Originally Posted by
SpazSinbad
From my reading there are many stories about the USN carriers turning off wind whilst an aircraft is approaching (usually at night). Thankfully the aircrew survive - usually humourously. At least one RAN FAA S2E/G was on finals to see MELBOURNE moving one way or t'uther. An A4G was lost overboard because the Bridge ordered a turn during a storm when the A4G was being moved - the black shoe excuse - the aircraft in FlyOne not visible from bridge, view blocked by an S2. The A4G brakeman in a float coat survived his ordeal, being rescued by a nearby destroyer rescue swimmer. Sadly not many - if any - RAN Carrier Captains had FAA experience, sometimes aircrew under blackshoe instruction may have been on the bridge to impart some wisdom.
Steve George has written a great article 'why a carrier is not an airfield' in 2012; however it may have a different title online: It used to be here & here: (I'll attempt to upload a PDF of it - SUCCESS! - it is PRN - reprinted)
http://www.phoenixthinktank.org/wp-c...fcaropsPTT.pdf
&
http://www.phoenixthinktank.org/2012...erations-work/
I remember all too well an afternoon 35 years ago when I was recovering in 50' cloudbase and <1/4 mile vis and the ship turned hard to stbd when I was about 1/4 mile out. I called visual with the wake and headed for it - but it turned out to be the bow-wave! Ended up flying under the bows at 30', executing a scoshy, jet-borne 270 turn to hover alongside the fwd lift before climbing into cloud to land. When asked by the Captain (an ex-aviator!) what I was doing, Cdr (air) replied "I think he is crashing, Sir!"
Ah, happy days. Swing the lamp!