Being an ex-RAN FAA A4G arrestor pilot some 40 years ago now, I don't always know all the USN lingo inferences today. So be it. No WuckinFurries. Here is a thread wot may interest some: [graphics in this thread show F-35A emergency hook (shoe point) similar to redesigned F-35C hook (shoe point) with similarity to A-4 hook shoe point and distance of that point to main wheels]
F-35C Lands at Lakehurst For Testing
http://www.f-16.net/f-16_forum_viewt...start-120.html
As a veteran of a short field night arrest on empty drop tanks in an A4G at NAS Nowra after second night deck landing ramp strike I can attest after some 100+ deck landings onboard HMAS Melbourne with an additional 13 night deck landings, that the A-4 hook works well. Although the A-4G could 'hook skip bolter' onboard that was for different reasons IMHO. And once people got the hang of it with five wires out there was not much chance of missing an arrest. Take one or two wires away though - to leave a big gap - then all bets were off.
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This old wrinkly PRUNE page has outdated links now:
http://www.pprune.org/dg-p-general-a...-dumped-3.html
Here is a new couple for A4G/FAA/Fixed Wing/MELBOURNE info:
Fleet Air Arm | adf-history.com
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https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=cbcd6...6&sa=822839791
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Videos:
bengello's Channel - YouTube
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Photos:
The A-4 Alley - RAN A-4 Skyhawk Operations 1968-1984