"The F/A-18 flight computer is programmed to set the exact right attitude on launch, flying itself away from the deck at optimum angle of attack. When the A-7 pilots started coming over to it, they would revert to their habit of setting the stick where the A-7 liked it, flying the thing away from the water manually. The Hornet doesn’t like foreplay. You can take the stick once it’s off the deck and flying away, but not a moment sooner. As a result, there were quite a few harrowing moments as newly transitioned A-7 guys would get into a nasty pilot-induced oscillation 50′ over the water. The solution was to have the pilots grab the towel rack to show everyone on deck that they were not at fault when the plane went into the water.
As an A-6 transition pilot, I would just touch the towel rack, while most guys hung on tight. I pressed the big, red “I Believe” button, but tentatively, gingerly."
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lawngnome (Long Spike)
Carriers launch better into headwind, especially back in the ww2 days.
Comments
(Long Spike)
They keep their hands off the stick when they are being released from the sling.
I'm sure there's a reason for that.
(Old Spike)
Nah, it's just to finger all the guys on deck. I'm flying a jet fighter mutha-fukas - no hands!
(Old Spike)
a pilot answere the question of why hands off in 2016
"The F/A-18 flight computer is programmed to set the exact right attitude on launch, flying itself away from the deck at optimum angle of attack. When the A-7 pilots started coming over to it, they would revert to their habit of setting the stick where the A-7 liked it, flying the thing away from the water manually. The Hornet doesn’t like foreplay. You can take the stick once it’s off the deck and flying away, but not a moment sooner. As a result, there were quite a few harrowing moments as newly transitioned A-7 guys would get into a nasty pilot-induced oscillation 50′ over the water. The solution was to have the pilots grab the towel rack to show everyone on deck that they were not at fault when the plane went into the water.
As an A-6 transition pilot, I would just touch the towel rack, while most guys hung on tight. I pressed the big, red “I Believe” button, but tentatively, gingerly."
(Long Spike)
Carriers launch better into headwind, especially back in the ww2 days.