BB STACKERS

[Jessie]

I am guilty of liking the smell of AV/GAS. Every trip to the "fillin station" is a trip back to the flight line.

I like the smell of AvGas ( in moderation) but not jet fuel ( JP)
You actually had AvGas on the carrier?
Or are you talking about land based Sandies or such?

 

[Dennis The B]

I like the smell of AvGas ( in moderation) but not jet fuel ( JP)
You actually had AvGas on the carrier?
Or are you talking about land based Sandies or such?

Didn't the S-2's run on AvGas? And if they had any A1-E's, I think they'd be on AvGas also.

 

[OLDNAVYMCPO]

I like the smell of AvGas ( in moderation) but not jet fuel ( JP)
You actually had AvGas on the carrier?
Or are you talking about land based Sandies or such?

Aircraft carriers must have both JP and Av gas, but I think Rusty is AF and was talking about land based birds.

 

[Texas Star]

My son built me a plastic model of a USAF Corsair II, A-7.

I think the Corsair II never got its share of fame.

I'm sure the Navy version had folding wings. Dunno about the AF version, as I was never stationed at a base that had them.

 

[Engineer1911]

I was correct, I went air force.

 

[snowman]

Typically, flight deck maintenance crews had a 45 minute turn around from the time the bird landed, was spotted (parked), and shut down until it had to launch again. That's the most time available to arm, fuel, fix any mechanical or electronics problems, align inertial navigation system and change out flight crews. A plane was literally mobbed by maintenance people, AOs and plane captains. Any delay in any activity and it didn't make the next mission. Failure to make a mission for any reason was serious. Birds were dependent upon each other for countermeasure protection, radar jamming, recon and fighter protection. It all had to work together, the whole was the sum of its parts.

At the peak of activity during Vietnam, flight crews exchanged places while the A/C was still turning and burning. Planes were hot refueled and armed without ever shutting down or being tied down. Really dangerous for maintenance personnel. Intakes are sucking up volumes of air, jet blast will knock you down and blow you or equipment over the side. Fuel can spill on the deck and catch fire from a passing huffer ( jet starter). Bombs can be inadvertently dropped, ordnance can be accidently fired. I've seen it all at one time or another. Mix all that up with A/C moving under jet power and prop planes turning, noise level so high that you can't hear a warning shout and A/C moving to the cats to launch.

A seriously dangerous place to work.

Very helpful(and sobering) information -thank you. Sounds like near chaos, but I'm sure that there is a procedure and everyone knows it well, though Murphy ever lurks and threatens.

Regards,
Andy

 

[Frank46]

OLDNAVYMCPO, when I first looked at the first pic that was posted all I could see was the AE tail markings. The USS AMERICA was not visible. When I was in the fighter group with the AE tail markings flew off our decks frequently. Don't remember the name of the fighter group. Over 40 some odd years have passed. Thanks for posting. Frank

 

[THE PILGRIM]

My understanding is the Navy Tail Tab IDs the unit, not the ship.
According to the online data base, AE was Air Wing 6.
They could go cruising with different carriers at different times.

 

[OLDNAVYMCPO]

My understanding is the Navy Tail Tab IDs the unit, not the ship.
According to the online data base, AE was Air Wing 6.
They could go cruising with different carriers at different times.

You are almost correct. The tail tab designates the Carrier Air Wing (CVW). The Air Wing deployed on carrier is not always the same. In this case, in the 1970 Tonkin Gulf deployment, AE was the designation for Carrier Air Wing 9, not 6.

The squadrons deployed were:

VF-92, VA-146,VA-165, VAQ-132,VAW-124, RVAH-12, VA-147 and VF-96.

 

[soFlaNative]

Brother was AO, CVN-65 WestPac the late 70's
All he said was the attrition rate of the flight deck crews were high.