How to Earn an Air Medal

[Seahawk]

This is really quite something. Watch the whole thing:



The article:

https://news.usni.org/2016/08/11/3-pilots-involved-ikes-hawkeye-mishap-awarded-armed-forces-air-medal?utm_source=USNI+News&utm_campaign=ed5c725180-USNI_NEWS_DAILY&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0dd4a1450b-ed5c725180-231275581&ct=t(USNI_NEWS_DAILY)&mc_cid=ed5c725180&mc_eid=c4c4854da1

Bravo Zulu!

[tevake]

I guess any remark about cheep thrills would be out of place here, but what a sinking feeling going off the end of the deck must have been.

Paul, do all planes landing on deck routinely throttle up as they engage the cable, or did these pilots have to react that quickly.

The thought that occurred to me as they dropped from sight, was that If you were lucky enough to survive the splashdown. Then the ship would promptly run you over.

How long can you hold your breath?

Well done crew!

Cheers Richard

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by tevake

Paul, do all planes landing on deck routinely throttle up as they engage the cable, or did these pilots have to react that quickly.

I don't know. I have never spent any time on a carrier. There are some folks here that were carrier-based fixed wing pilots and they'll of course know.

Excellent training and flight skills rule!

[A930Rocket]

I saw the video a few days ago.

That had to be scary but the training kicks in and it saved the day.

Well done!

[recycled sixtie]

I would think for the pilots it would be a shower after, change of underwear and several beers. If not religious then should become religious.

[Nickshu]

Wow! I served 10 years in the Navy but never on a carrier and not a pilot. However my understanding has always been that in carrier landings the standard procedure is to go full throttle as soon as they hit the deck and catch the cable, in case exactly this happens.

[icemann427]

Yes, every fixed wing naval aviator caught on a carrier goes to full throttle the moment he/she hits the deck...

[crustychief]

I bet they extended their up wind for a bit of "unclenching the seat" time. Wow. The only thing I can think of that would be more frightening is a short or light
cat shot.

[speeder]

What type of aircraft is that?

[crustychief]

E2C Hawkeye

[DonDavis]

Certainly an exciting ride.

I bet the fact that the carrier was on an up-roll didn't hurt! Every little bit helps.

[Tobra]

Holy Moly

Flight Deck crew was scrambling before he went over the end too

[greglepore]

I really feel for the flight deck crew, a whipping cable like that does horrendous things.

[flyenby]

I earned my air medals for Chopper combat insertions in Vietnam....I was one of those getting out and into the bush

[tcar]

They won medals for that?

Being a bolter?

[onewhippedpuppy]

Think his ground crew made him clean the seats after he landed?

[pavulon]

Originally Posted by tcar

They won medals for that?

Being a bolter?

AFAIK, that wasn't a bolter. They hooked the cable.

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Think his ground crew made him clean the seats after he landed?

The seats may still be clenched between their cheeks.

[tcar]

Originally Posted by pavulon

AFAIK, that wasn't a bolter. They hooked the cable.

You're right, looked again, the cable broke.

Still wondering how they get medals for that.

[ted]

The plane and ship at risk.
You risk the losing the plane/crew and disabling the Carrier when the nuclear powered ship powers over the floating plane.
If I were a Navy pilot I'd hope to fly a plane that has an ejection seat.
Served USS Ranger ATC 80/82.

[Skytrooper]

Hawkeyes are a very difficult aircraft to make emergency egress from successfully. The fact that they saved the plane and crew is worthy of a medal in my book. Oh, and for the record I was an E-2C mechanic in the Navy with a lot of time on the flight deck.