Wow! Just Amazing

[Waynem]

I received the following in an email.

Author's unknown.
===============

"These videos are very revealing, with the pilots in the ready room, their nervous laughs when the pilot misses the wire and their cheers when he finally gets the wire. *You know that mentally, they are all in the cockpit and feeling what the pilot is feeling.
Some of you are familiar with this activity and some of you have experienced it personally. *You who have, know what the rest of us can never know.
Support your privates, your sergeants, your commanders and your pilots. *They all deserve every bit of praise you can give them. *cp
***
*
This is very unnerving, landing with deck pitching 30 *feet, at night, low on
fuel. *Incredible. *You will never *forget viewing this. *I have seen a lot
of aviation emails but *the two videos below are undoubtedly the best. *Turn
on your *sound and go full screen. *I guarantee this will definitely *hold
your attention.
These videos show the difference between *Naval Aviation and any other kind. The links below are two *outstanding videos about F-18 carrier operations aboard the USS *Nimitz during weather that causes a severely pitching deck, which you *can see in the videos. *It's more dangerous than most*combat missions and the tension in the pilots and crew is very *apparent. *

Watch Part 1 first. *Great videos

LANDING *TERROR!
Carrier - Landing on a Pitching Deck PART 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=4gGMI8d3vLs
*
Carrier *- Landing on a Pitching Deck PART 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=S0yj70QbBzg
"
========
Enjoy.*

[helmick]

I was on the edge of my chair just watching.

[NCFischers]

Great video, thanks.

[Mudchief]

That was some good video.

[Les]

Amazing video. The closest I've come to that is sleeping on the USS Yorktown with a bunch of boyscouts.

[exav8tr]

Wayne, As a commercial pilot, now retired (as you know), I have always envied the Navy pilots. Having spent 20 years in the Air Force (as a medic, mind you), the AF pilots always said "They do it with Flare". Navy pilots always said "We don't need no stinking Flare". Having flown in Alaska for 5 years I had some hair raising experiences and never broke a thing, HOWSOMEVER, while watching these videos I broke out in a cold sweat and had to double my blood pressure pills (well, almost anyway). Carrier flying has got to be the MOST demanding type of flying. I salute all you NAVY pilots out there!!!!!

[Bill-N-Donna]

That was awesome to say the least. Great videos, thanks for sharing those with us.

[K&Gs3400RL]

That sure brings back memories I was a Master Helmsman (Quartermaster) in the Navy. U.S.S. Crommelin FFG 37 Sure saw plenty of that when we were underway with the Battle Group.

[alandaudrey]

Wayne, good vids. Thanks for sharing.

[PapaBeav]

Absolutely amazing, thanks for sharing.

[Rondo]

I'm sure glad we have men like this that are defending us whether it is in peace or war! My deepest appreciation to these men in the air and even on the ground or on deck. They do outstanding jobs!
Thanks Wayne for the videos!!

[Waynem]

I liked the comment from one pilot that stated flying in Iraq was safer.

[Rondo]

I caught that comment also! I don't envy those Navy pilots at all. Even the chopper pilots have problems on decks like that! I didn't wuite understand the one comment of the one being his last time of having to land on a deck like that! I presume he was heading for a land based assignment!!

[hydman]

Brings back memories. That is where I first became a believer in prayer. May God always bring them all back to us safely.

[Pete Hanson]

When I was activly flying small planes as a private pilot I got some formation flying instruction from a Navy carrier pilot. He told me that there is nothing more firghtful than landing on a carrier in high seas. Now I see what he was talking about. Great video.....thanks.

[Tom S.]

Great videos!

It's like trying to thread a needle while wearing boxing gloves and riding backwards on a galloping horse.

I was kind of put off by the one pilot who questioned the need to be doing these landings though. You have to train for the worst - period. Trying to do these landings could be even worse under combat conditions, but this training may very well save their lives. It's unfortunate they have to do it, but it is necessary. And scary!