Shooter's Gallery (as in Catapult, not firearms)

[A4sForever]

Final weight check for one Fat Drumstick ... can't shoot if you can't scoot ...

photo by A4sForever - at least by his camera

 

[BigIron]

We took one of the shooters flying on TR - would have done more, but he was the only one with the right swim/phys stuff. Lesson learned: If you have a chance to get the ejection seat swim/phys qual, do it.

Brett

Lesson learned indeed.

 

[BigIron]

Okay, so most of the shooters are "non-jet" guys from what I understand...P-3 bubbas doing their disassociated. tour. How long does it take to spool them up to speed for carrier ops? And (to piggyback with a retarded question) how hard is it to land a seat in one of those fast pointy-nosed planes for some OJT as a shooter?

Takes about 4 months of solid OJT to be fully qualified.

Getting a ride depends on your swim and phys currency. You need the ejection seat training (can't remember the course title or number) for jet rides. Also depends on the CO and Boss. If they are cool, you can fly. If 1 of the 2 are tools, or both of them are, there is no flying.

 

[BigIron]

A4's,

The guy actually launching the plane is in the "Bubble" and the young Petty Officer is a Flight Deck Safety Observer.

Bubble:

080511-N-7981E-195 PERSIAN GULF (May 11, 2008) Aircraft directors are reflected in the shooter's bubble as they position an EA-6B Prowler assigned to the "Lancers" of Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron (VAQ) 131 onto a steam powered catapult aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). Lincoln is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility supporting maritime security operations. U.S Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class James R. Evans (Released)

Inside the Bubble:

080104-N-0455L-003 PERSIAN GULF (Jan. 4, 2008) Lt. Chris Moylan stands watch in the waist bubble to ensure safe launching of aircraft from the flight deck aboard the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Truman and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 are underway on a scheduled deployment in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and maritime security operations. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Justin Lee Losack (Released)

-ea6bflyr

Found some interesting footage from the "bubble." An interesting look into the tiny mystical world of bubble shooting. Some of you VP guys may recognize the shooters in both clips.

 

[FastMover]

Takes about 4 months of solid OJT to be fully qualified.

Getting a ride depends on your swim and phys currency. You need the ejection seat training (can't remember the course title or number) for jet rides.

Is this the same qual we get here at NPA to fly in the T-6?

 

[BigIron]

Is this the same qual we get here at NPA to fly in the T-6?

Of course the name has changed. Used to be called N1/NP1 for initial or R1/RP1 for requal. I've attached the link. I don't know if it's the same for the T6 class. Based on the new rules, it appears you guys are a class 2 a/c.

 

[bert]

Is this the same qual we get here at NPA to fly in the T-6?

From 3710 para 8.4.7.2.C:

N6 Advanced continuation training for aircrew
selected for tactical jets. Prerequisite is completion
of either N1/NP1 or N5/NP2 (these are to be
used for determination of the 4-year training
interval). Once completed, appropriate Refresher
training is R1/RP1. Completion of this training
has been previously documented as completing
either N1 and N6 or N1 and R1. Students
receiving this training for flight in the T-6 aircraft
shall have their training documented as N6
T-6. This training does not meet the N6 training
requirements for flying in other USN aircraft.
Standard N6 training must be completed prior to
flying in other Category 1 aircraft. All crew
members, regardless of the currency of other
indoctrination or refresher qualifications, require
documented N6 T-6 training prior to flight in
the T-6 Texan aircraft. This training may be
conducted in conjunction with R/RP training
in the case of refresher students.​

 

[HeyJoe]

Slight diversion to other flightdeck action

090709-F-1333S-119 CORINTO, Nicaragua (July 9, 2009) Aviation Boastswain's Mate 3rd Class Matthew Shaw directs a UH-60 Army Blackhawk helicopter based out of Managua, Nicaragua during deck landing qualifications aboard the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) near Corinto, Nicaragua. Comfort is participating in Continuing Promise 2009, a four-month humanitarian and civic assistance mission to Latin America and the Caribbean. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jessica Snow)

 

[BigIron]

Rare night shot.

 

[TheBubba]

Its still N1/NP1 for the initial and R1/RP1 for the requal.

 

[A4sForever]

Rare night shot.

Another one ... old equipment; old school:

image by A4sForever

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

I've heard of shooters doing this.

100320-N-4236E-148 NORTH ARABIAN SEA (March 20, 2010) Lt. Cmdr. Kim Dacosta catapults her boots off the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) to commemorate her last launch aboard the ship. Dwight D. Eisenhower is on a six-month deployment as a part of the on-going rotation of forward-deployed forces to support maritime security operations and operating in international waters around the globe, working with other coalition maritime forces. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Chad R. Erdmann/Released)

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

HORNET HEADWAY
A Super Hornet launches off the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman in the Persian Gulf, Jan. 10, 2008.
U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Ricardo J. Reyes

SHOOTER
A shooter gives the signal to launch a T-45 Goshawk training aircraft from the bow catapult of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, March 9, 2008. The T-45 is used for intermediate and advanced portions of the Navy and Marine Corps pilot training program for jet carrier aviation and tactical strike missions. The Roosevelt aircraft carrier is conducting carrier qualifications.
U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Jonathan Snyder

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

LAUNCH CHECK
Navy Lt. Cmdr. Thomas "Sputnik" Louden checks all the launch stations brfore giving the signal to launch an F/A-18C Hornet assigned to the "Stingers" of Strike Fighter Squadron during an air wing fly-off aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan in the Pacific Ocean, Nov. 24, 2008. Ronald Reagan is on a routine deployment in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of responsibility.
U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Gary Prill

LAUNCH LIGHTS
U.S. Navy Lt. David Gardner gives an aircraft the signal to launch during night flight operations aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis in the Pacific Ocean, Feb. 23, 2009.
U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Walter M. Wayman

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

100905-N-6003P-061 ARABIAN SEA (Sept. 5, 2010) Lt. Daniel Decicco stands by for the next aircraft to launch aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Harry S. Truman is deployed as part of the Truman Carrier Strike Group supporting maritime security operation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kilho Park/Released)