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XBradTC

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Just how close can you get to going in the drink?

Last March, 8 sailors were injured when an arresting wire aboard the USS Eisenhower parted during an attempted arrested landing by an E-2 Hawkeye. After the cross deck pendant parted, the Hawkeye staggered off the waist, and settled toward the water. I’m pretty sure all hands were certain it was going to crash.

Last March, 8 sailors were injured when an arresting wire aboard the USS Eisenhower parted during an attempted arrested landing by an E-2 Hawkeye.

After the cross deck pendant parted, the Hawkeye staggered off the waist, and settled toward the water. I’m pretty sure all hands were certain it was going to crash.

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Responses to “Just how close can you get to going in the drink?”

  1. George V

    Wow! Gave me heart stoppage. Great flying by the A/c. Similar thing happened on a deployment in the F-14 squadron I was in many years ago. But the F-14 needs a bit more airspeed. In that case, the unit in the arresting gear that controls the flow of hydraulic fluid from the arresting engine piston came apart and the piston bottomed against its cylinder. The cable parted and the F-14 rolled off the deck, with the aircrew ejecting just as the plane went off the angle. Both guys were recovered.
    I am also reminded of a comment by an E-3 pilot back in those days. The E-3 ELINT, (aka, the Whale) used the A-3 Skywarrior bomber airframe, had no ejection seats. This pilot said “If Whales had ejection seats, there’d be no Whales.” Maybe same thing applies here? At any rate, that was superb airmanship.

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  2. Mad Marsupial

    “Bridge to Laundry. Battle stations…prepare to receive casualties”

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  3. Stormy

    To answer George:
    No ejection seats. If they hit the water, pilot and co-pilot MIGHT make it out the overhead hatches. The three in the tube have one overhead hatch in the back. I think it would depend on angle of impact and speed/severity if they would be cognizant enough to make the egress. But they have to wait until after smash to begin egress. If the bird rolls or flips, they’re dead.

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  4. SFC Dunlap 173d RVN

    I’ll say it plain gents, I squeezed my anus to pinpoint and watching him reappear almost produced an involuntary bowel movement. What grace before pressure!!!!!

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  5. Heltau

    Give that pilot an air medal.
    What a excellent job of flying there.

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  6. Casey

    Definitely time to change the pants. Wow.

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  7. Paul L. Quandt

    Saw this first on broadcast tv. I have read that pilots on carrier landings are taught to advance their throttles upon hitting the deck, so if they bolter, they have a chance to recover airspeed enough to remain airborne. And that is what I told my wife, who was also watching that clip.
    If I am in error, please let me know. In any case, my hat is off to the one/s flying that aircraft.
    Paul L. Quandt

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