Tailhook Daily Briefing

Flightdeck Friday - Jetski Edition (Convair XF2Y-1 Sea Dart)

Prologue

The concept of seaplane fighters was neither new nor novel – several examples had been put to desultory effect during WW2 and even combining floats with jets (like the British SR.A.1) still failed to overcome the shortcomings of the type. The problem lay in a combination of weight and drag – ruthless enemies where fighters are concerned as both weighed mightily against maneuverability and speed. Drag usually factored large because of either the fixed floats (configured in either a single centerline with smaller wing floats or twin floats) or the effects of a flying boat hull (see the previous FF account of the P6M SeaMariner).

So You Think You Can Fly an F-18 Huh?

Or at least drive a keyboard and a mouse...

Here's a little afternoon fun courtesy of the Australian Air Force:

Start here and work your way through bad guys of all sorts...

If nothing else it should help you score some kills... on "time" and "boredom" (beat's solitaire!)  But I really don't think you want to be bragging around your readyroom about how you "Flamed another Hornet."

Flightdeck Friday - Vought V-173/XF5U-1 "The Flying Flapjack"

(ed: Over at the mothership this week we celebrate the maintainers who kept and keep us flying.  This week - one of the real oddities of NavAir is presented and BTW, huge props to Vought for their heritage site from whence most of these photos were sourced and double props since they are refurbishing the V-173 at the Vought facility in Gran Prarie, Tx.)

June, 1947. Navy Day. Bathers along the beaches lining Long Island Sound look aloft to an incredulous sight – a silver and yellow disc that is speeding along, looking unlike any other flying object seen in the area. They didn’t know it at the time, but those folks were witnesses to the one and only public flight of the Vought V-137/XF5U, nicknamed the “Flying Flapjack.” At onetime a cutting edge aerodynamic design, it was now not much more than a curiosity as the age of the jet was ascendant. Soon, it would be sent to the breakers to be broken up along with the one and only prototype and assume its place in the annals of aeronautical fantastical or just plain weird designs.

Fitting Tribute to Brig. Gen. Robin Olds

This comes to us from InstaPinch!

To all,

The Air Force Academy is doing a super job pulling together the Memorial service and Robin’s memorial fly-by for June 30th. My contact at the Air Force Academy

has asked me to send out this request through the “network.”

I know if I send this to you few, it will reach thousands of pilots within hours !

Any pilots who are interested in participating in the fly-by [ which will happen during the internment ] please contact the Base Ops guy Dan Rund at USAFA as he is coordinating the aircraft fly-by list.

His cell phone [ easiest way to reach him ] is : ( 719 ) 440-4190 and office #

is : ( 719 ) 333-4617.

My contact, Janet Edwards, with whom I’ve been planning this memorial for the past several months, can also take your calls. Her cell # is : ( 719 )330-5800, office # ( 719 ) 333-3323 and email is : [email protected]

Thank you ! !

Best regards to all,

Christina Olds,

Robin’s daughter

'07 Tailhook Ready Room Meeting Schedules (Updated)

Below are the upcoming Ready Room Events planned for the local chapters of the Tailhook Association.

 

If you are not a Tailhook Member and would like to become one... Start Here [LINK] and become one!  It's cheaper than taking your date to the movies!!!!

And if you are more interested in local Ready Rooms, take a look at the above schedule and contact information, reach out and call or e-mail the local Contact and ask about local events!  They will be glad to chat with you about Tailhook and the great comradery we are known for.

If you would like to start a "Ready Room" please contact JR Davis at: [email protected]

And Finally...

The BIG SHINDIG!!!!  Is the annual Tailhook Convention, September 6-9, 2007 at John Ascuaga's NUGGET Hotel!

Click here for the details!

What's It Like To Fly with The Blue Angles?

Well, Jimbo King provides us with a first hand video account (in three parts):

All were filmed on May 22, 2007 as Jimbo flew in the back seat of the number 7 aircraft flown by "Slot" pilot LCdr. Tom "Duck" Winkler at the rehearsal for the weekend show!  Enjoy!  And, Thanks Jimbo for sharing the thrill of a lifetime with us.

Part 1:  Takeoff through the vertical break.

Part 2: Vertical Break and include the Fleur de Lis, a four way merge, and other hard turns to set up for the next maneuver.

Part 3:  This is primarily the last maneuver of the show, the "Loop, Break, Cross," The Delta formation (all six jets) begin a loop.

My turn soon???

Prowlers Get Their Props in the Press!

Not like we didn't know this...

But the AP is reporting on the usefulness of the Prowler in combating IED's (Improvised Explosive Devices) in Iraq.  [Article Link]

Vietnam-era Navy plane takes aim at new enemy: Iraq's roadside bombs

By Jim Krane

ASSOCIATED PRESS

A secret aircraft that debuted in Vietnam and usually protects U.S. fighter jets has taken on a different and crucial task over Iraq – trying to stop the scourge of roadside bombs by jamming ground signals from mobile phones and garage door openers.

The EA-6B Prowler is thought to be one of the most effective U.S. weapons against the bombs, the biggest killer of American service members in Iraq. But no one can be sure: Even supporters say its effectiveness is hard to measure... [More Here]

Photo Credit: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kristopher Wilson

Don't You Just Hate When You Jettison the Intruder... And it Does it's Best Energizer Bunny Impersonation?

Appears the arresting cable "Let Go" at a real inopportune time... the underpowered A-6 creeps off the angle with a bit of a negative indication on the ol' VSI!

BN and Driver decide things are looking a little squirrelly and make the command decision to log some rocket time!  Just as the plane decides, "Well Hell, maybe there are enough 'lifties' hanging around..."  And considering it is now approximately 1,000 pounds lighter with no more HomoCompresstus' in the cockpit... the Damned Bird decides to go on a joy ride!  Climbing out nicely thanks!

Cannot image the words cycling through the pilot's head watching his formerly trusted drumstick climb away nicely!

Anyone know the cast of characters in this one?  Comments welcomed.

Midway 65 Years Later - Lessons Learned

"I can run wild for six months … after that, I have no expectation of success." - Fleet Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto

In racing there is a saying - 'luck is where preparation meets opportunity' Perhaps there is no truer an example than the Battle of Midway. Popular literature seems to emphasize the American forces stumbling into a heaven-sent scenario of laden carrier decks and little to no opposition to the dive bombers, while giving short shrift to the preparation that enabled them to make use of that opportunity. How so?

65th Anniversary of the Battle of Midway: 4/5 June - Forces Engaged

In carrying out the task assigned … you will be governed by the principle of calculated risk, which you shall interpret to mean the avoidance of exposure of our forces without good prospect on inflicting, as a result of such exposure, greater damage on the enemy. (Extract from CINCPAC Operational Order to TF 17 Commander)

In every battle there is a moment when the combatants, and the world, seem to catch their breath. It is a fleeting moment, lost in the blink of an eye. But in that same blink, everything changes. Such moments are borne of desperation, of courage, of plain dumb luck. But they are pivotal - for what was before is forever changed afterwards.