Wildcat on the Ronald Reagan

[Charles Talleyrand]

Suppose someone tried to land an F4F Wildcat on a modern American
aircraft carrier. We'll give the carrier a few hours to prepare, and lets assume
the carrier is at sea and moving.

Can a WWII fighter land on a modern carrier? Can it get back in the air?

-Much Thanks
-CMTalleyrand

[Dudhorse]

"Charles Talleyrand" > wrote in message
...
> Suppose someone tried to land an F4F Wildcat on a modern American
> aircraft carrier. We'll give the carrier a few hours to prepare, and lets
assume
> the carrier is at sea and moving.
>
> Can a WWII fighter land on a modern carrier? Can it get back in the air?
>
> ... cannot think of a reason why not for both landing & launch; compared
to the WWII carriers a Nimitz class flightdeck would be huge!!
>

[Keith Willshaw]

"Charles Talleyrand" > wrote in message
...
> Suppose someone tried to land an F4F Wildcat on a modern American
> aircraft carrier. We'll give the carrier a few hours to prepare, and lets
assume
> the carrier is at sea and moving.
>
> Can a WWII fighter land on a modern carrier? Can it get back in the air?
>

Yes, in fact thats what was done for the 1970's film
of the Battle of Midway IRC

No surprise given that a modern carrier has a much longer
flight deck than anything available in WW2

Keith

[ANDREW ROBERT BREEN]

In article >,
Charles Talleyrand > wrote:
>Suppose someone tried to land an F4F Wildcat on a modern American
>aircraft carrier. We'll give the carrier a few hours to prepare, and lets assume
>the carrier is at sea and moving.
>
>Can a WWII fighter land on a modern carrier? Can it get back in the air?

Given the much lower take off and landing speeds of WW2 aircraft, I'd not
think there'd be a problem. At the extreme of low take off and landing
speeds, ISTR the fleet Air Arm museum's Swordfish landing on and taking
off from Illustrious a year or so ago as part of the commemoration of the
60th anniversary of the Taranto raid - which of course would not present
any problem to a Stringbag as Illustrious, while smaller than US carriers,
is a lot bigger than many of the ships Swordfish operated from.

--
Andy Breen ~ Interplanetary Scintillation Research Group
http://users.aber.ac.uk/azb/
"Time has stopped, says the Black Lion clock
and eternity has begun" (Dylan Thomas)

[Ogden Johnson III]

"Charles Talleyrand" > wrote:

>Suppose someone tried to land an F4F Wildcat on a modern American
>aircraft carrier. We'll give the carrier a few hours to prepare, and lets assume
>the carrier is at sea and moving.
>
>Can a WWII fighter land on a modern carrier? Can it get back in the air?

As others have pointed out, certainly. If a C-130 can do it, albeit
gingerly, an F4F certainly could.

_Safely_ landing would be the question. The pilot would have to be
conversant with the present optical systems, and some LSOs would have
to be trained for the F4F's [or other WWII aircraft you're
postulating] characteristics and landing profiles. My only question
would be can modern arresting gear be set to handle the, generally,
much lower weights of WWII carrier aircraft compared to those
operating today? [e.g., F4F ~7,500 lbs, A4M ~25,000 lbs]

OJ III

[Red]

"Ogden Johnson III" > wrote in message
...
> "Charles Talleyrand" > wrote:
>
> >Suppose someone tried to land an F4F Wildcat on a modern American
> >aircraft carrier. We'll give the carrier a few hours to prepare, and
lets assume
> >the carrier is at sea and moving.
> >
> >Can a WWII fighter land on a modern carrier? Can it get back in the air?
>
> As others have pointed out, certainly. If a C-130 can do it, albeit
> gingerly, an F4F certainly could.
>
> _Safely_ landing would be the question. The pilot would have to be
> conversant with the present optical systems, and some LSOs would have
> to be trained for the F4F's [or other WWII aircraft you're
> postulating] characteristics and landing profiles. My only question
> would be can modern arresting gear be set to handle the, generally,
> much lower weights of WWII carrier aircraft compared to those
> operating today? [e.g., F4F ~7,500 lbs, A4M ~25,000 lbs]
>
> OJ III

I don't think you would need arresting gear. Getting forty knots + of wind
across the deck would be no problem. You might have a little truouble
holding the F4F onto the deck. Between the high drag and low speed of the
F4F its brakes shouldn't have any problem stopping.

Speaking of the high drag,

If the F4F is "dirty", gear, flaps, etc.down, with 20 knots headwind and the
CVN making 40 knots, can the F4F catch it? What was the landing speed on an
F4F. What about the take-off speed. Can the F4F fly off the bow, or will it
be like a chopper, and have to go off to the side. (There is a reason that
most of the time a chopper lands and takes off from the stern of a ship). I
can see it now, the F4F takes off, climbs to 250 feet, the CVN sails out
from under it, the CVN slows down, and the F4F catches up and lands. I can
see it now, ROTFLMAO.

[Andrew Toppan]

On Tue, 16 Sep 2003 23:58:10 -0400, "Charles Talleyrand" >
wrote:

>Can a WWII fighter land on a modern carrier? Can it get back in the air?

Umm...if it can land and take off from a smaller, WWII-era carrier, why
couldn't it land and take off from a *larger* modern carrier?

--
Andrew Toppan --- --- "I speak only for myself"
"Haze Gray & Underway" - Naval History, DANFS, World Navies Today,
Photo Features, Military FAQs, and more - http://www.hazegray.org/

[Pechs1]

Charles-<< Suppose someone tried to land an F4F Wildcat on a modern American
aircraft carrier. We'll give the carrier a few hours to prepare, and lets
assume
the carrier is at sea and moving. >><BR><BR>

<< Can a WWII fighter land on a modern carrier? Can it get back in the air?
>><BR><BR>

Pull the rods and get about 35 knots and let the A/C use the whole deck, yes to
both is what I think.
P. C. Chisholm
CDR, USN(ret.)
Old Phart Phormer Phantom, Turkey, Viper, Scooter and Combat Buckeye Phlyer

[Pechs1]

OJ-<< My only question
would be can modern arresting gear be set to handle the, generally,
much lower weights of WWII carrier aircraft compared to those
operating today? [e.g., F4F ~7,500 lbs, A4M ~25,000 lbs] >><BR><BR>

I would guess they would pull the wires and let the A/C just land.. CV with 35
knots on, plus any natural wind, F4F would be closing at about what, 50 knots
or so-easy to stop.
P. C. Chisholm
CDR, USN(ret.)
Old Phart Phormer Phantom, Turkey, Viper, Scooter and Combat Buckeye Phlyer

[Charlie Wolf]

What would the landing weight (no ordnance) of an A-1 Skyraider be?
The ones they used on supercarriers in Tonkin Gulf. I'm assuming the
situation would be comparable.
Regards,

On Tue, 16 Sep 2003 23:58:10 -0400, "Charles Talleyrand"
> wrote:

>Suppose someone tried to land an F4F Wildcat on a modern American
>aircraft carrier. We'll give the carrier a few hours to prepare, and lets assume
>the carrier is at sea and moving.
>
>Can a WWII fighter land on a modern carrier? Can it get back in the air?
>
>-Much Thanks
>-CMTalleyrand
>

[Matt Wiser]

"Dudhorse" > wrote:
>
>"Charles Talleyrand" > wrote
>in message
...
>> Suppose someone tried to land an F4F Wildcat
>on a modern American
>> aircraft carrier. We'll give the carrier
>a few hours to prepare, and lets
>assume
>> the carrier is at sea and moving.
>>
>> Can a WWII fighter land on a modern carrier?
> Can it get back in the air?
>>
>> ... cannot think of a reason why not for both
>landing & launch; compared
>to the WWII carriers a Nimitz class flightdeck
>would be huge!!
>>
>
>
It's been done before: in August 1995 USS Carl Vinson sailed to Pearl Harbor
to take part in ceremonies marking the 50th anniversary of the end of the
war, and a dozen warbirds embarked on the cruise Two B-25s, two TBMs, 3 or
4 Corsairs, an F8F, two P-40s, and a pair of Mustangs were aboard. One of
the B-25s didn't launch when an engine blew, but all other warbirds launched
off Oahu, and landed at Hickam AFB. They then launched from Hickam after
the ceremonies were over and recovered aboard the carrier. All of the warbird
pilots had done FCLP to get used to carrier landing procedures and techniques.

And they didn't need arrester gear.

Posted via www.My-Newsgroups.com - web to news gateway for usenet access!

[NoHoverStop]

ANDREW ROBERT BREEN wrote:
> <snip> ISTR the fleet Air Arm museum's Swordfish landing on and taking
> off from Illustrious a year or so ago as part of the commemoration of the
> 60th anniversary of the Taranto raid - which of course would not present
> any problem to a Stringbag as Illustrious, while smaller than US carriers,
> is a lot bigger than many of the ships Swordfish operated from.
>
Really? Got a reference for that? The WWII Lusty didn't have a sodding
great ramp on the bow like the current one does. I'm sure the FAA never
got clearance for the Swordfish to do ski-jumps in WWII so when was the
appropriate clearance work done?

[ANDREW ROBERT BREEN]

In article >,
NoHoverStop > wrote:
>
>ANDREW ROBERT BREEN wrote:
>> <snip> ISTR the fleet Air Arm museum's Swordfish landing on and taking
>> off from Illustrious a year or so ago as part of the commemoration of the
>> 60th anniversary of the Taranto raid - which of course would not present
>> any problem to a Stringbag as Illustrious, while smaller than US carriers,
>> is a lot bigger than many of the ships Swordfish operated from.
>>
>Really? Got a reference for that? The WWII Lusty didn't have a sodding
>great ramp on the bow like the current one does. I'm sure the FAA never
>got clearance for the Swordfish to do ski-jumps in WWII so when was the
>appropriate clearance work done?

Nope, completely off the top of my head and from memory. Given the
take-off and landing run for the Stringbag there should have been more
than ehough deck before it reached the ramp, either in take off or
landing, and there was certainly a Stringbag on Lusty for the Taranto
60th. I support it's possible that it either landed on and was taken off
in harbour, or vice versa, or harbour lofted on and off - in which case
I'm confusing it with an earlier Taranto anniversary when a Swordfish
certainly flew onto and off a more modern 'carrier - Eagle or Park Royal,
maybe. I've certainly seen photographs of a Stringbag on the deck of the
current Lusty, and it's possible I've conflated it with accouints of
earlier landings-on to more or less modern 'carriers.

--
Andy Breen ~ Interplanetary Scintillation Research Group
http://users.aber.ac.uk/azb/
"Time has stopped, says the Black Lion clock
and eternity has begun" (Dylan Thomas)

[Walt BJ]

Considering that a Wildcat had a tail hook, why not? As for the
optical system, it'd take about a 5 minute chalk talk to show a WW2
pilot how it worked and what to do. We USAF drivers didn't get any
briefing at all and we used to use the field optical landing system at
Navy Key West, absolute proof that anyone with half a brain can do it,
right? (G)

[Charles Talleyrand]

"ANDREW ROBERT BREEN" > wrote in message ...
> In article >,
> Charles Talleyrand > wrote:
> >Suppose someone tried to land an F4F Wildcat on a modern American
> >aircraft carrier. We'll give the carrier a few hours to prepare, and lets assume
> >the carrier is at sea and moving.
> >
> >Can a WWII fighter land on a modern carrier? Can it get back in the air?
>
> Given the much lower take off and landing speeds of WW2 aircraft, I'd not
> think there'd be a problem. At the extreme of low take off and landing
> speeds, ISTR the fleet Air Arm museum's Swordfish landing on and taking
> off from Illustrious a year or so ago as part of the commemoration of the
> 60th anniversary of the Taranto raid - which of course would not present
> any problem to a Stringbag as Illustrious, while smaller than US carriers,
> is a lot bigger than many of the ships Swordfish operated from.

Sure there could be problems. Maybe the arresting cables have grown in
diameter and no longer can be reliably caught by the F4's hook. Maybe
the catapult cannot be dialed down low enough for the light weight
plane, or the connection between them has changed shape
and size. Things become incompatable over time.

If things were still compatable 60 years later that would be
amazing. Things have changed so much since then. Note how
the fuel is different, the O2 systems are different, the ammo is
different, etc.

Of course someone said similar planes have flown off modern
carriers. The question becomes

Did they use the arrresting gear?
Did they use the catapult?

-Thanks

[Ogden Johnson III]

(Walt BJ) wrote:

>Considering that a Wildcat had a tail hook, why not? As for the
>optical system, it'd take about a 5 minute chalk talk to show a WW2
>pilot how it worked and what to do. We USAF drivers didn't get any
>briefing at all and we used to use the field optical landing system at
>Navy Key West, absolute proof that anyone with half a brain can do it,
>right? (G)

Finally. An admission by a USAF pilot that they are a half-brained
lot. Good for you, Walt.

OJ III

[Pechs1]

Walt-<< We USAF drivers didn't get any
briefing at all and we used to use the field optical landing system at
Navy Key West, absolute proof that anyone with half a brain can do it,
right? (G) >><BR><BR>

USAF-flare to land, squat to pee...

;-l)
P. C. Chisholm
CDR, USN(ret.)
Old Phart Phormer Phantom, Turkey, Viper, Scooter and Combat Buckeye Phlyer

[Andrew Toppan]

On Thu, 18 Sep 2003 01:35:32 -0400, "Charles Talleyrand" >
wrote:

>the catapult cannot be dialed down low enough for the light weight
>plane, or the connection between them has changed shape
>and size.

Many WWII carriers did not have catapults, and the planes operated just fine
without them. What makes you think a catapult is necessary now?

--
Andrew Toppan --- --- "I speak only for myself"
"Haze Gray & Underway" - Naval History, DANFS, World Navies Today,
Photo Features, Military FAQs, and more - http://www.hazegray.org/

[John Fitzpatrick]

I knew they launched off the Carl Vinson, but this is the first time I
heard that they were allowed to recover on the carrier. Hard to believe that
the Navy would risk some civilian pilot slamming into the back of the
carrier or the island superstructure.


"Matt Wiser" > wrote in message
news:3f688b24$1@bg2....
>
> "Dudhorse" > wrote:
> >
> >"Charles Talleyrand" > wrote
> >in message
> ...
> >> Suppose someone tried to land an F4F Wildcat
> >on a modern American
> >> aircraft carrier. We'll give the carrier
> >a few hours to prepare, and lets
> >assume
> >> the carrier is at sea and moving.
> >>
> >> Can a WWII fighter land on a modern carrier?
> > Can it get back in the air?
> >>
> >> ... cannot think of a reason why not for both
> >landing & launch; compared
> >to the WWII carriers a Nimitz class flightdeck
> >would be huge!!
> >>
> >
> >
> It's been done before: in August 1995 USS Carl Vinson sailed to Pearl
Harbor
> to take part in ceremonies marking the 50th anniversary of the end of the
> war, and a dozen warbirds embarked on the cruise Two B-25s, two TBMs, 3 or
> 4 Corsairs, an F8F, two P-40s, and a pair of Mustangs were aboard. One of
> the B-25s didn't launch when an engine blew, but all other warbirds
launched
> off Oahu, and landed at Hickam AFB. They then launched from Hickam after
> the ceremonies were over and recovered aboard the carrier. All of the
warbird
> pilots had done FCLP to get used to carrier landing procedures and
techniques.
>
> And they didn't need arrester gear.
>
> Posted via www.My-Newsgroups.com - web to news gateway for usenet access!

[Walt BJ]

> USAF-flare to land, squat to pee...
>
> ;-l)
> P. C. Chisholm
> CDR, USN(ret.)
> Old Phart Phormer Phantom, Turkey, Viper, Scooter and Combat Buckeye Phlyer

You know, Old Phart, I once considered going into the USN V12 program,
but then the thought of 6 months on a boat made me go USAF. I really
don't care for guys all that much. Women are softer and smell better,
etc. ;<)
Walt BJ

[WDA]

No sweat! The F4F would probably have to taxi up to the number one wire for
a trapped landing.

It probably could also make a deck-run-takeoff off the angle deck with room
to spare.

WDA
VF-24, VA-192, 1956 - 1959

end

"Charles Talleyrand" > wrote in message
...
> Suppose someone tried to land an F4F Wildcat on a modern American
> aircraft carrier. We'll give the carrier a few hours to prepare, and lets
assume
> the carrier is at sea and moving.
>
> Can a WWII fighter land on a modern carrier? Can it get back in the air?
>
> -Much Thanks
> -CMTalleyrand
>
>

[Bill Kambic]

We were always told that the performance of a T28C and F4F were pretty close
(the Wildcat at a 1200 hp P & W, the Trojan a 1475 hp Wright Cyclone and
their weights were close). At VT-5 we CQed by trapping and launched by
deck run. IIRC, in the late 60s when LEXINGTON was not available, a CVA
was sometimes (but rarely) a stand-in. After the last 27C was retired, a
CVA would be all that was available.

Which kind of a long way of saying that an F4F would like have to trap, but
would likely have to deck run for take off (as I doubt any modern CVA has
the proper launch gear).

Bill Kambic

P.S. On very rare occasions we deck ran S2s and C1s on INTREPID. It could
only be done if the aircraft were very light.

If, by any act, error, or omission, I have, intentionally or
unintentionally, displayed any breedist, disciplinist, sexist, racist,
culturalist, nationalist, regionalist, localist, ageist, lookist, ableist,
sizeist, speciesist, intellectualist, socioeconomicist, ethnocentrist,
phallocentrist, heteropatriarchalist, or other violation of the rules of
political correctness, known or unknown, I am not sorry and I encourage you
to get over it.

[WDA]

At Pensacola in 1955 we qualed in the SNJ on the Monterey, which I believe
was a CVE, an "escort" carrier. We trapped, then did a SHORT deck run right
from the spot of the trap rollout.

The Monterey was definitely smaller than the Bon Homme Richard on that first
WestPac deployment.

We told the Forrestal class weenies that their ships were so big you could
see the curvature of the earth in their flight deck.

Those were great days!

WDA

end

"Bill Kambic" > wrote in message
...
> We were always told that the performance of a T28C and F4F were pretty
close
> (the Wildcat at a 1200 hp P & W, the Trojan a 1475 hp Wright Cyclone and
> their weights were close). At VT-5 we CQed by trapping and launched by
> deck run. IIRC, in the late 60s when LEXINGTON was not available, a CVA
> was sometimes (but rarely) a stand-in. After the last 27C was retired, a
> CVA would be all that was available.
>
> Which kind of a long way of saying that an F4F would like have to trap,
but
> would likely have to deck run for take off (as I doubt any modern CVA has
> the proper launch gear).
>
> Bill Kambic
>
> P.S. On very rare occasions we deck ran S2s and C1s on INTREPID. It
could
> only be done if the aircraft were very light.
>
> If, by any act, error, or omission, I have, intentionally or
> unintentionally, displayed any breedist, disciplinist, sexist, racist,
> culturalist, nationalist, regionalist, localist, ageist, lookist, ableist,
> sizeist, speciesist, intellectualist, socioeconomicist, ethnocentrist,
> phallocentrist, heteropatriarchalist, or other violation of the rules of
> political correctness, known or unknown, I am not sorry and I encourage
you
> to get over it.
>
>
>

[Elmshoot]

>Many WWII carriers did not have catapults, and the planes operated just fine
>without them. What makes you think a catapult is necessary now?


In the Prowler flight simulator we used to do a deck run after a trap. We would
just taxi back to the round down and spin around and cob the power. It was
really not to difficult I would think that any moderen Jet aircraft F-14,
F/a-18, EA-6B, S-3, E-2 could do a deck run the full length of the deck and get
airborne at max landing weight. If you cranked up the wind you might make it at
max T/O weight as well but I'm not sure about that.
Sparky

[Walt BJ]

SNIP:
> > Bill Kambic
> >
> > P.S. On very rare occasions we deck ran S2s and C1s on INTREPID. It
> could
> > only be done if the aircraft were very light.
> >
> > If, by any act, error, or omission, I have, intentionally or
> > unintentionally, displayed any breedist, disciplinist, sexist, racist,
> > culturalist, nationalist, regionalist, localist, ageist, lookist, ableist,
> > sizeist, speciesist, intellectualist, socioeconomicist, ethnocentrist,
> > phallocentrist, heteropatriarchalist, or other violation of the rules of
> > political correctness, known or unknown, I am not sorry and I encourage
> you to get over it.
>
That is a cool disclaimer. I like it. More sophisticated than the one
that ends "....and the horse you rode into town on, too!"

As for WW2 fighters landing on carriers, the RAF did just that
evacuating Norway in early WW2 - they landed 8 Hurricanes on Glorious
- without hooks. And Glorious was a small carrier, converted from a
WW1 'battle cruiser'. Unfortunately the ship was sunk on the way home
and only about two dozen people survived.
Walt BJ

[Bill Kambic]

"Walt BJ" wrote in message

> That is a cool disclaimer. I like it. More sophisticated than the one
> that ends "....and the horse you rode into town on, too!"

Thank you, Sir!<g>

It is not completely original work, but enough that I think I can use it in
good conscience. And if someone disagrees, then they can just go and read
and heed!<g>

> As for WW2 fighters landing on carriers, the RAF did just that
> evacuating Norway in early WW2 - they landed 8 Hurricanes on Glorious
> - without hooks. And Glorious was a small carrier, converted from a
> WW1 'battle cruiser'. Unfortunately the ship was sunk on the way home
> and only about two dozen people survived.

I suspect that with enough wind over the deck you can do this. Thing is,
with tail dragger, you had best be very careful with the brakes, or you will
embarass yourself mightily!

Bill Kambic

If, by any act, error, or omission, I have, intentionally or
unintentionally, displayed any breedist, disciplinist, sexist, racist,
culturalist, nationalist, regionalist, localist, ageist, lookist, ableist,
sizeist, speciesist, intellectualist, socioeconomicist, ethnocentrist,
phallocentrist, heteropatriarchalist, or other violation of the rules of
political correctness, known or unknown, I am not sorry and I encourage you
to get over it.

[Pechs1]

waltBJ-<< You know, Old Phart, I once considered going into the USN V12
program,
but then the thought of 6 months on a boat made me go USAF. I really
don't care for guys all that much. Women are softer and smell better,
>><BR><BR>

Nawwww-sailors(and aviators) belong on ships, ships belong at sea...

After 2 years flying exchange with the USAF(great guys but ohhh that chain of
command!!), I know I was in the right place in the USN..

Besides, some of the guys that flew in the USAF were kinda 'girly'...

Just kiddin'-I enjoyed my USAF squadronmates, the aircraft(F-4D) condition and
particularly standing tall before the Wing Commander for wearing brown boots,
coming into the break(overhead) too fast and too close, for having my sleeves
rolled up, that kinda thing.
P. C. Chisholm
CDR, USN(ret.)
Old Phart Phormer Phantom, Turkey, Viper, Scooter and Combat Buckeye Phlyer

[Joop Schaeffer]

"Pechs1" > schreef in bericht
...
> OJ-<< My only question
> would be can modern arresting gear be set to handle the, generally,
> much lower weights of WWII carrier aircraft compared to those
> operating today? [e.g., F4F ~7,500 lbs, A4M ~25,000 lbs] >><BR><BR>
>
> I would guess they would pull the wires and let the A/C just land.. CV
with 35
> knots on, plus any natural wind, F4F would be closing at about what, 50
knots
> or so-easy to stop.


Wildcat:
airplane characteristics & performance burea of aeronautics-navy dept.:

take-off distance -15 kn 410 ft
take-off distance -25 kn 278 ft

http://www.history.navy.mil/branches/hist-ac/f4f-4.pdf

[Doug \Woody\ and Erin Beal]

On 9/22/03 5:53 AM, in article ,
"Pechs1" > wrote:

> waltBJ-<< You know, Old Phart, I once considered going into the USN V12
> program,
> but then the thought of 6 months on a boat made me go USAF. I really
> don't care for guys all that much. Women are softer and smell better,
>>> <BR><BR>
>
> Nawwww-sailors(and aviators) belong on ships, ships belong at sea...
>
> After 2 years flying exchange with the USAF(great guys but ohhh that chain of
> command!!), I know I was in the right place in the USN..
>
> Besides, some of the guys that flew in the USAF were kinda 'girly'...
>
> Just kiddin'-I enjoyed my USAF squadronmates, the aircraft(F-4D) condition and
> particularly standing tall before the Wing Commander for wearing brown boots,
> coming into the break(overhead) too fast and too close, for having my sleeves
> rolled up, that kinda thing.
> P. C. Chisholm
> CDR, USN(ret.)
> Old Phart Phormer Phantom, Turkey, Viper, Scooter and Combat Buckeye Phlyer

I like your style, Pechs.

--Woody

[Elmshoot]

>> > Nawwww-sailors(and aviators) belong on ships, ships belong at sea...> >
>After 2 years flying exchange with the USAF(great guys but ohhh that chain
>of> command!!), I know I was in the right place in the USN..> > Besides, some
>of the guys that flew in the USAF were kinda 'girly'...> > Just kiddin'-I
>enjoyed my USAF squadronmates, the aircraft(F-4D) condition and> particularly
>standing tall before the Wing Commander for wearing brown boots,> coming into
>the break(overhead) too fast and too close, for having my sleeves> rolled up,
>that kinda thing.>

Old Phart,
LOL I rememder being called on the carpet by some 0-6 at Eglin when I was
involved in a NMAC with some 1 star who had his head up his butt. I walked in
with my sleaves rolled up my callsign name tag so they had no iIdea what my
name or rank was and I had that oh so special aroma from 3 days in FL on det in
the same bag. I did the talking. I had the computer print out from a tracking
pod on the plane. I was so happy that I didn't die I figured the wost they
could do is call my skipper and complain for my insubordination. But they
didn't have a leg to stand on. It was actually fun for me.

Sparky

[Dudley Henriques]

"Keith Willshaw" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Charles Talleyrand" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Suppose someone tried to land an F4F Wildcat on a modern American
> > aircraft carrier. We'll give the carrier a few hours to prepare, and
lets
> assume
> > the carrier is at sea and moving.
> >
> > Can a WWII fighter land on a modern carrier? Can it get back in the
air?
> >
>
> Yes, in fact thats what was done for the 1970's film
> of the Battle of Midway IRC
>
> No surprise given that a modern carrier has a much longer
> flight deck than anything available in WW2
>
> Keith

Bob Aumack, (ex-Blue Angel F11 boss) flew the last SBD off the carrier for
the movie. It was no sweat, and he had a royal ball doing it.
Dudley Henriques
International Fighter Pilots Fellowship
Commercial Pilot/CFI Retired
For personal e-mail, use
dhenriquesATzarthlinkDOTnzt
(replacezwithe)