Phantom approaches
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Phantom approaches
Had the privelege of chatting to an ex-navy pilot today, at the Tiger Club. Flew everything from Sea Venoms to Buccaneers and Phantoms. His description of the deck approach in Phantoms sounds particularly hairy - "no cut, no flare". IIRC the approach was with 85% power at 136 kts, everything a-dangle. If you didn't get waved off at 200 yds you were commited. A tiny increase in alpha and she would drop, so you just had to stay put, in the attitude.
Balls of steel, or what!
Hats off to these guys. 
Nowadays, aged 80, or so, he races vintage yachts........
Balls of steel, or what!
Hats off to these guys. Nowadays, aged 80, or so, he races vintage yachts........
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Scimitar was the same. Hold an attitude, power for rate of descent and hit the deck, then chop the power. In fact on RN carriers line up was most critical as there were objects or aircraft very close to each wingtip.
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Very little ground effect on the deck, as it spills overboard. Ashore, this effect reduced the actual touchdown RoD whilst you were holding constant attitude and AOA.
The 136kts mentioned is IAS of course, but the ship is trying to produce 30kts of wind across the deck. A combination of ship speed and natural wind. Thus speed over the round-down was a little over 100kts.
In light wind, or calm conditions, the ship could hunt for wind with exciting changes of course for the poor sod on a CCA. ( The centre line suddenly moving off to one side or the other)
All good clean fun of course.
The 136kts mentioned is IAS of course, but the ship is trying to produce 30kts of wind across the deck. A combination of ship speed and natural wind. Thus speed over the round-down was a little over 100kts.
In light wind, or calm conditions, the ship could hunt for wind with exciting changes of course for the poor sod on a CCA. ( The centre line suddenly moving off to one side or the other)
All good clean fun of course.
Dog Tired
Fantom. What was that RAFG final approach speed?
Dog Tired
Is it right that ailerons were not to be used at low speed, and that roll was controlled with the rudder? If so how was yaw controlled?
He's confusing low speed with high AoA.
"If it buffets, use yer boots!" - a simple and sound mantra! I recall the 'high AoA' dual trip with the Trg Off - very stressful and unnatural to do complete 'head down' 360 deg rudder rolls whilst holding an upper chevron...
The second part of the dual trip was 'AAR intro.' - a typically daft combination of exercises but that's the way it was back then.....
"If it buffets, use yer boots!" - a simple and sound mantra! I recall the 'high AoA' dual trip with the Trg Off - very stressful and unnatural to do complete 'head down' 360 deg rudder rolls whilst holding an upper chevron...
The second part of the dual trip was 'AAR intro.' - a typically daft combination of exercises but that's the way it was back then.....
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"Gear, flaps, Pressures, gumshield!"
And the best ever top tip for a backseater; don't look over your shoulder when landing into the Stanley cable. Akrotiri in comparison was a breeze
And the best ever top tip for a backseater; don't look over your shoulder when landing into the Stanley cable. Akrotiri in comparison was a breeze
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I well recall my first ever deck landing, (Mar 28th 1974). So does the experienced observer who sat behind me. We made a long taxi into One wire as I recall. The target for the F4 was 3 wire.
The U Tube clip above features the dulcet tones of Peter Sheppard, the LSO, on the sight, Punchy Doust as Little F, and Bob Northard as Wings. Wilf Graham was Captain.
Before going to the deck for the first time, Peter showed new boys a few horror clips of past deck accidents. They illustrated errors such as wrong line-up, too low, flying the deck, etc etc. These certainly went some way to making the whole event more interesting. And, of course, there was a huge audience in Goofers with cameras at the ready. (Please God, do't let there be an accident, but if there is, can I be there with a camera?)
Ah. Heady days!
The U Tube clip above features the dulcet tones of Peter Sheppard, the LSO, on the sight, Punchy Doust as Little F, and Bob Northard as Wings. Wilf Graham was Captain.
Before going to the deck for the first time, Peter showed new boys a few horror clips of past deck accidents. They illustrated errors such as wrong line-up, too low, flying the deck, etc etc. These certainly went some way to making the whole event more interesting. And, of course, there was a huge audience in Goofers with cameras at the ready. (Please God, do't let there be an accident, but if there is, can I be there with a camera?)
Ah. Heady days!
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http://usera.ImageCave.com/scouse/31...46190_n(1).jpg not forgetting Little Wilf
http://usera.ImageCave.com/scouse/Ph...197koiuyt4.jpg
http://usera.ImageCave.com/scouse/Ph...197koiuyt4.jpg
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For the Scimitars 800sqdn and Sea Vixen 890 sqdn Old and Bolds, Whirlwind at plane guard Ark 63, YouTube - Ark Royal 1963 Singapore
Originally Posted by David Parry
I guess it's a feature of t'internet, but that photo is one of mine
Maybe one of these was blaireau?
Plenty of room, really...
Taken alongside Peter Sheppard:
