Something strange about this picture...

[paikea]

Notice anything strange about this picture? I found it on the Navy News website. Shouldn't the pilot have left his/her burners on longer after being catapulted? Also, what's with the tailhook being down?

Thanks

 

[vegita1220]

It could be a bolter...

 

[DairyCreamer]

Well, far as I'm aware, F/A-18s dont necessarily need afterburner for a cat shot. Pilots can elect to use it though if, say, there's a heavy load. I'm not a Naval Aviatior yet though, so, I could be very gravely wrong

As for the tail hook... ya got me!

~Nate

 

[kimphil]

Tailhook probably missed the wire.

 

[TNWhiskey]

Practicing touch and go's??? Complete guess.

 

[kimphil]

Touch and go's are with the tailhook up?

 

[paikea]

Originally posted by TNWhiskey
Practicing touch and go's??? Complete guess.

I would guess so too, but you can see the steam rising from the end of the catapult cylinder showing that there was a launch from that cat, and you can also maybe make out the shuttle at the end of the deck.

 

[BeanFighter]

Not a bolter, this is a shot off the fwd cat. You are correct about the use of AB. This is probably a launch directly into the pattern for another trap and the pilot just dropped his hook right after the launch. Left turn towards the pattern vise right to clear the CV off the right cat.

 

[BeanFighter]

I type tooo slow

 

[paikea]

Originally posted by BeanFighter
Not a bolter, this is a shot off the fwd cat. You are correct about the use of AB. This is probably a launch directly into the pattern for another trap and the pilot just dropped his hook right after the launch. Left turn towards the pattern vise right to clear the CV off the right cat.

I actually understood all of that.

I also noticed it couldn't have been a shoulder cat because of the obvious fact that there is no right side where the shoulder cat is.

 

[bunk22]

That's pretty quick to be dropping the hook. Though it looks like he launched from CAT 1 and has started his turn to downwind for CQ, so that makes the most sense. If it wasn't case I CQ, he would be making a right turn off CAT's 1 or 2.

 

[version2point0]

i dont see the picture

-v2.0

 

[paikea]

Yeah, it screwed up before. It should be working for you guys now.

 

[version2point0]

i see it now. nice pic, but i always thought they take off with the hook down, but thats because im not a pilot yet to be better educated.

-v2.0