Aircraft Not Designed For But Operating From Aircraft Carriers
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Australia OZ
Age: 74
Posts: 2,461
Likes: 0
Received 31 Likes
on
29 Posts
Nice photo. 2 page PDF has two poor quality photos and this: “Following deck handling trials with a Meteor prototype in 1945, two [or one?] Meteor IIIs were fitted with an arresting hook and reinforced landing gear, and used for carrier trials in 1948. The two aircraft performed takeoffs & landings from HMS ILLUSTRIOUS and HMS IMPLACABLE. The Royal Navy was impressed by the navalized Meteor, but decided to obtain the Supermarine Attacker instead.” What If Modelers ? Best Modeling Forum and Resources
2 page PDF of RAAF 77 Squadron METEORS being returned to Oz via then HMAS Vengeance Oct 1954
2 page PDF of RAAF 77 Squadron METEORS being returned to Oz via then HMAS Vengeance Oct 1954
Last edited by SpazSinbad; 2nd Jun 2022 at 05:43.
Just watched a documentary of “Operation High Jump” on the US PBS Channel “NOVA” program of the 1946 Byrd expedition to the antarctic.
They flew 6 R4D / C-47 / DC-3 equipped with RATO and wheel Skis off of the carrier USS Philippine Sea. ( 1 take off only ).
Other aircraft used included helicopters, Norseman ski-planes and Martin Mariner flying boats.
Anyhow an interesting film.
They flew 6 R4D / C-47 / DC-3 equipped with RATO and wheel Skis off of the carrier USS Philippine Sea. ( 1 take off only ).
Other aircraft used included helicopters, Norseman ski-planes and Martin Mariner flying boats.
Anyhow an interesting film.
The glider trials I mentioned above were conducted I think by Lt Cdr John Sproule; there were one or two articles about them in 'Aeroplane Monthly' in the 70s or 80s.
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Australia OZ
Age: 74
Posts: 2,461
Likes: 0
Received 31 Likes
on
29 Posts
An F-14 Tomcat in late 1970s carried out a late wave-off approach to HMAS Melbourne [light fleet carrier] (with permission from FLYco & LSOs during/after a RIMPAC). Pics to follow....
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: England
Posts: 969
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
125, the BAe146 also; the USN carrier suitability group evaluated a 146 at PAX for the COD role.
The aircraft was flown with similar techniques as those for commercial steep approaches, but with a flare and landing target of 4ft sec +/-.
Unfortunately the aircraft was not evaluated at sea; the airfield, dummy deck evaluation was interesting.
The aircraft was flown with similar techniques as those for commercial steep approaches, but with a flare and landing target of 4ft sec +/-.
Unfortunately the aircraft was not evaluated at sea; the airfield, dummy deck evaluation was interesting.
One of our QFIs at Valley had been an RN 'Vixen pilot in previous years. On one 'KELTEX' against a carrier, he made a low approach and go-around....
....in a Gnat. Mind you, way back when there'd actually been some serious proposal to evaluate the Gnat for carrier operations - presumably the single seat version?
....in a Gnat. Mind you, way back when there'd actually been some serious proposal to evaluate the Gnat for carrier operations - presumably the single seat version?
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Australia OZ
Age: 74
Posts: 2,461
Likes: 0
Received 31 Likes
on
29 Posts
The Central lntelligence Agency and Overhead Reconnaissance: The U-2 and OXCART Programs, 1954-1974
https://www.docdroid.com/xbtfrRa/the...-1954-1974-pdf (66Mb)
“...There was never another Agency U-2 mission from an aircraft carrier. Although the idea of using a floating airbase to avoid political sensitivity proved feasible, the cost did not. Aircraft carriers are enormously expensive to operate and require an entire flotilla of vessels to protect and service them. The movement of large numbers of big ships is difficult to conceal and cannot be hastily accomplished, while the deployment of a solitary U-2 to a remote airfield can take place
overnight.”
https://www.docdroid.com/xbtfrRa/the...-1954-1974-pdf (66Mb)
“...There was never another Agency U-2 mission from an aircraft carrier. Although the idea of using a floating airbase to avoid political sensitivity proved feasible, the cost did not. Aircraft carriers are enormously expensive to operate and require an entire flotilla of vessels to protect and service them. The movement of large numbers of big ships is difficult to conceal and cannot be hastily accomplished, while the deployment of a solitary U-2 to a remote airfield can take place
overnight.”
And it's still doing it. 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Often in Jersey, but mainly in the past.
Age: 78
Posts: 7,636
Received 82 Likes
on
39 Posts
Huzzah for a British jet trainer, subsequently modified for the use of the USN.
I'm very happy to see so many mentions of Eric Brown in this thread having just read his book - although I have been aware of his incredible record for many years. Astonishing man and surely a candidate for the greatest pilot of all time. The book "Wings on my sleeve" is a little dry but contains some very sly and self effacing humour. It would be good to see the UK erect a statue in his memory.
