"Buffalo"?
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Roger Ball, good and not-so-good questions about the world of "Paddles"
- Thread starter TheDrakester
- Start date
It's an "art" form and only to be used by experienced LSO's
icon_wink) ... basically, if the pilot is/was having trouble getting aboard and it's a dark & stormy night AND he's getting more puckered w/ every pass ... etc., etc. .... it's a "go for it" type of call, i.e., put your head down, stomp your feet, paw at that deck, and LAND !!! Ergo = BUFFALO.
I'm stretching it a bit, perhaps, but it is used infrequently to keep the guy from "flinching" at the last second and go high and get a WAVE-OFF and/or BOLTER ... of course, you have to know your aircraft capabilities and your AirWing pilots to make it all "work". I suppose it could be considered a license to go for the deck when you're at the ramp and you REALLY need to get this guy aboard.
It's usually as simple as "Don't Climb" ... or "Don't go any higher .. " or "FLY IT DOWN ... " those were the only three I ever heard or personally used.
Again, it's a finesse thing-y to get the guy aboard and you have to use it w/ discretion and only when you think it's "safe" (always a relative term) to just "put your head down and go for it" .... and then off to the debrief and some pilot "counseling".
Water water water water steel yank, set the hook, grab a lucky 4, take your ugly pass like a man, go to midrats. (Or worse, go to blower before you get to steel, taxi 1, bongo up, go to rats.)
I don't think I've ever heard "don't go any higher", however I have gotten the wave light accompanied with CAG paddles screamin' "blower! BLOWER NOW!" Hey, if you didn't want me to use the ace, don't put it there!
/sarcasm
Heh. Nice. Getting to listen in on the critique/wisdom/therapy/suicide prevention between the pilots as we taxied out of the LA is one of the great perks of being an E-2 window licker. "Boy, the island burble was nasty today." "So, did you hear that third 'power' call?"
Prob best I ever heard, after a screaming taxi-one pass: "Fuck it, dude. Those other wires are just crutches for weak deck spotters, anyway."
All I can say is, glad it was never me trying to land the son of a bitch. :icon_tong
Paddles on the job
090128-N-7981E-137 PACIFIC OCEAN (Jan. 28, 2009) Lt. Kristen Hansen, left, and Lt. David Hafeman, both assigned to the "Vigilantes" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 151, Lt. James Huddleston, assigned to the "Bounty Hunters of VFA-2, and Lt. David Berry, assigned to the "Sun Kings" of Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 116, watch the final approach of incoming aircraft while acting as a landing signal officers aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). Abraham Lincoln is underway on a scheduled work-up conducting sustainment training and carrier qualifications. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class James R. Evans/Released)
090128-N-7981E-137 PACIFIC OCEAN (Jan. 28, 2009) Lt. Kristen Hansen, left, and Lt. David Hafeman, both assigned to the "Vigilantes" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 151, Lt. James Huddleston, assigned to the "Bounty Hunters of VFA-2, and Lt. David Berry, assigned to the "Sun Kings" of Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 116, watch the final approach of incoming aircraft while acting as a landing signal officers aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). Abraham Lincoln is underway on a scheduled work-up conducting sustainment training and carrier qualifications. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class James R. Evans/Released)
Old School day on the platform
080628-N-7883G-093 PACIFIC OCEAN (June 28, 2008) Adm. Timothy J. Keating, head of the U.S. Pacific Command, acts as a landing signal officer (LSO) as a Strike Fighter Squadron 192 F/A-18C Hornet lands on the flight deck aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63). LSOs are naval aviators who observe landing aircraft and communicate with the pilots to help safely land the aircraft. Keating and 20 other guests toured the ship. Kitty Hawk will be taking part in the 'Rim of the Pacific' exercise off Hawaii in July with units from Australia, Chile, Japan, the Netherlands, Peru, South Korea, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. This will be Kitty Hawk's last exercise before returning to the U.S. mainland for decommissioning in early 2009. Kitty Hawk will be replaced by USS George Washington (CVN 73) this summer as the Navy's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier operating from Japan. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kyle D. Gahlau (Released)
080628-N-7883G-093 PACIFIC OCEAN (June 28, 2008) Adm. Timothy J. Keating, head of the U.S. Pacific Command, acts as a landing signal officer (LSO) as a Strike Fighter Squadron 192 F/A-18C Hornet lands on the flight deck aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63). LSOs are naval aviators who observe landing aircraft and communicate with the pilots to help safely land the aircraft. Keating and 20 other guests toured the ship. Kitty Hawk will be taking part in the 'Rim of the Pacific' exercise off Hawaii in July with units from Australia, Chile, Japan, the Netherlands, Peru, South Korea, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. This will be Kitty Hawk's last exercise before returning to the U.S. mainland for decommissioning in early 2009. Kitty Hawk will be replaced by USS George Washington (CVN 73) this summer as the Navy's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier operating from Japan. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kyle D. Gahlau (Released)
2ndGen
Third times a charm
Wow, thats pretty cool, I love how the Adm's vest is stark white, and everyone elses are gray.
They all start out stark white. Doesn't take long for them to transition to gray. Suspect he doesn't get much time on the platform anymore just like CAG Aquilino...
080414-N-7981E-332 PACIFIC OCEAN (April 14, 2008) Commander, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2 Capt. John Aquilino discusses flight operations with Rear Adm. Chew Men Leong, Chief of Navy, Singapore Navy on the landing signal officer platform of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72). Chew and other members of the Singapore Navy visited the carrier to observe carrier flight operations. Lincoln and Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9 are on a scheduled seven-month deployment to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class James R. Evans (Released)
Easy to tell the Nugget LSOs from the Salty veterans...
080324-N-3659B-190 PACIFIC OCEAN (March 24, 2008) Landing signal officers watch as an F/A-18 Hornet makes an arrested landing on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Ronald Reagan and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 14 are conducting routine carrier operations. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joseph M. Buliavac (Released)
Who's muy macho?
Of course, the LSO work environment isn't as nitty-gritty as some other guys who are also issued white jerseys and float coats...
070424-N-6854D-001 PERSIAN GULF (April 24, 2007) - Troubleshooters from the "Jolly Rogers" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 103 give a thumbs up sign prior to launching an F/A-18F Super Hornet from Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). Eisenhower and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7 are deployed in support of Maritime Security Operations (MSO). U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Jon Dasbach (RELEASED)
Of course, the LSO work environment isn't as nitty-gritty as some other guys who are also issued white jerseys and float coats...
070424-N-6854D-001 PERSIAN GULF (April 24, 2007) - Troubleshooters from the "Jolly Rogers" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 103 give a thumbs up sign prior to launching an F/A-18F Super Hornet from Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). Eisenhower and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7 are deployed in support of Maritime Security Operations (MSO). U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Jon Dasbach (RELEASED)
They all start out stark white. Doesn't take long for them to transition to gray. Suspect he doesn't get much time on the platform anymore just like CAG Aquilino...
Ahh, nightmare revisited with CAG Aquilino. Not really a bad guy but he liked to yell. He lit me on a few occassions when he was DCAG and I was the COD OIC. I think only deserved half of em
Of course, the LSO work environment isn't as nitty-gritty as some other guys who are also issued white jerseys and float coats...
070424-N-6854D-001 PERSIAN GULF (April 24, 2007) - Troubleshooters from the "Jolly Rogers" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 103 give a thumbs up sign prior to launching an F/A-18F Super Hornet from Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). Eisenhower and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7 are deployed in support of Maritime Security Operations (MSO). U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Jon Dasbach (RELEASED)
Not sure that I would want to man up the jet with 666 in the buno.
Not sure that I would want to man up the jet with 666 in the buno.
Unless you were Satan's Kittens ... then it's made to order.
080628-N-7883G-093 PACIFIC OCEAN (June 28, 2008) Adm. Timothy J. Keating, ......
Timbo was a LT. LSO in VA-82, our sister squadron, when I was a nugget in VA-86. What a great guy!!! But his hair didn't match his vest back then.
markkyle66
Active Member
I did a little reading about the USS Bennington (CV-20) over the weekend. Evidently the Fresnel Lense and related LSO gear were first tested/used on it by VX-3. found some neat articles and pictures.
More on it in a reallly old article here.
More on it in a reallly old article here.
Attachments
My first carrier .... I saw a flight-deck guy get chopped off at the knees when he turned into the props of a STOOF and it took him to Heaven ....
.... big pink spray over EVERYTHING ... bad day .... rest easy, Brother.