One old... er, mature gent here, OinC USS MIDWAY "COD Squad" (C-1A) in '71-'72. Yes. I estimate 1/3 of our departures were angled-deck launches (usually required on a post-recovery launch). In low/calm wind, high temp conditions, deck launches were often delayed/CX., as MIDWAY was stripped of her (1) waist catapult during her '66-'70 'big deck' conversion.
Another problem the ChiComs would face with C-1A CODs, is they would have to dedicate certain ships "Grape" tanks to supply recip. fuel (115/145) if prop models. This was a major problem for our C-1A, as all MIDWAY's gas tanks had been converted to JP only during the conversion. As a result, our COD was based at Danang, and could not be refueled aboard (required very precise preflight/flight planning/fuel management), but also provided many fun RONs at FASU Danang's legendary
"Red Dog Saloon"! Catmando, remember?
Most airworthy C-1/S-2s flying today, have been converted to Garrett TPE-331 Turboprops, which I believe would be more than sufficient to make safe ski-jump launches for our Chinese 'Compadres'.
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*"SchoolBoy 700, MIDWAY's C-1A Trader
BzB