Take off traditions

[Dawgfan]

Navy:

The Naval Aviator looks over at the Catapult Officer ("Shooter") who
gives the run up engines signal by rotating his fingers above his head.

The pilot pushes the throttle forward, verifies all flight controls are
operational, checks all gauges, and gives the Cat Chief a brisk salute,
continuing the Navy tradition of asking permission to leave the ship.

The Cat Chief drops to one knee while swooping his arm forward and
pointing down the deck, granting that permission. The Navy pilot is immediately catapulted airborne.

Air Force:

The Air Force pilot looks out of the cockpit just before taxi for takeoff and the ground crew waits until the pilot's thumb is sticking straight
up.

The crew chief then confirms that he sees the thumb, salutes, and the
Air Force pilot then takes off. This time-tested tradition is the last link
in the Air Force safety net to confirm that the pilot does not have both
thumbs up his a$$ before getting airborne.

 

[Future Herc Driver]

Thats true, but at least over 90% of us get to give that signal out of our JET.

 

[rare21]

Thats true, but at least over 90% of us get to give that signal out of our JET.

wow the air force is sure lowering their jet standards

 

[Squid]

if by jets you mean fat kids.

 

[Godspeed]

what standards? FYI, note by Dawgfan's Avatar he is in Prowlers, which the last time I checked, was a JET.

 

[Future Herc Driver]

Well whatever. Have fun with all those helo slots for the next 10 years.

 

[zab1001]

right. enjoy that JET...oh wait..C-130...

whatever. dawg's cheap shot derserved one back.

 

[A4sForever]

Let's Hope This Doesn't Become A T/O Tradition ... ??

Picture this:
USS Kitty Hawk, CV-63, transit to WestPac, just entered "Bear Country".

LAUNCH THE ALERT 5 and ALERT 15 !!! was sounded over the 1MC (meaning Crazy Ivan is close) and one of my squadron-mates was broken down and taxied forward onto Cat #2 for immediate launch -- he had been standing alert 15 for the past couple of hours, as memory serves me.

The "problem" was, he was just about to be "relieved" -- and I think there is a reason why they use that particular term -- when the alert and launch commands were sounded. Engine start, chocks out, taxi forward, etc., etc... Maximum pucker, max+ excitement, max+ activity by everyone on the ship and especially, the flight deck personnel.

The "problem" increased dramatically as the aircraft was locked into the catapult and then the launch was delayed for 2-3 minutes. My friend could not stand the "excitement" any longer and in desperation, took out the "relief tube" from under his seat (there's that "relief" word again) --- AND HE USED IT !! RIGHT THERE!! ON DECK !! WHILE ATTACHED TO THE CATAPULT!! after which he was basically ready to "go"... Where DO we get such men ???

That's when one of our Final Checkers -- probably the most "head's-up" enlisted men on the flight deck (that's why they have the job) -- noticed a "stream" of fluid coming from the belly of the aircraft. True to his duties -- he ran up, halted the launch, put his hand under the aircraft to catch some of the "fluid" and proceeded to smell/taste it !!!

You know the rest of the story, except that this checker's expected "thumb's-up" to the cockpit was performed with the middle finger (?), instead of with the more traditional "thumb". :icon_rage

 

[Future Herc Driver]

Honestly though, I could care less about who flies what. One of my best friends just got 53's down at south field a couple weeks ago and my favorite IP is a helo driver. Just havin a little fun.

 

[vegita1220]

Picture this:
USS Kitty Hawk, CV-63, transit to WestPac, just entered "Bear Country".

LAUNCH THE ALERT 5 and ALERT 15 !!! was sounded over the 1MC (meaning Crazy Ivan is close) and one of my squadron-mates was broken down and taxied forward onto Cat #2 for immediate launch -- he had been standing alert 15 for the past couple of hours, as memory serves me.

The "problem" was, he was just about to be "relieved" -- and I think there is a reason why they use that particular term -- when the alert and launch commands were sounded. Engine start, chocks out, taxi forward, etc., etc... Maximum pucker, max+ excitement, max+ activity by everyone on the ship and especially, the flight deck personnel.

The "problem" increased dramatically as the aircraft was locked into the catapult and then the launch was delayed for 2-3 minutes. My friend could not stand the "excitement" any longer and in despiration, took out the "relief tube" from under his seat (there's that "relief" word again) --- AND HE USED IT !! RIGHT THERE!! ATTACHED TO THE CATAPULT!! and basically ready to go... Where DO we get such men ???

That's when one of our Final Checkers -- probably the most "head's-up" enlisted men on the flight deck (that's why they had that job) -- noticed a "stream" of fluid coming from the belly of the aircraft. True to his duties -- he ran up, halted the launch, put his hand under the aircraft to catch some of the "fluid" and proceeded to smell/taste it !!!

You know the rest of the story, except that this checker's expected "thumb's-up" to the cockpit was performed with the middle finger (?), instead of with the more traditional "thumb". :icon_rage

whoa...great sea story.

 

[Brett327]

whoa...great sea story.

Prowlers have a similar relief tube system and some jackass always uses it while in the pits, or during final checks and ends up literally pissing on one of the troopers. It's a good way to get a new callsign.

Good times,

Brett

 

[vegita1220]

I always wondered if it ever went the other way...do the troops ever pull something on the aircrew?

 

[smittyrunr]

My onwing in Primary told me a story about the maintenace guys in his fleet squadron who would stick earplugs in the relief tube... when the pilot went to relieve himself it would 'backfire.'

 

[mpdonnelly]

And there's the story about the flight student in VT-31 who didn't know how the commode or the relief tube in the T-44 worked....

 

[A4sForever]

I always wondered if it ever went the other way...do the troops ever pull something on the aircrew?

This isn't "humor" but it does relate to a T/O ... sort of.

A little side trip first:
There was always the occasional Officer that reaped what he sowed from the squadron airmen; which is why my policy was "take care of the men and they will take care of you"... I learned that the first week I was in the Navy and it NEVER failed me. I am not talking about "sucking up" (sucking down?) or trying to be their "buddy". I am talking about being and acting like an Officer and looking out for your men and standing behind them when they screwed something up. No B.S., no lies, mutual respect, mutual responsibility, and guess what: it works.

The Officers who were idiots generally provided enough entertainment for all concerned, and the enlisted thoroughly enjoyed the discomfort such O's visited upon themselves. So did I and the rest of the "bad boys"...

But to your question: no one ever "pulled something" with the aircraft as a joke. The airmen who worked with us and serviced our aircraft -- they were complete professionals. Always room for good-natured joking and ribbing; but none for "pranks" -- at least not in any tactical squadrons that I was ever affiliated with. "Troops pulling something" with the aircraft would be a really quick way to Mast or much worse for the "prankster". BIG TIME :icon_hamm

I experienced "something" -- once. I was new to the squadron and getting ready for the "Dawn Patrol", strapped in, engines started, ready for post-start checks. Then out from the hangar came the CO, the XO, the MCPO, several Maint. enlisted "heavies", and two NIS agents. I got the shut-down signal and dismounted.

"What's up"? was the question. Not too much was said and the NIS boys took over. It turned out my parachute pack was filled with strips of rags instead of a life-saving silk canopy. A tip had led NIS to the discovery that several parachutes in 2-3 squadrons had been sabotaged and mine was one of several found that morning.

It turned out that some slime-ball assigned to the station paraloft had decided to take his displeasure with the Vietnam War into the workplace and sabotaging parachutes was his contribution to the anti-war movement.

I heard he didn't pack too many more parachutes -- not in demand at Leavenworth.

ROGER BALL !