Copy and paste the "you tube" video-----------This is awesome! Scroll all the way to bottom. Chuck
Subject: Fwd: LANDING TERROR!
I forward this Navy carrier video as only one example of how our military operates in support of our nation's defense and its goals.
I was privileged to be out to sea on the USS Carl Vinson some years ago, including my arrival and departure by airplane. The flight deck of a carrier is the most dangerous and hostile environment I have ever experienced. During flight operations, the carrier is steaming at about 30 knots into the wind, so the wind across the deck can easily be 60 mph or more. The intense scream of the jets, the hot smelly blast of their exhaust and the ballet of launching, retrieving, fueling, positioning and arming airplanes, where any mistake can lead to death and even loss of the ship, is awesomely inspiring to watch. I was on deck on an overcast pitch black night, standing behind the landing signal officer as F-18's passed by no more than 30 feet away, hitting the deck in full afterburner in case they missed the wires.
I thought living aboard a 97,000 ton ship 1,100 feet long and from keel to mast 230 feet high would be pretty comfortable. I was wrong. I was billeted one deck below the flight deck in a pilot's "stateroom." Flight operations went on almost all night. The scream of the jets before launch and the "whoom bang" of the catapult shaking the whole ship as a fighter is shot into the air is more like sleeping under a very busy subway station than on the largest ship in the world. I was on a warship, nothing more.
Our Nimitz class carriers have a compliment of 5,000 sailors and are accompanied by perhaps 15 ships and submarines forming a battle fleet. The carrier's kitchen puts out around 18,000 meals a day. There are 30,000 light bulbs on the ship, an unbelievable amount of radar and electronic equipment, aircraft repair, plus living and working spaces that are huge energy draws. Yet these carriers can conduct flight operations and travel 500 miles on only one gram of nuclear fuel.
When I was on board the Vinson, she was doing work-ups preparing to be deployed to the Persian Gulf. It was the summer of 2001 and we were at peace. As it turned out, the sailors and airmen I was with were on station in the Gulf as our duty carrier when al Qaeda struck. They went to war against our foes in Afghanistan. I have a relative who is a Navy pilot and the air boss on our newest carrier, the George H. W. Bush. The air boss directs all fight operations. It is a hugely important position with tremendous responsibilities. I am very proud of him.
Bottom line - Our military (and I mean everybody) serves our country bravely, nobly and too often with the ultimate sacrifice. They have a duty to us and in return, we have a duty to them. Our duty is to make sure they are not asked to go in harms way unless it becomes absolutely necessary. And when they are required to sally forth in our defense, that we honor and appreciate what they do for us, and what they do for the United States of America.
Best Regards,
Roger
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You really need to watch both clips. (Make yourself a drink to get through it.) Amazing what these young folks do for us everyday.
Subject: FW: LANDING TERROR!
Pretty exciting for even those of us whoaren't pilots!
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Grab a cup of coffee and prepare to spend a few minutes.
This is very unnerving, landing with deck pitching 30 feet, at night, low on fuel. Incredible. You will never forget viewing this. I have seen a lot of aviation emails but the two videos below are undoubtedly the best. Turn on your sound and go full screen. I guarantee this will definitely hold your attention.
These videos show the difference between Naval Aviation and any other kind. The links below are two outstanding videos about F-18 carrier operations aboard the USS Nimitz during weather that causes a severely pitching deck, which you can see in the videos. It's more dangerous than most combat missions and the tension in the pilots and crew is very apparent. Watch Part 1 first. Great videos
LANDING TERROR!
Carrier - Landing on a Pitching Deck Pt. 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=4gGMI8d3vLsCarrier - Landing on a Pitching Deck Pt. 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=S0yj70QbBzg----------------------------------------------------------------
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