Here is my sighting of the one, on the Victorious 66/67 commission
The last free take-off on the Vic, when we arrived back in the English channel in 67. The FDO LtCdr Robinson. Did a Free Takeoff with the last AEW Gannet to go ashore. He was lined up aft at the round down for an Axle deck launch. The Aircraft started to roll ok , But at about mid-ships she started to drift to port.
as she passed the point wher the angle deck met the Fwd part of the main deck it was obvious her port wheel was about to go over the deck edge. As the A/C past the Port side Fwd Twin 3.5 Turret the wheel was just about over the edge.
Luckly Robinson had gained enough Fwd speed to keep horizontal and get airborne on reaching the bow.
We had just started to breath again when Commander Air (Promoted to Captain some months before) Piped, "That is the last time we will attempt that".
