I call B.S. on this shyster....my old man had an F-4 tailhook that he kept in the garage when I was little....and I'm sure it must have weighed 70-80lbs. BTW....he told me my Mom made him get rid of it at a garage sale in P-cola 25 years ago.....Gawd I'm pissed!
Mumbles: Thank you for your observation. Within the next two days, I will weigh the tail hooks and post a more accurate weight. My initial quote was simply an estimate.You are not the only reader who called into question my weight estimate. As I told another reader, within the next two days, I will visit my Mother's garage and weigh one of the tail hooks. I will be surprised if it registers more than 50#. Who knows? However, I will be shocked if mine weighs as much as those you recall in the garage or your youth. Perhaps, as a lad, they seemed heavier years ago.
A number of readers have called my tail hook weight estimate into question. Within the next two days I will visit my Mother's garage and weigh one of the units. While conducting that inquiry, I will also examine the tail hooks for identifying markings that may assist you in determining the type of aircraft to which they belong.
35 lbs?? I'm no carrier aviator, but I'm thinking those wouldn't last long, even if you were trapping a Cessna 140 at min fuel.
Dear Huggyu2: I too am not a carrier aviator; and I admit the weight cited in my ad was merely an estimate. At least three other reader called my estimate into question. Within the next two days, I will visit my Mother's garage and weigh one of the tail hooks. However, I harbor a strong suspicion that the decreased weight is explained by the presence of a rather sophisticated 1960s' alloy.
Redux said:
Gotta be a PN there somewhere.
Dear Redux: I will be happy to deliver a response to your inquiry / message. However, I do not understand the term "PN."
Schnugg said:
The ACE was Carl Eugene Smith - WWII Hellcat pilot; 7 confirmed kills; a number of probables; 21 air medals; 4 Distinguished Flying Crosses; led the first fighter squadron into Korea - His proudest accomplishment was returning from Korea without losing a single member of his team. He passed away in April 2007. Beyond his Naval accomplishments, and many others later in life, he was a unique and wonderful man....but he loved Naval Aviation most.
Bruce Smith