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| USS Enterprise Flight Deck Source |
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So I thought it might be appropriate to show a video highlighting the men and women who work in one of the most dangerous environments on Earth...
The flight deck of an aircraft carrier.
Here's to all the men and women of the air wing and ship's company, without whom there would be no Naval Aviation in flight videos. These folks are from the USS ENTERPRISE CVN-65, Big Time's old home away from home. (The Nuke spent a lot of time on the Big E as well!)
Put your hands together for the men and women of CAG 1 and the Big E.
They make it look easy!
ReplyDeleteI know, that was what impressed me the most about this video.
DeleteWhen you do something enough, it is easy.
DeleteIt's the training and repetition that makes it so.
Heck, it's like a ballet.
The dance troupe rehearses like gangbusters for weeks on end to make the show perfect.
You can't say enough good stuff about roof rats.
DeleteI get that Skip. Key thing with this dance troop is if someone makes a big enough mistake, people die. Makes their job all the more impressive.
DeleteRoger that PA!
DeleteI sure wouldn't mind going back, only for a day or two though.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed my two days at sea on two different carriers. Not sure if I would still be enjoying it for weeks at a time and having to actually work.
DeleteBeing a spectator was fun.
Every now and again I think I might like to go back.
DeleteThen I remember the chow.
I don't think the good stuff would have been nearly as good without the bad stuff. When you've pushed through the work and the weeks at a time and the box lunches you emerge in a place few others have inhabited. Then you hit Naples and welcome to Charlie Liberty.
DeleteSkip - had Christmas dinner on the Ike a few years back, it was outstanding.
DeleteThe Nuke told me, "It's not like that every day." Then again, she was kind of spoiled. Her first ship USS McFAUL (DDG-74) had great chow. The head cook's previous assignment had been Camp David. Yup, cooking for the President!
PA - The good stuff is still good but having the bad makes it all the sweeter. The bad stuff also teaches you not to take the good stuff for granted.
DeleteLearned that the hard way.
Re your first pic Sarge, one of those jets is not like the other. Sigh...
ReplyDeleteI know. When I first checked out the photo I noticed the Tomcat coming off the waist cat and thought it was pretty cool.
DeleteCopy that on "Sigh..."
As one of the perks of doing a few favors for The Defense Attache at our embassy in Turkey, I was invited for a few days as the guest of the Battle Group Commander aboard the U.S.S. America during ops for Provide Comfort. Needless to say I was treated very well down in Admiral's Country. Mess there was probably not the same as in the "dirty shirt" mess halls. Day and night strikes, what a ballet. Not many Army warrant officers in Class B greens and A2 flight jacket found lost in the passageways but, there I was. Just recovered, a LCDR couldn't help but see my late night volksmarch and offered a "can I help you shipmate." I had remembered my quarters number (or written it on my palm) and was led "home" by my newly found friend along with another tutiorial on the interior numbering system. I felt sorry for the LT/fighter pilot/ship's company who was assigned as escort but in two days he led us over most of the America to include the bridge and secondary LSO's platform during during night recovery. I don't believe the average citizen/taxpayer will ever understand the value we Americans get from those young men and women who man and fight our ships. regards, Alemaster
ReplyDeleteMost will never understand what the kids do for us. I feel privileged to have children who will take me to work so I can see what they do.
DeleteKids have tried to teach me the codes and such on the bulls-eyes scattered around the ship, I understand but still get lost.
Finally got to look at the video on an old-guy screen. Great stuff! Thoughts/questions:
ReplyDeleteGood to see Grumman iron. The Queers (EA-6B Prowler) are gone now, nice to see a trap. All that's left are the Hummers and CODs.
What's up with the twoters (two shooters)? One under instruction? NSTB (never saw that before).
The LSO constantly monitoring the deck. NSTB. A result of the terrible Prowler/Viking crash on the Big E?
Finally, was that a lil boy grape or a lil girl grape on the phones in the catwalk? Pretty sure it was a she. What a smile. You can't find a better image of America's wonderfulness than that.
Ditto on the Grumman birds. The twoters? My guess is the same as yours, everybody's gotta learn right?
DeleteNot sure why the one LSO is looking forward. I'll ask Big Time if I can remember. (Could be he's keeping an eye on the cameraman, too easy to wander out going for that "perfect" shot.)
I know the grape of which you speak. Fast-forwarding to round 5:16 (or so) definitely a lady grape. You're right about the smile. Can't beat that!
Been a heckuva day and finally got a few minutes to watch. Concur with all the above. Great post, Sarge!
ReplyDeleteI felt fortunate to have stumbled across that while in my never ending hunt for fine videos with which to entertain the readership.
Delete(I like 'em too!)
It used to be a LOT more interesting before everybody had flight deck radios... :-)
ReplyDeleteI would think so.
DeleteAnd I hit enter too soon, there are a lot of folks getting their hands outside their shoulders when directing... That used to be a no-no... Also the twofer is a shooter under instruction... They seem a LOT more casual than I remember too... Of course no A-7 or F-8 maneaters on the decks anymore!
ReplyDeleteI thought it seemed "casual" but what do I know? I was a zoomie.
DeleteFinally somebody gets it - just listen to.....the environment. You can almost smell the salt air. Yep they make it look easy but a wrong step and you're dead
ReplyDeleteBeautiful video
Roger that Bill.
Delete