed at Diplomacy, Succeeded in the Battle. Politics.
Not just an officer a leader
@@christiantroy3034💯💯💯
I'm not an aviator, but damn!...much respect 1000%. No exaggeration I do appreciate and respect what you do to keep alert, and the nation safe.
MAD RESPECT !!! Immense pride that you people are out there risking your lives for the country , thank you .
Saw the Top Hatter emblem...VF-14...that takes me back 53 years to USS FDR (CVA-42)
The carriers always looked rock solid to us. We were on a DDG (Guided Missile destroyer. 512ft. Beam; 60ft at widest point. We did some rock-n-rollin'. Amazing to see a pitching deck like this. Fair winds and following seas shipmates.
From someone who wore AF blue for 25 yrs, I have nothing but the highest regard for carrier crews, from the pilots themselves to the deck crews, whether they're refueling crews, weapons, or any of the other positions. Arguable the single most dangerous work environment there is...even on a good day. Props to our Navy brethren and sisters!
Jodi Jensen I was a medic, retired out of AFSOC after 20 yrs, 29 days. Nice to see someone from big blue!
Jodi Jensen could a snapping arrestor cable take part of your leg off ????
Jodi was Air Force SK. And yes, a cable could snap but unlikely these days. Several people have lost limbs to arresting cables coming apart in the past.
Air force and commercial for almost 30 years and I always wanted to do a carrier tour. These men and women are absolutely incredible.
Amen brother. Spent 9 years on the Carl Vinson and I miss it and regard it to this day. IYAOYAS!
Watching carrier ops at night is crazy. The pilots are incredibly skilled to land on a moving postage stamp at night with very little lighting. Most chop I ever saw was heading out of the Med into the Atlantic. 40 foot waves. Nearly the entire ship was secured. No air ops, of course.
This is maybe my favorite bit of the Carrier series. A truly remarkable documentary series.
It was real good.
It was the best I've ever seen, not propaganda, just brutal honesty and candour throughout.
jamesd2128 I agree. I'm fascinated with carriers and have seen a number of documentaries on them. I know they edited and revised this one a bit even after initial release, but I'm trying to remember which documentary series ended with the command staff expressing surprise at some of what the enlisted chose to share. I don't think it was this one, but I can't remember which other one it might have been.
I'm thinking it might well've been this series. I was surprised and pleased that the DOD didn't put the kibosh on this documentary, given that the contents were not all sunshine and lollipops.
The straight shooting I observed in this series, made me all the more impressed by the men and women of the USN.
jamesd2128 lol. Have you ever deployed on a carrier? They definitely polished that documentary up. They didn't show them eating the same thing for two weeks because we're running out of food. They don't show where 150 people are using toilets that you are not able to flush for 48 hrs because you are not in an area to dump the shit in the ocean. They didn't show you sitting in the gulf for 2 months in a 120 degree oven. They didn't show the JP5 (jet fuel) tainted water you drink. I can go on and on.
So much respect for these women and men who do this day in and day out. Makes my trails and tribulations of "pitch for speed and power for altitude" mantra in landing a Piper Cherokee on a stable, fixed runway seem like a darned joke. Thank all of you naval aviators for all that you do, everyday, everywhere!
I love the contrast of the younger guys laughing and betting whether or not the pilot gets on board and the older guy at 17:10.
You can tell... he knows.
One career that is NEVER routine and boring !! Hats off to these courageous pilots and also the carrier deck crews , you HAVE to be very switched on at all times to do any of these tough jobs. From an ex British Army paratrooper.
Unbelievable. So, so proud of ALL the crew! Thank you.
So awesome worked on a carrier for a few years as a jet mechanic and SAR swimmer for HC-1 and loved hanging out on the catwalk at night after 12 hour shift was over watching the night launches and landings. Every one of my rescues were all at night, sea state 5-6 with no horizon. God bless our Navy pilots, best in the world.
TYFYS. May you always be blessed!
I was army and while never on a fighting Navy ship I sailed across the North Atlantic from New York City to Bremerhaven , Germany on a 600 foot troop carrier in the middle of January, pitching deck is a very nice word for what we experienced.
I was a Navy Airdale during the Viet Nam era, and stationed aboard the oldest active carrier in the Navy, the USS Essex (CVA-9) during the middle of 1968. We flew missions in the north Atlantic during some really rough seas and pitching decks. Our squadron flew the Sikorsky SH-3A twin turbine anti-submarine helicopters during takeoffs and landings for rescue if needed. Some of the main compliment of fighters aboard were the Phantom F4s! What a plane that is..they are still being flown in parts of the world.
I used to park myself near the fantail and watch those two "fireball" engines light up the sky as the launched from the catapult! During that tour, I've seen flight operations continuing during 30 foot plus seas. One night they finally got all the planes back on the deck, and almost not soon enough. The swells raged up to 50 feet that night, and were so tall that the bow was dipping into the waves! That weather lasted almost three days. I never experience anything so rough!
I was on Cva63 during astorm .Never carried so many tie down chains
3:38 We were off the coast of Japan at the start of our Deployment (Kitty Hawk's last from San Diego before transferring to Yokosuka).
We were having some pitching deck thanks to a distant Typhoon, a Pilot from VF-51 tried coming aboard and the result you see is of a ramp strike. Both Pilot and RIO survived.
Pilot though, came down in the flames and suffered severe burns and had to be medivaced back stateside. RIO suffered only a sprained ankle and was flying again in a few days.
Until about 10-15 seconds before the rampstrike... I was watching recovery ops from my SRBOC sponson directly under the ramp on the 03 level. I could literally slap the round down right under the ramp. I was just shutting the inner door on the lightlocker leading out onto the sponson when she hit.
I think the most surprising thing for me was the last pilot on the deck earlier saying "Do I agree or disagree with it? It's not for me to say. It's probably beyond where we needed to be". Put that in contrast with the Captain's basically saying "No, we need to push through and do it". In the end when the captain scraps the night ops ahead of time, you can see the pilot was right. What is amazing is an officer publicly criticizing the captain. As a former military person myself, that kind of criticism is usually given behind closed doors, and I respect the navy here for allowing it.
Former AT2 VFA-136 USS Enterprise, 2005-2007. Best job I ever had!
Don't it always seem to go, you don't know what you got 'til it's gone?
What is AT2!
Joseph Haynes
An AT2 is an E5 sailor who has the rating of Petty Officer 2nd class (Sergeant in Army or Marines, Staff Sergeant in Air Force) and the rate of Aviation Electronics Technician (AT). ATs work on aircraft communications and navigation equipment. AQs work on airborne fire control and radar systems. AXs handle airborne antisubmarine warfare equipment, and AWs are inflight antisubmarine equipment operators. I was a TD2 Training Device Technician. F-4B/J radar interception trainer.
W Cate thanks man. Navy rates always confuse me. In the other services we just go by rank, not MOS/AFSC. Thanks for the explanation.
Joseph Haynes
Don't feel like the Lone Ranger! Spec #s vs ranks confuse me, so we're even. The Navy system is more logical since it gives you rank and job category all in one simple alphanumeric.
Thank you all for your service and your sacrifices you are truly a rare breed. Just being on that pitching deck would be terrifying and to try to land on one for get it. You folks are amazing.
To call the ball on a deck that’s moving that much..... damn so much respect for these guys.
Number one it's a job like anyother and how ya handle it is like anyother. In civilian life there are also jobs where ya need to pay attention to detail and how ya do your thing... The Navy taught me that from my inception and I never once dumped a single plane in the drink not once. The flight deck spelled home and good food to me... I am grateful to every man and woman I ever served with... In my day we were the best of the best couldn't be beaten by nobody... I owe my life to the U.S. Navy.
You got balls of Silver tinfoil like all the other mommie basement trolls...
This entire series “carrier” was amazing, front to back. Really just gave a convincing, honest look at life on a carrier. Not a dull moment...
I'm impressed and amazed at the skill all of you have. Thank you so much for your missions that you go out on and come home from. Thank you for being out there. You are always so very much appreciated and grateful for your service.
Semper Fidelis
Hits the nail on the head on how skilled the pilots are and the great support crews. What an operation.
As a member of the crew who shot this it was terrifying to try to hand on whilst the carrier bopped around .. These carrier crews and pilots are ultra professionals ..
Wow, god bless our aviators. I could feel the tension just watching this on my computer, I cant imagine in real life the pressure these folks feel every day.
What an awesome video. My blood pressure was through the roof watching this from the safety of my computer. Thanks to all who server or have served.
I was an aviator in an A-6 squadron on USS Eisenhower. I got 329 carrier landings. The two places pitching deck was the worst was the North Atlantic and the Indian Ocean. I've seen the deck pitch AND yaw...at night. I've been in the last night tanker many times. It was scary at the time, but great memories.
im the enlisted guy in primary flight control at scene 0833 in the video . i was standing up looking out the window to see how many aircraft were in the flight pattern to land ( by looking for the blinking light) as well as im looking at cat 1 and 2 to get the aircraft number to input it in ISIS board :) That night Suuuuuucked, but damn i miss those days !
My favorite is hearing all the senior aviators talking trash & you can spot the junior sticks by their conspicuous silence!
A night in the barrel with bolters galore and not enough gas in the air does more for the heart rate than combat. BRAVO ZULU!!
CDR Dave Fravor and I were in the same Classes in Flight School. I loved the Challenge of Pitching Deck Launch and Recovery. In 26 years of my 30 year Navy Career. I wouldn't change a thing.
This is the craziest stuff I've ever seen. I had enough trouble trying to put a Cessna on a mile long runway that was standing still.
Keep at it. When you can consistently plant it on the numbers, on centerline and stop in two stripes, you can apply to the AOC program. Then someday maybe you can have your very own "night in the barrel".
My dad owns 1947 Cessna 140 and 1958 Cessna 172 Skyhawk
@@williamsanders5066 Can YOU fly them?
I can fly them once they are in the air. Lol. Take-off and landing are another thing. Lol
@@williamsanders5066: "chuckle"... A pilot friend once remarked to me: "In a three hour flight, there are two hours and forty five minutes of boredom, and fifteen minutes of sheer terror."
Shipboard operations is never routine and night ops are always tense. Landing was always the greatest challenge but launching off the pointy end of the boat into the pitch black was something you never get use to.
Thank you officers and crew for being brave enough and confident enough to do these things to maintain your edge and keep us safe.
The popcorn and the camouflage net had me chuckling... well and the relaxed pub atmosphere. Almost like it's movies night out.
I'm ex USAF, not a pilot, an engineer, - I was in flight test and the navy test pilots were mind glowingly good - yes I know USAF jocks ARE incredibly good too... this gave me white knuckles just watching it - the runway is NOT supposed to pitch and roll!! Hand salute to the Navy personnel -tough and VERY dangerous job! Thank you!
And thanks for your service Cynthia
in the civilian world a lot of these fly commercial airlines...you can always tell the navy guys from the AF guys.....AF guys use the whooolllllleeee runway...lol..navy guys are up, wheels up and headed for the outer pattern by the time they pass the tower..lol
I spent 20 years in the NAVY, from 69-89. Even now at the airport I worked at I could tell you which commercial pilots had a NAVY background.
@@savoy69 and when landing the navy pilots tend to put the plane down a little harder , both branches have great pilots just different ways of landing and taking off
@@savoy69 This doesn't even make sense. Rotation speed dictates the point of lift-off, not style or experience. It's a aircraft performance and physics thing. With that said, I'll take this moment to say that Navy guys have to land on a ship, cool. But they land with full head-wind and almost zero crosswind (the ship lines up for them in the most favorable way) and take off IS automatic (they do nothing other than apply full power), and landing CAN be auto as well depending on the circumstance. This isn't 1950 anymore.
The photography on this posting is absolutely excellent. Watching Top Gun on a big screen was the standard I measure it against,and this was a pleasure to watch.
Definition of a leader.
Referring to roughly 10:30 in? It's really touching.
It's the squadron CO's job; take care of his people and lead by example. He took his nugget pilot's tanker flight for her, then showed the kibbitzers in the ready room an OK 3 wire on his first pass. Can you spell PROFESSIONAL?
I wonder if he gets dinged by his superiors for failure to delegate? Like, why are you doing tanker runs as the CO when you should be doing awesome leader stuff blah blah failure to develop your pilots and so on.
Greg Shane
Maybe, but I doubt it. His superiors have all been in his shoes and faced the same kinds of decisions. They also are aware that the successes of women in Naval Aviation is still a sensitive PR issue. If his nugget tanker pilot has a successful flight, it goes unnoticed. If she fails spectacularly, it's bad PR. It's a lose/lose situation. Guess who has to write the letters to next of kin of the two crew lost in the event. Guess who gets to sit in front of a board of investigation if she crashes on deck and starts a fire that threatens the entire ship. He knows her landing record. You and I do not. It's all about risk management.
You guys rock man you impressed me so much I'm getting Goose Bumps up and down my shoulders you guys are so awesome God Bless America thank you for your service you guys are so awesome I'm proud to be an American I Love You Keep On Truckin I love
USN and USMC pilots are the best!
May 2018.
Yet Coasties top them all!
Former AF boom operator. My last F14 refueling was 2006. It was always sweet to see the silver dove ready to strike. Always a pleasure.
We have the absolute bravest naval aviators USN it makes me proud and humble... love our country! USA.
Really what about the rescue helo's ? Huh they go out in the shit when you crashed. Then they have to fix your possibly horribly busted carcass.
Coast Guard.
Hey nobody's knocking the rescue guys. They earn their spurs!! Back when I was in, they never had to buy their own drinks at the club.
17 years CPO CSG5/CVW5. This work is no joke. You better be in your game, or go home. There is absolutely no room for error. Keep that head on a swivel shipmates, and it’ll be a fine NAVY DAY! 🫡
We used to hover , waiting to land doin flite ops in the So. China see! The Phantoms and A4's were comin back from bombing runs in the No. Vietnam. I was aCH53 Crew Chief w/ HMM165.1972/73. Landed on 5 Dift. carriers. Served on 4 LPH's.#3,10,11 & 12.Semper Fi.
I was an AF flightline rat, could not imagine doing what I did on a pitching ship. Even the below deck maintenance would be a nightmare. My dad was a Radar Operator on a destroyer in 1959 or 60, he has told me some pretty crazy high seas stories.
I didn't know what "Pitching" was but by the end.... Y'all were all ROCKSTARS‼️✌️🇺🇸🙏
Much respect. I got dizzy watching this while sitting on my couch. 🇺🇸
But Harriers can land vertically.
Mark NC
Ever try hovering over a pitching deck in the pitch black in a howling wind? No? I thought so! Get a clue, man.
W Cate Have you? Howling wind, eh? Chill the fuck down.
W Cate have you ???
Mark NC no
I will also say this about carrier pilots. They are not afraid to say when something scares them more than flying. I was an instructor at NPTU Balston Spa. We got a couple of Naval Aviators that were going to be XO's on nuclear powered aircraft carriers so they had to be Nuke qualified as well as aviators. I was EOOW when one of the prospective XO's had their final casualty watch in Maneuvering as EOOW. We finished the 3 or 4 casualty drills and ended the watch. I went back my office and a few minutes later, this Commander knocked on my door and asked if he could come in and talk. I said of course and he sat down. He looked at me and said "Chief, I don't know how you do it. I would rather be in combat over Vietnam with a MIG up my ass than in that box during a casualty." It is just what you are trained to do.
Thank you to the brave men and women who risk their lives day in and day out. YOU are the *heroes*! 💖
kckgirl78 and *you* are a dumbass
Amazing post. 16:25 until the end was BEAUTIFUL! Coming from a 9 year veteran of the USS Carl Vinson. Thank You!
I would hope that every time I fly on a commercial airline that the pilots are x-NAVY pilots! These pilots have got to be the best in the world. Hats off to them all!!!
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸⚓GO NAVY⚓🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
You allude to the point which Capt. Chesley Sullenberger made after the 'Miracle on the Hudson' which was his experience level versus that of the new crop of pilots. His comments ticked off a lot of pilots but he was exactly right.
@@MrLikeke He was USAF by the way.
Airlines aggressively recruit these guys for that very reason.
@@MrLikeke Airline pilots don't need to have 2000hr in an F4 these days. It's frankly pretty easy work. Most kids straight out of college could learn to do it.
@@lachyt5247 I direct your attention to the Pilot Records Improvement Act (PRIA) which was necessitated by several high profile accidents. At the basis is the hiring process which allowed unqualified pilots to fill the seats.
As a working pilot I have known some pilots who were woefully unqualified. So ill equipped that they constituted a danger to their passengers and the general public. I don't scare easily but some of these pilots have truly scared me. Several I was able to see the writing on the wall - that an accident was in their near future. Lo, they did have accidents which destroyed aircraft and have caused fatal injuries.
I agree that it is easy work and it is not required to have thousands of hours of mil time. But it's not a bad idea since the bottom of all this is it is a 'people problem' (not only 'human factors') and mil discipline is beneficial to the career.
I am not an accident investigator yet I have associated with a good number of them. Plus, I personally know the aviation directors of several university or state aviation departments. No, I am not a Riddle rat, I came up the hard way, I paid out of pocket at Part 61 schools and some advanced training at Part 141.
My old Squadron - VF-41!!! I served with the Black Aces, flying the F-4J Phantom from 70-74 under Guy Cane, Raymond A. Ways, E. J. Hickey and I believe, another CO, whose name I cannot recall. Three Med cruises and a couple of North Atlantic cruises on the USS FDR (CVA-42) in some of the worst weather imaginable. I rotated out just before the squadron transitioned to the F-14.
Okay, they are getting tossed around some, I understand how this is VERY difficult for the pilots flying from the ship. For the rest of the crew, they don't know what rough is! Take a look at the escort ships, the cruisers, destroyers and maybe a friendly frigate. THOSE are the ships getting tossed around. I have been down in the roaring 40's of the South Pacific in an 11,000 ton cruiser with swells taller than the ship! When walking down a passageway you had to walk on the floor and sometimes put a foot on the wall to not fall over. We had to strap ourselves into our racks and wedge ourselves in so we wouldn't fly out and we didn't get much sleep! That said I have 4 family members currently serving in the US NAVY! Thank you to all, GO NAVY!!
No thanks. :-)
That’s why Destroyers are known as Tin Cans, because they’re tossed around like a tin can on the swells. Much respect.
Keith Johnston
And because they're so thin skinned a 20MM round can go right through the hull and out the other side. Ever hit a soup can full of water with a rifle bullet?
This ship went around the horn during a hurricane with 100ft swells. The rest of the fleet turned and ran. Believe me with enough water this big baby will move. That is water over the flight deck by the way.
Try that on a 206' flat bottom LSMR in 80+ ft seas, I saw waves higher than the bridge. It took us some 3 months to cross the Pacific, one storm after another. Now that's one hell of a ride. There were a lot of boots who were saying prayers every night, and kissed the ground when we tied up at Yokosuka. But I'd do that again before I'd try to land on a pitching flat top..
I was watching a documentary that said pilots stress levels were at their highest when coming back to landing on the deck. Even higher than that in combat scenarios. Much respect to these guys. Can't imagine how hard it is to do this, especially at night!
Not much light at night, hard to see props wind milling. The most respected job on the roof. Hats off to the ABs and PCs who handle the bird farms flock. SEMPER FORTIS
The best video ever of what it means to be a Navy pilot. I wanted to fly Navy, got hit with a baseball bat in 5th grade. (pick up game and I was a catcher.....no protection....dude swung and let go, hit my left cheek.) Left eye goes crossed. No depth perception. Russia, China????? Go away because of these men and women.
nikonian1116 everyone’s got a story like this, chances are 99% of you ‘colorblind’ ‘cross-eyed’ ‘too tall’ guys never would have made the cut regardless. Don’t beat yourself up over it.
Why are you so harsh on nikonian. Be respectful or shut up.
Fuzzy Butkus re-read my comment and realize it’s trying to tell him that he shouldn’t beat himself up about his vision.
I was fortunate to go through pitching decks on the USS America, CV66 during 1977-78 Med Cruise; great memories;
Everything looks different at night, even for this Sailboater in places well familiar during the day. I can't imagine landing at night on a deck that is kicking around like that at speed.
You soldiers, sailors, pilots, and all the military who support the pilots and their roles
, you have my humble thanks and I honor your commitment to duty.
May God richly bless and divinely protect you as you selflessly serve the greatest nation that the world has ever seen.
Thank y’all so much. May God’s hand be upon you and your families.
I was in VF-154 during the Vietnam war. Two Westpac cruises, 1967-68 and 68-69. We were in a typhoon on one of those cruises. Everything top side was locked down. The hangar bay aircraft were protected as best they could. There was a small tv in the library and in the ready room I believe and waves came over the bow. During that typhoon I never felt any rolling of the ship at all that would toss me out of my rack. Sea legs helped navigating the passage ways. Was glad to get through it.
I see the famous CDR David Fravor (CO of VFA-41 Black Aces) of the 2004 Tic-Tac innocent in this video.
Last pilot is a BOSS!!! That one pilot everyone respects cuz he has the balls to tackle on head first the toughest situations and looks out for his peeps
I served with the then CO of the Nimitz, Captain Ted "Twig" Branch (now Vice Admiral, USN Retired), in VA -15 when he was a Ltjg.
Ted served several years in the Pentagon before retiring. Great man and great leader.
@@rjeanette9189 I remember him as Capt. of the Stennis during 99'-around 01'/02' while I was in hs-8, he was a great guy
VADM. Branch is now Retired.
Wow! 0:41 I had no idea that many jets were on the carrier!
Us Navy ,and Marine pilots the best of the best in the world. as A retired Marine GySgt 22 + years Honorable service. thank you for your service in our great Military in defense of our Country.. "Semper Fi"
Now THESE are pilots !! I’ve been a pilot for 25 years, flying a lot of aircraft types, but I wouldn’t make a pimple on one of these guys ass ! They are incredible and earn our respect every day. Blue skies guys and Thank you !
My flight pay was the same as these guys, but I think they deserve a little more that the rest of us.....
Hector Rodriguez /
Our military deserve the salaries of the NFL, not a regular 9-5. This is how fucked our government is. Yeah. We may have the best military(not) but barely any money to live off of. Give our troops FHE salary of a NFL 1st string qb
@@xReaperDen I wouldn't say barely any money. These pilots are officers and make a respectable amount. I would love to see them being payed there fair share though.
My heart is racing and I'm sure that my blood pressure is up from watching these Aviators..
-
God Bless and Keep our Military Men & Women...
There an old saying that says '' A calm sea does not make a skillful sailor"
That aviator who landed last lives in NH. He's also the pilot who captured the recently released TicTac UFO footage off San Diego.
The brash self-confident arrogance of Navy carrier pilots may grate on me, a lot, but I understand why they are that way, and I find myself admiring and respecting what they do.
They are arrogant a holes but they get the job done.
I was on the Nimitz 83-87 Operation Specialist, Navy pilots cool and laid-back compared to surface officer!!!!! Lt Drew (Dark Gable) Brown invited a young OSSN (I was mess cranking) into the ward room to talk, tellig me all about Muhammad Ali and his dad, who was Boudini Brown one of Ali's handlers.
I think being brash, arrogant and self confident is part of the job description and if it isn't, it should be. U.S. Navy pilots, the absolute BEST in the world!
GO NAVY! 🇺🇸
That is the attitude you have to have to do what they do. People that aren't supremely self confident would never have the balls to even get on the cat.
Yeah, the literal eating of popcorn and laughing while your buddy is in a life-and-death situation was a bit much.
These guys are AMAZING!!! I was on the edge of my seat just watching.
As a Ret. USAF veteran, all I can say to Our US NAVY, is a Hand Salute, and thanks to all that served.
As we go forward in life, you see the depths of training in every environment make soldiers for life in every arena.
Thank you for your service Commander Fravor!
That Cdr. is the same navy pilot that discussed the recently released navy ufo video(same pilot).
reverse thrust wrong
Incorrect moron, that is CDR. David Fravor (ret). Go play with your toys and stop pretending to be someone else clown.
I have the highest respect for my flyboys, especially the carrier pilots. It was something wild to watch them fly over and come back on nite sorties during Desert Storm. They won that war and the tankers cleaned up on the ground. We have a great military when its in the hands of a competent CIC.
1:05 That's the Pilot who intercepted the UFO of the SOCAL coast.
1st saw this on the PBS series 'Carrier'. So glad I found it here on UA-cam. Mad respect for all the crew & pilots. How the crew stand on that deck to bring the Pilots in under some of the craziest circumstances...I'll never know!
16 point tie downs on Phantoms in the 70's made it real hard to walk on the hanger deck CVA62
michmvp: Oh, yeah. Even more difficult on the flight deck at night. Fifty years later, I still have visible marks on both shins! Good God; has it been 50 years...?
50 years is pretty scary. Were you on CVA 62?
michmvp: I was Aviation Ordnanceman with VA-192. Did two WESTPAC cruises in Ticonderoga (CVA-14) and one in Oriskany (CVA-34) in the 4 years I was in the Navy. Thanks for asking.
I was an AO also. Fresh out of boot camp, followed by AO "A" School and then to VF-101 at NAS Oceana where I lasted 6 months and then attended STA-21. Loved the Navy!
I was on USS Independence CVA 62 for 4 years,,, we have some of the best pilots in the world. A great ship... I was 18, worked on the Meat Ball, and the TV cameras in the deck,,, a thing about those landings. We could have caught the back end of a storm or were going into one. Often times they are hard to avoid. Once we get out of storm,, its back to flight operations. But they have to get the plane back on deck no matter what the weather is like. So many Brave Pilots,, Bravo Zulu to you all and all who serve.
Taking control of one of those aircraft for the first time has to be one of the most exhilarating things a human can do. Looks awesome.
total respect!
Marine Corps Air is always entertaining to watch at the boat!! Two cruises aboard the good ship Nimitz in '91 and '93 flying the venerable A-6E Intruder. No HUD, no goggles, steam gauges all the way. Best flying of my life, keep it up guys (and girls).
An old Navy saying ''A smooth sea never made a skillful sailor!"
This is why we have the best Navy in the world. You can steal all the blueprints and manuals you want. But generations of experience and training; from building to sailing, can't be copied out of a book.
I’ve heard stories & interviews for years . Tu to actually see the horizon moving up & down , it’s just a wow moment ! Combine that with the visual aid of a piece of paper representing a pilot view @ night & I can only say that I’d prefer to not do anything remotely similar to! Newfound respect for carrier pilots ! Thank you guys for being the tip of Americas spear , I realize why I sleep so soundly ! This from a Security Bn marine !