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

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.

Phenomenal Approach
 

how about Embraer Phenom?

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...MB6w&fs=e&s=cl

It was for TG Maverick


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....b354b4d67.jpeg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....ff1995a48.jpeg

cheers

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.

I hope Ascent don't get any ideas.....

I have heard tales of Lightnings and a Vulcan doing practice approaches on RN Carriers, but nothing that low!

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....
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....938d5d94c1.jpg

I recall being told by a F104 pilot that approaches (fully configured) had been made to the Kiev when it was in the Baltic.

https://www.freightdogmodels.co.uk/w...courier_3_.jpg
HS125 was proposed as a COD aircraft for the (cancelled) RN 1960s future carriers

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.

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?

Hi Beags,
Indeed a Naval Verion of the "Big Wing" final growth Mk 4 (Mach 1.5") was schemed. Primarily as a single seater apparently.....

HUMOUR
Humour Over.

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.”

Looks like someone took that idea and ran with it........ Good call IMHO

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....80cd67a030.jpg

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....278aa29a82.jpg

P-47D flown off carriers Manila Bay and Natoma Bay to the Marianas


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....a4fc6e636.jpeg

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....968a4f0672.png

But the Goshawk was designed to operate from carriers.

And it's still doing it. :)

Huzzah for a British jet trainer, subsequently modified for the use of the USN.

Which was exactly my point as the Hawk was the successor to the Gnat :ok:

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.