gkainz
Final Approach
From the VAW-116 Sun Kings
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEkYqL9n7vo
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqaWdkdFb3Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEkYqL9n7vo
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqaWdkdFb3Y
One change, Women. Prior to this the navy guys would have only had the marines to dance with in their videos ;-)alaskaflyer said:And has it REALLY changed all that much?
gkainz said:Yeah, it's changed.
First, all those fine sailors and marines in the vids are just kids! When the heck did THAT happen?
Second, some of those sailors are, uh, wellllll, GIRLS!!!!
Third, thru the marvels of modern electronics, handhelp video cameras, wireless internet access, MTV generation, etc ... we now have MTV at Sea!
Our entertainment was pretty much limited to reading letters from home about events that happened 3, 4 or even 6 weeks prior, and not being able to do a darn thing about them...
Letters from home ...
Dear John...
"The washer broke and flooded the house. What should I do?"
"The car broke down again and the mechanic wants $600 to fix it. Please increase your allotment to the checking account." (which means that $5.00 a week for geedunks is now gone)
"Me and a bunch of the other girls checked out the club last week..."
"I've moved so don't try to find me. All your stuff was on the front lawn the last time I looked"
NC19143 said:I'm a plank owner in VAW 116. they are still at it. bt with better equipment.
gkainz said:Our entertainment was pretty much limited to reading letters from home about events that happened 3, 4 or even 6 weeks prior, and not being able to do a darn thing about them...
I didn't know that! Cool! Was that with the E-2A? When was that? You didn't happen to know Vince Bletch, Tony Hidalgo, Doc Swagart, or TC Smith?NC19143 said:I'm a plank owner in VAW 116. they are still at it. bt with better equipment.
smigaldi said:That is a gross under-exageration
What about all those quaint rituals on board ship? Like converting the slimy pollywogs to crusty shellbacks?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plank_owner - also applies to Naval Squadrons and other units.smigaldi said:What is a "plank owner"?
gkainz said:I didn't know that! Cool! Was that with the E-2A? When was that? You didn't happen to know Vince Bletch, Tony Hidalgo, Doc Swagart, or TC Smith?
Yeah, the equipment has sure improved since I last flew. The B to C transition in '80 was a huge leap, and the new Group II (or is it III now?) looks like it almost qualifies as "modern technology! I went back to the B with VAW-88 in '85 ... almost like going back to grease pencil technology again.
gkainz said:Shellback here ... I wouldn't call the ritual exactly "entertaining" ... fortunate for me, the Nimitz was full of 'wogs, since it had never crossed the Equator until the cruise I was on, which really shortened the amount of time each of us 'wogs received special attention.
gkainz said:Yeah, the equipment has sure improved since I last flew. The B to C transition in '80 was a huge leap, and the new Group II (or is it III now?) looks like it almost qualifies as "modern technology! I went back to the B with VAW-88 in '85 ... almost like going back to grease pencil technology again.
gkainz said:If I recall my history lessons learned at the knee of the crusty chiefs in Flight Tech Training when I was in the rag in '77 (RVAW-110 then), the rag in '64 would have been VAW-11 or VAW-12?
gkainz said:I've seen the pics of the new scepter props ... 8 blades if I recall? I remember discussions of the Allison engines way back when ... they were also discussing water injection and other options to get more HP as they kept cramming more weight in the back end.
The new kids ought to fit right into that new back end just like hogs to slop ... nothing but a $20 MM flying video game ... and I'll bet that price per copy is way off by now ...
Wow - that's some good uptime! I hate to even recall how many prop changes we went thru on a typical cruise even on the older Hamilton props, and the complexity you described on the new ones sounds really touchy!NC19143 said:I worked the Dowdy Rotal props on the TC-4-C for 8 years, never had to change a prop for a prop failure, and only changed 1 PCU. in all that time.
NC19143 said:I was on the ferry crew that delivered the "A" to the VAW Rag in 64 can you tell me what the rag outfit was, when each of the 13 carriers had a det aboard.
The line was mostly Fuds, and Peterpan Spads. Det Alpha was the first to take the "Swoose aboard" Coral Sea (CVA 43) 65, and became VAW-116 in 67 (give me a year oneway or another) I went Shorevay in 69 to NMC Pt Mugu as crewman on 151617 the first "A" to be converted to "B" but spent most of my time there as flight crew on the PMR willies.
2 weeks in Fallon with the E2, and 2 weeks down range with the willie (R7)that is how I spent 5 years. with a new bride in housing.
OH YEAH fun times, the names do not ring a bell. there have been a lot of feet up and down the brow since than.
gkainz said:Shellback here ... I wouldn't call the ritual exactly "entertaining"
I applaud you then.gkainz said:Sorry Scott, but in trying to reverse the current trend and tenor of the boards, I'm not going to engage in Navy v Air Force bashing.
Guess I'll have to unapplaud you now that you decided to a little bashing of your own two seconds after your statement from above.gkainz said:You do have to realize though, that the Navy E-2C Hawkeye does with 2 engines and a crew of 5 (2 + 3) the same job that the Air Force E-3C AWACS takes 4 engines and a crew of 22 (4 + 18) to perform?
smigaldi said:And BTW I was not Navy bashing with my comment about the 'rituals' I just think it is a great waste of time, and tax payer money, all for the enjoyment of a few borderline sadists. Regardless of which branch of service it may belong too. The AF has a few stupid rituals as well.
gkainz said:Rest assured that I'm darn glad that the tradition of keel hauling hasn't survived... that's a long haul from stem to stern on a carrier!!!
Splicing the main brace is another old tradition that I got to experience (but the qualification period just sucked!)
Nah, don't be sorry - it's one of the "good" ones!Dave Krall CFII said:I may be sorry I asked but, what is the "splicing the main brace" tradition?
gkainz said:------------------------------------------
We were issued 2 warm beers on the Nimitz after 100 days of continuous operations at sea. I was on the alert crew that day and had to wait until day 101 for mine ... and they just weren't that good ...