carrier qualifications

[Jack Cook]

My step-dad flew right seat on the Saratoga's COD many times over 2 Med cruises. All mine were on a C-2 Greyhound plus 1 hop off in a CH-53.

[jet1]

please destroy these after viewing them

[Sasquatch]

My step-dad flew right seat on the Saratoga's COD many times over 2 Med cruises. All mine were on a C-2 Greyhound plus 1 hop off in a CH-53.

Very cool Jack. Besides the CODs, I've been on and off in CH-46s, CH-53Ds, and of all things, a USCG HH-52 Sea Guard helo...

http://www.olive-drab.com/idphoto/id_ph ... aguard.php

I rode the front seat next to the pilot when our Marine counterparts who were tasked to fly us out to the boat in -53Ds had every helo either go down on them, or were tasked elsewhere...so the Coasties helped us out, flying us out of NAS Miami to the Ike just offshore. Fun ride...cruised the beach offshore at fairly low level before turning out to sea. Sitting on my ever-expanding kiester in an office these days, I sure miss those days!

--Tom

[Jack Cook]

Here's the Sara's COD



and a VR-24 C-2A

[mustangdriver]

Those are awesome Jack.

[mustangdriver]

please destroy these after viewing them

See matt Now you know.

[Rajay]

I didn't know the army had a "navy" until I went to Ft. Eustis in NE VA. Weird.

I still have a "Sail Army" sticker from my days at Ft. Even Uncle Sam Thinks It Sucks...

After he came back from his tour with the 1st Air Cav in Vietnam in 1967, my stepfather was stationed at Ft. Eustis. He always referred to it as "Fort Useless"and said that it's only good attribute was its proximity to the Langley AFB Officers Club.

[Chicoartist]

I've got one helo landing on Cellblock 72 as she was coming back to Alameda from WESTPAC 95. Think we caught the wire - or was that me tripping over the spring clips?

Wade

[The Inspector]

GEEZ! The Saratoga is bigger than it looks in photos if it's got trees and hills on the flight deck

[Randy Haskin]

My thoughts on the issue, courtesy of Snooze and Trip:

I Want to Takeoff From a Carrier
by Dos Gringos

I wanna take off from a carrier someday before I die
Strap that Viper to a catapult and watch that sucker fly
200 knots in under 2 seconds, that’s my kind of fun
Do a barrel roll just after takeoff, just like in Top Gun

But I don’t wanna land
Allow me to explain and you’ll understand
‘Cause it ain’t about the landing - Why would I care?
You never have a crosswind and you never have to flare
You got 4 f*cking wires, how could you miss?
I can’t think of anything that’s easier than this

But once you’re on the deck, my friend, you’re never the same again
‘Cause you’re stuck on a boat in the middle of nowhere with five thousand other men

Join the Navy? I don’t think so
Living on a boat? I don’t think so
Hot bunking? I don’t think so
Doing night traps? F*ck that! I don’t think so

Sure, I thought about the Navy but decided to pass
I love my five star hotels and per-diem out the ass
I do all of my fighting well within the shore
Cable TV and cappuccinos, that’s the way that you fight a war
This spoiled life – it can grow old
When the coffee ain’t fresh, the sheets ain’t soft, and the beer is only somewhat cold

Youtube link if you wanna hear the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ch5z3DMC3RA

[Jiggersfromsphilly]

Here's the Sara's COD



and a VR-24 C-2A

Jack, I think this plane is on display at the Willow Grove Naval Air Station.
I will check next time I am by there.

[L2Driver]

During WW2, the Army had a bigger navy than the Navy did! Or so I've heard!!

... and still has more aircraft than USAF

I can be critical. I served in both!

[The Inspector]

...and a serious crisi in the USAF is when the bases' cable TV system goes down............

[Jiggersfromsphilly]

Sorry Jack!

The COD at Willow Grove is from the Indy.
I visited the Sara when the Ranger Class was in the PNSY for SLEP durng the 80s .

.

[Sasquatch]

Here's the Sara's COD

Very cool Jack...yes, that's the bird! I loved the deck runs. I especially liked sitting backwards looking out the window at the guys on the deck as we dropped off the angle, all doing "the swim" and the "watusi"...making signs of the cross and swimming motions...great confidence builders!

--Tom