The Navy did get their revenge, and it was another case of my having to go aboard an Aircraft Carrier. The landing wasn’t a deal, since a “Helo” approach isn’t the same as a fixed wing pilot having to shoot for a “three wire” to “Trap” on deck. The only problem we had was that shortly after landing, we lost one of our vital aircraft systems. Oddly enough, a helicopter needs things like hydraulic fluids to keep the beastie controllable in the air, and we lost ours just prior to shutdown. It wasn’t just a simple hydraulic problem either, it was one of those lead injections I mentioned in the last post, and it was in a key spot. Long story short, what was supposed to be a simple refuel operation, turned into a “Crap we’re stuck here,” operation. The Navy, being the fine hosts at the time, gave us an option. They could send us back to the beach in a small launch, OR if we wanted, they could just fly us back to our main operating base where we could pick up a new helicopter. Since we would need a new aircraft, we opted for the second option. God, what a huge mistake. I guess it is what you’re used to doing, but someone decided that a ride in the older, C-2A, would be a cool way to get home. We were lined up on the catapult, and the crew briefed us on how to sit during the “cat shot.” Within a second we went from sitting on deck to flight. The force was impressive, and as we clawed into the air, I swore to myself, NEVER AGAIN! These guys are crazy!
Now, unlike the Naval Lieutenant who got green in the back of my aircraft, I didn’t get ill, but I sure felt like all my organs had been inverted. Now the lesson here is that we are comfortable with what we learn, and we train to learn. Naval and Marine Corps Aviators have no problem flying from 0 to 200 mph in a second, and Army Aviators have no problem flying low and fast, at night even. Still, we often look at each other and say, “No way would I do that one.....” Of course, then comes along a Coast Guard Aviator, who will do crap nobody else would touch. Anyway, you understand the message. We all have a part to play in the defense of our country, and we all are comfortable with the way we train. Are we all crazy? Probably, since those who learn to fly the Cessna 150 at the local airport would most likely think we were all nuts. ~ Michael S. Pauley
Now, unlike the Naval Lieutenant who got green in the back of my aircraft, I didn’t get ill, but I sure felt like all my organs had been inverted. Now the lesson here is that we are comfortable with what we learn, and we train to learn. Naval and Marine Corps Aviators have no problem flying from 0 to 200 mph in a second, and Army Aviators have no problem flying low and fast, at night even. Still, we often look at each other and say, “No way would I do that one.....” Of course, then comes along a Coast Guard Aviator, who will do crap nobody else would touch. Anyway, you understand the message. We all have a part to play in the defense of our country, and we all are comfortable with the way we train. Are we all crazy? Probably, since those who learn to fly the Cessna 150 at the local airport would most likely think we were all nuts. ~ Michael S. Pauley
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