Having never flown the T-28C Trojan but having heard / read comments about them I do not believe it was an underpowered aircraft. Bear in mind the diagrams are just that and probably not an actual circuit laid out exactly to scale; however carrier circuits are tight relative to the aircraft being used. For example early A4G carrier/MADDL/FCLP circuits (daytime only) were not done at NATOPS circuit height of 600 feet but at the old/bold Sea Venom height of 400 feet. My early circuits around MELBOURNE were at 400 feet in the A4G and that was tight indeed but rewarding because the mirror could be flown from about half way around a level base turn, whilst the straightaway could be shorter. However the two first A4G LSOs eventually convinced our CO that circuits should be at NATOPS height which meant a descending base turn - more difficult to manage rather than a level base turn to pick up the ball in the mirror etc. whilst the groove length was longer allowing more errors to creep.
Night Carrier Circuit Practice / Work Ups MADDLS Mirror Assisted Dummy Deck Landings at NAS Nowra were done on the airfield with all lights out including base & married quarters with only some portable limpet lights on the left side of runway (usually 26 with downdraught) marking out the carrier deck using the portable mirror with LSOs grading. Circuit height was 1400 feet (1000 AGL) because NIGHT and we did not turn downwind after a touch and go lower than circuit height but an A4G at Max Carrier Landing Weight or below was a rocket so no biggie. However the descending base turn meant we were longer in the groove from the extra height. Night Carrier Landings were done from a straight in approach via CCA (Carrier GCA) because we had no other appropriate avionics to use.
I recall very few runners to the sight boards at the CHOOK and I think those were the early RAAFies doing their introduction to it all (before Navy/ARMY arrived). Yes the grass parallel runways were usually always in use. I landed dual once on a taxiway in the strong winds - we were not allowed to do that solo IIRC. Lost an instructor and an ARMY student when the right wing folded during a low level steep turn over on the Bellarine Peninsula Low Flying area. I'd have to look up the names. I do not recall anyone ground looping from an unlocked tailwheel whilst there but the HORROR stories.... :-)
"...Winjeel A85-416 CA25-16 Crashed 05/03/68, Port Arlington VIC.
The RAAF instructor Flight Lieutenant W. Clarke and Army trainee pilot 2nd Lieutenant J. Mayhew were killed when low flying in strong wind conditions. The starboard wing failed under G loading, either due to the severe turbulence from strong winds at low level or the result of a low level rolling pullup that exceeded the structural G limits."
http://www.adf-serials.com/2a85.htm
No.67 Course upon arriving at Point CHOOK photos here:
http://www.radschool.org.au/Course%2...s/67Pilots.htm
Pilot Course NAME List:
http://www.radschool.org.au/Course%2...ot%20Names.pdf (3Mb)
I can remember 'the ARMY Mayhew' but cannot find a photo for him or the Pilot Course he was on. There was an 'RAAF Mayhew' on No.63 course but not him.
Had a discussion about the details on the ADFserials Forum (I'm LUIG - my last RAN nickname as in "Ah Luig" "Geez Luig" (wot have you done today - badly?) :-)
http://www.adf-messageboard.com.au/i...1050&hl=mayhew
03.05.68 {US Date format} Flight Lieutenant W. Clarke Bellarine Peninsula, VIC Winjeel crashed during a training sortie
03.05.68 2nd Lieutenant J. Mayhew Bellarine Peninsula, VIC Winjeel crashed during a training sortie
http://www.ispa.asn.au/inmemoryof.html
Murray Smythe tells me there were no ARMY studs on No.68 course - I think 'Barry' Mayhew was a late addition to our No.67 course? (or perhaps No.69?) but because 'ARMY' officer in Occifer Mess us blogs did not see much of the occifers. :-)