Two of us in GMGRU-1 were trained to make paddles passes in our new shiny
FJ-3 Furies. We had received the new FJ-3 Furies when our unit, GMGRU-1,
moved to Barbers Point just before two of us were to deploy with VF-24 on
the Shangri La. The two of us were called out to the ship but were told to
make mirror approaches. So we first cruise nuggets did as we were commanded!

I had made a total of four passes on a mirror at Crow's Landing over a year
previous. My sidekick had never even seen a mirror landing system. We both
got aboard. But the carrier's CO was really ****ed when he learned we had
never mirror qualified. Duane and I spent many, many hours cranking around
the circuit at NAS Atsugi after the ship arrived in Japan.

WDA

end



"Pechs1" wrote in message
...
Vincent said- Though you may find it hard
to believe, carrier qualification was not especially difficult. The
reason is the excellent training we received. BRBR

???
I did FCLPs for 30 days in the T-2 and TA-4, CQed on the Lex and Kitty
Hawk.I
did think the training and the LSOs were outstanding, and I did think CQ
was
especially difficult.
Flying aroind the ship for the next 18 years and I always thought it was a
BIg
challenge, never a piece of cake, in the day time. Night was a whole
'nother
story.
P. C. Chisholm
CDR, USN(ret.)
Old Phart Phormer Phantom, Turkey, Viper, Scooter and Combat Buckeye
Phlyer