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I have been meaning to expand on my first discussion of the tailhook (HERE). The recent problems with the F-35C’s brought that topic up to first on the list. More on that after a brief history of the tailhook.

The first landing of an airplane on a U.S. Navy ship, the cruiser Pennsylvania, was accomplished by a civilian pilot, Eugene Ely, on 18 January 1911—hence 2011 being the Centennial of Naval Aviation. A temporary wooden platform about 134 feet long and 32 feet wide had been added aft of the mainmast, extending aft over the after turret and past the stern of the ship. It angled upward from the fantail, the first 14-foot section at about a 30-degree angle and the remainder, less steeply but still “uphill” so as to help slow the airplane. Two low, wooden guide rails ran fore and aft on the platform about 12 feet apart to help keep the airplane on the deck. Two low canvas screens were strung across the deck about ten feet from its forward end and a high canvas screen was hung from the mast to the forward end of the platform. These foreshadowed the barriers and barricade respectively used on axial deck carriers to protect the crew forward and hopefully the pilot in the event that the airplane overran the landing area. Canvas was also slung outboard on both sides of the forward two thirds of the landing area to keep the airplane from falling into the sea if it came off the platform.

via U.S. Navy Aircraft History: A Brief History of Tailhook Design.

In our post on the first F-35C carrier landing, we mentioned that the tailhook had to undergo a redesign. You’d think after 100 years, they’d have something so basic as the design of a tailhook figured out. You’d be wrong.

Tommy has an interesting post showing some of the challenges designers face, and why designing a tailhook is something more of an art than a science.

While President Obama was in Philadelphia on Sunday for a pre-election rally, Air Force One experienced a “minor mechanical problem,” the White House said.

Obama traveled on the plane from Washington, D.C., to New Haven, Conn., then to Philadelphia, but it was replaced during his rally at Temple University with another C-32 aircraft, a modified version of the Boeing 757-200 planes the Air Force uses for the president’s travel.

via Obama switches to new plane after mechanical problem grounds Air Force One – The Washington Post.

The one time I’ve actually seen Air Force One it was actually one of the C-32s. George Bush flew into John Wayne Orange County airport. KSNA is much too small for a 747, so they used the C-32. What he didn’t do was fly into LA, then board a helicopter to fly to Orange County. Certain people following in his footsteps seem to love tying up traffic in LA.

My office overlooked the runway, so I got to see it arrive and depart. His motorcade went right by the office as well. I waved. Don’t think he waved back. I think traffic was disrupted for maybe 2 minutes, for maybe one mile.

Just tossing out this for anyone who might want it for future reference.

Via The Aviationist.

And as David notes over there, it was delayed for some time because of issues with the hook placement.

I just think it looks really weird seeing a landing on a carrier with the deck not crowded with other planes. And seeing it sit at the end of its runout for more than a second or two is weird as well.

So, I’m heading for San Diego this weekend to meet up with some old friends. But I’ll have plenty of free time to do my own thing as well. I’ve already hit the Midway Museum and the Maritime Museum hard. I’ll probably hit the Air and Space museum again. I have no interest whatsoever in visiting SeaWorld or the zoo. What other cultural highlights should be on my agenda?

WASHINGTON (Nov. 3, 2014) — Secretary of the Army John McHugh and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond Odierno announced today that Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel A. Dailey will become the 15th sergeant major of the Army January 30, 2015.

“We have the utmost confidence in Command Sgt. Maj. Dailey and look forward to having him join our leadership team,” said McHugh. “His experience, leadership, devotion to Soldiers and commitment to our Army make him especially suited to assume this important duty, one that Sgt. Maj. of the Army Chandler has masterfully performed for the last four years.”

Dailey is currently the command sergeant major for U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command. Dailey, who hails from Palmerton, Penn., is a combat veteran with four deployments to Operation Iraqi Freedom and one in support of Operation Desert Storm. He was a command sergeant major for most of those tours, responsible for training, leading, mentoring and developing Soldiers into leaders. He will succeed Sergeant Major of the Army Raymond F. Chandler, III, who has served in that position since March 2011.

via CSM Daniel A. Dailey selected to be next Sergeant Major of the Army | Article | The United States Army.

Huh. Guy looks a little like Esli.