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Motivating naval aviationBy lex, on March 26th, 2008
30 comments to Motivating naval aviation |
Targets of Opportunityblog advertising is good for you Credo"Sign on, young man, and sail with me. The stature of our homeland is no more than the measure of ourselves. Our job is to keep her free. Our will is to keep the torch of freedom burning for all. To this solemn purpose we call on the young, the brave, the strong, and the free. Heed my call, Come to the sea. Come Sail with me." -- John Paul Jones "Pardon him, Theodotus; he is a barbarian, and thinks that the customs of his tribe and island are the laws of nature" --George Bernard Shaw, "Caesar and Cleopatra" "And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music."--Friedrich Nietzsche "A kind Providence has placed in our breasts a hatred of the unjust and cruel, in order that we may preserve ourselves from cruelty and injustice. They who bear cruelty, are accomplices in it. The pretended gentleness which excludes that charitable rancour, produces an indifference which is half an approbation. They never will love where they ought to love, who do not hate where they ought to hate."--Edmund Burke “You say that it is your custom to burn widows. Very well. We also have a custom: when men burn a woman alive, we tie a rope around their necks and we hang them. Build your funeral pyre; beside it, my carpenters will build a gallows. You may follow your custom. And then we will follow ours.”--General Sir Charles Napier "Μολὼν λαβέ" -- Leonidas "Blogito Ergo Sum" -- Neptunus Lex Amazon AssociateFor the Effort!Winnar! Subscribe CategoriesPagesTagsacademy
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What are the rules these days on how many bodies on the platform? We used to allow no more than 5 plus phone talker. I had an F8 hit the ramp one night on Midway(I was writing), his left wing took out the windscreen.
Talk about intense – those are some people who are focused on the job. Lex: Why so many? Who does what? What’s it like to be an LSO? Big pressure?
Hmmm, let me guess that the guys with the dirty jackets are the old hands and the guys with the clean jackets are trainees?
And why haven’t they figured out how to jack the pilot’s helmets in to that system (or have headsets of some sort) so they can keep their hands free to “talk” with?
I don’t know that there are any published rules, Bill. Comes down to what CAG paddles wants it to be. Used to fill up during a rough night with the deck moving around because some of the junior guys wanted a front row seat. CQ is pretty busy up there too, as squadron paddles take turns waving their guys.
SGT Jeff, could be. The guy in the middle is the “writer,” usually a very junior LSO. But the guy on the right by the console is the “Back-up” LSO, and that’s a senior guy job so maybe he just got a new float coat. Some times LSOs pass coats down from one to the next, so it’s hard to say that for sure.
LOL! That’s great!
Keeping in mind that I’m a dumb civilian that just puts the bandaids on the big grey boats, why are they looking forward? They can’t be looking at an aircraft landing, unless the LSO plat has been moved to the starboard side, or maybe this picture got mirrored just to mess with people. Inquiring minds with little else to do would love to know.
Byron, The airplane has just passed the platform and is now either in the wires or on a bolter.
SSG, They don’t wear headphones/hearing protection because then they couldn’t hear the engines. They don’t wear cranial protection because it would mess up their hair and would look really uncool. However, a couple of folks on that platform appear to be missing the required sunglasses, and no doubt the LSO fashion police will be on their case most ricky-tick.
What’s that unmanly screen thar aft the station for? To keep ‘em from getting fumed with “Essence of JP”? Ain’t that the point of being an LSO- all that JP and fresh air while the rest of us boobs are safely esconed belowdeck eating popcorn and watching the plat!
“LSO Fashion Police”- good’un….
BillC- With your Crusaders, Viggies, Skyhawks, Spads and Whales coming aboard, 5 LSOs sounds like two-three, too many! There was a reason for Flight Deck Pay for LSOs especially then! Cohones.
b2
They need a motivational poster showing some hardworking civilian at a Navy Depot… er… put shades on them to make them look Navy.
b2:
Right on with your comment about the wind screen. Next thing you know, CAT Officers will be launching aircraft from inside air conditioned “bubbles” or something. It won’t be long before Naval Aviators will never have had the opportunity to observe the ballet like performance of a real CAT Officer working a launch – arm upraised giving the turn up signal, followed by the AB signal and finally stretching forward on one knee to touch the deck signaling launch. This, of course, was closely followed by his covering his face below the goggles to avoid being sand blasted by the freshly applied non-skid.
Jumpin Jehosiphats! In my day, when you crossed that ramp, you were coming aboard- The only question was if the wire was a cross deck pendant- or a Davis barrier. Kids today!
xairboss,
When I first joined the Screwtops they had a picture of the CAT officer on Saratoga shooting an F-4 in Full Dress Whites. ( All float coats and such on over it). It was pretty funny
Skippy;
\
I heard that pic was the guy on his last launch before PCSing off the boat…had his sword, too…
Q: Why do LSO’s wear white float coats?
A: Because they wish they could be final checkers.
xboss … I shot bubble on GW and HATED it … much preferred the roof. Seemed somehow wrong, especially since I did my first deployment on FID (Forrestal) … decidedly non-bubble boat.
skippy … Never shot in whites, but did shoot the post-deployment flyoff from the roof in SDB’s ,with white gloves. Seemed like the thing to do at the time.
The Navy carries swords? What for? Better manicures?
Once,
Navy officers carry swords so we can hit Marines in the arse before we board!
b2
B2, I thought it was to help their brothers in the Sea Service cut up their pogey bait?
Nota bene…Real men carry sabers while mounted on a noble steed… Best
Sure Snake…..I can see you riding a water buffalo through a rice paddy and carrying an infantry saber!
Byron- I once used mine to cut up one of those artificial firelogs because it was the only thing handy near the hearth! Ever hear the right tool for the right job? Bad choice B2!
b2
B2 — They warned us about y’all when we were assigned to sea duty. “Never bend over in the shower” was the first instruction from the platoon sgt aboard ship.
Snake–”Real men carry sabres” is why the Marines still do!
Ain’t it amazin’ how a thread can get sidetracked by stupid stuff?
OAM
OaM, An occasional pissing contest is a woderful thing to behold…Best
Once a Marine,
“More stupid stuff”: All Marines carry “soap on a rope” aboard sheep. Nyuk-nyuk!
b2
Lex–
I’ve been a big fan of your site for a while. I’m CAG Paddles on the Ronnie Reagan and was on the platform for this shot (in the back with the headset on) which was taken a couple of days ago. I had no idea that the picture was taken and was very surprised to see it on your site. Our “wave” Teams today consist of a Paddles from each squadron–usually about five guys. There is the Controlling LSO, Backup, CAG Paddles, writer, deck caller, and also a timer for groove length and interval between aircraft. Of course, there is the enlisted hook spotter, gear cross-checker, and lens rep. (all with cranials on). Obviously, it makes for a crowded platform but is necessary for safe operations today. Yes, we are looking back at a Hornet which just trapped. And yes, we are girly-men for the wind screen! Thanks and keep up the good work.
Taco
Taco,
re- “And yes, we are girly-men for the wind screen!”
I wert just funning y’all. Some o’dem float coats are covered wid grease! (as they should be) LOL.
Bring ‘em on home!
b2
B2, You seem to be having more than your usual trouble in expressing yourself correctly in the English language…it’s a most troubling occurance and hard on the eyes…you haven’t gone off your med’s again … have you ? Best
PS, Tacos14, Thanks for the explaination and good job all around…also please assure me that you guys wear some form of ear protection…
Snake Eater–
Foamies do the trick—at least until the next hearing test.
B2, I knew what you were getting at and just having some fun back.
Thanks for the support,
Taco
Snake,
I don’t get paid for writing short choppy sentences like you! When it comes to NAviation I can let the B.S. fly! (get it?)
re meds: You’re right. I need more Norvasc and I’m running low on Glenfiddich! nyuk
b2
B2, Unambiguous, clean and concise declarative sentences are clearly in short supply around here as evidenced by a majority of the terminally verbose motor mouths ( you know who you are) who comment. Best
PS, Glad to hear you’re back on your med’s.
B2-
Not only did we have a windscreen, we had a bench on the aft side of it. The “Bug” Bench was a great piece of gear until some flight deck guy started whining and they took it off. Oh well.
Tacos –
Great photo! Wish I had one like that of “My” platform from back in the day.
One piece of advice, as a parent: Don’t let your kids, or your back up LSOs, watch too much TV. Tell that kid if he weren’t padlocked on the PLAT, he’d know that the plane had landed already!
Glad to see the gear guy is still on the Platform – the knucklehead flight deck guys at CNAL/CNAP tried to get rid of that position when I was finishing my tour. That kid saved my bacon so many times, I thought they were crazy to take him off the platform.
Keep up the great work.
Nose
PS If you want to trade places, call me. I’ll be on the next plane out!