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

[HeyJoe]

For MB + Bunk

090107-N-6604E-003 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Jan. 7, 2009) Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Equipment) 2nd Class Christopher Madsen signals for the launch of a C-2A Greyhound assigned to Fleet Logistics Support Squardron (VRC) 40 aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) during the Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 8 composite unit training exercise (COMPTUEX). COMPTUEX is a training exercise to test capabilities and ensure readiness prior to deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Bradley Evans/Released

 

[A4sForever]

..... Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Equipment) 2nd Class .... signals for the launch of a C-2A Greyhound....

Interrogative: when did this start?? By "start", I mean PO's launching aircraft ???

Unheard of in times past. No one, save a pair of khaki pants used to launch 'em ... mebbe once in a great, great, great, great, great, great while ... mebbe a Chief would launch a COD.

But basically .... never. Only O-type khaki's ... :sleep_125

 

[H60Gunner]

Interrogative: when did this start?? By "start", I mean PO's launching aircraft ???

Unheard of in times past. No one, save a pair of khaki pants used to launch 'em ... mebbe once in a great, great, great, great, great, great while ... mebbe a Chief would launch a COD.

But basically .... never. Only O-type khaki's ... :sleep_125

I think he's just a spotter. Not a Shooter.

 

[Mumbles]

Interrogative: when did this start?? By "start", I mean PO's launching aircraft ???

Unheard of in times past. No one, save a pair of khaki pants used to launch 'em ... mebbe once in a great, great, great, great, great, great while ... mebbe a Chief would launch a COD.

But basically .... never. Only O-type khaki's ... :sleep_125

No way he's a "Shooter"...just a final ckecker.

 

[A4sForever]

I think he's just a spotter. Not a Shooter.

No way he's a "Shooter"...just a final ckecker.

Oh ... 'Zat so ??? 'ZAT SO ??? 'ZAT SO ???




Thanks ... I think you're both right ... what a relief .... and thanks for keeping an ol' man straight ... now I can go back to my nap. :sleep_125

 

[ea6bflyr]

Oh ... 'Zat so ??? 'ZAT SO ??? 'ZAT SO ???




Thanks ... I think you're both right ... what a relief .... and thanks for keeping an ol' man straight ... now I can go back to my nap. :sleep_125

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

 

[A4sForever]

A4's,

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

Bubble:

Yeah, I believe you ... I just don't "like it", wouldn't want to "do it" myself, and think things will ever be quite the same w/ the CAT O's becoming a "bubble boy".

Something is lost .... gone forever ... there's no substitute for the "wind" and "feel" and "sound" of the flight deck -- it goes right through you; you become part of it.

The CAT O's "dance" was almost as good as the LSO "dance" ... just shorter. Is that what she said ... ???

Here's a shot of one of my first ships launchin' a STOOF, not too long after I was onboard:

 

[efini_kid]

is the front wheel of the e2 off the deck?

 

[Pugs]

is the front wheel of the e2 off the deck?

E-2? E-2! That's a far cry from an E-2! Learn your history friend that's an S-2 aka the Stoof. The fixed wing carrier based ASW of its era prior to the S-3.

Note real round engines...

As for your question, maybe

 

[Hozer]

Kennedy, Connie and Big E are the last of the bubble-less flight decks...truly a passing era...

 

[A4sForever]

Kennedy, Connie and Big E are the last of the bubble-less flight decks...truly a passing era...

CONNIE?? KENNEDY?? WASH OUT YOUR MOUT' ... !!!

Is not the 'HAWK -- **be still, my beating heart** -- the latest/greatest big deck oil-burner to have a "no-bubble-boy" flight deck ???

 

[LazersGoPEWPEW]

Some more A-7s.

 

[Mumbles]

Thanks Pew....SLUFs are cool.

 

[A4sForever]

Thanks Pew....SLUFs are cool.

A.k.a. "Fruit Fly" ... check out a PLAT pix of an A-7 landing and you'll know why ...

 

[zipmartin]

Another Sluf

VA-86, CVW-8, CVN-68 Mid-'70's