jclalor 12 #1 September 19, 2011 While deployed on a carrier during my time in the Navy, I had the job of working in the PLAT (Pilot landing aid television) studio recording all flight opp's in case of accidents and for pilot training. I recorded thousands of launches and traps with out anything exciting happening. Then I recorded this: (Sorry about the quality, but the sun was setting) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuhQRKE4Ins I had not seen this video for almost thirty years. I had always kept an eye on youtube to see if it would ever show up, and then it finally did. I asked the poster how he came into possession of the video, and as it turns out, he was the RIO (Radar intercept Officer) of the F-14 that went down. A few years later, he went on to be an instructor at the Navy's Top Gun school and even advised for the Top Gun movie.. He also had a cameo role as a the Russian pilot who Cruise flips off when he goes inverted. He just recently wrote a book "Top Gun Days" Which is a great book. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ryoder 1,590 #2 September 19, 2011 Man, that sucks; The pilot does everything right, then the cable breaks. "There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jclalor 12 #3 September 19, 2011 Quote Quote Man, that sucks; The pilot does everything right, then the cable breaks. The cable did not break so much as it all was reeled out from the arresting gear engine. The operator of that engine was rumored to be in a stoned haze as the f-14 came into land and he never put in the proper tension setting on his engine. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shah269 0 #4 September 19, 2011 Ah the F-14.....best fighter jet the Shah ever bankrolled! Then he got tired of it and went for the F-18. But not before receiving a fleet of them.Life through good thoughts, good words, and good deeds is necessary to ensure happiness and to keep chaos at bay. The only thing that falls from the sky is birdshit and fools! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 16 #5 September 19, 2011 Quote The operator of that engine was rumored to be in a stoned haze as the f-14 came into land and he never put in the proper tension setting on his engine. I've always admired the exacting coordination and strict adherence to procedures required to reduce the risks involved with landing high speed military aircraft on a ship's deck. No wonder the military needs drug testing. That's no place to be stoned. Bummer that the cable took so much energy from the plane before snapping. If it had broken more easily they could have maybe boltered. I'm glad they ejected okay. Still, it's not a pleasant ending to your flight. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 16 #6 September 19, 2011 Quote Ah the F-14.....best fighter jet the Shah ever bankrolled! Then he got tired of it and went for the F-18. But not before receiving a fleet of them. At first I thought you were talking about yourself in 3rd person. I don't think the Shah ever got any of those. He fell from power in '79, I believe, and the Hornet didn't go into service until '83. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shah269 0 #7 September 19, 2011 http://www.aerospaceweb.org/aircraft/fighter/f14/f14_14.jpg F-18's no. F-14's about to to three dozen. what you would call them now? Who knows? F-14 body + Russian engines + SEA weapons.Life through good thoughts, good words, and good deeds is necessary to ensure happiness and to keep chaos at bay. The only thing that falls from the sky is birdshit and fools! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
topdocker 0 #8 September 19, 2011 Quotehttp://www.aerospaceweb.org/aircraft/fighter/f14/f14_14.jpg F-18's no. F-14's about to to three dozen. what you would call them now? Who knows? F-14 body + Russian engines + SEA weapons. I would bet the are called "targets!" topJump more, post less! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shah269 0 #9 September 19, 2011 Quote I would bet the are called "targets!" top I can't tell you? Maybe yes and maybe no. Last anyone knew they were still rocking a very good long range radar and were being used as AWAX systems. With these things you just never know. Odds are yes they are just targets. But you just never know. Never the less an interesting story regarding the Shah of Iran and the F-14 and the F-18...and a few other things such as the nuclear reactor that was a gift and the printing presses.Life through good thoughts, good words, and good deeds is necessary to ensure happiness and to keep chaos at bay. The only thing that falls from the sky is birdshit and fools! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #10 September 19, 2011 QuoteLast anyone knew they were still rocking a very good long range radar and were being used as AWAX systems. Do you mean "AWACS"? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shah269 0 #11 September 19, 2011 Quote Quote Last anyone knew they were still rocking a very good long range radar and were being used as AWAX systems. Do you mean "AWACS"? Yeah that too! Life through good thoughts, good words, and good deeds is necessary to ensure happiness and to keep chaos at bay. The only thing that falls from the sky is birdshit and fools! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
