How Excited Students Launch From Carrier Catapults

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Welcome aboard the flight deck of the Spirit of Freedom, the USS George Washington (CVN-73). Today, we are on the bow watching catapult shots during initial day carrier qualification. These pilots are Naval Flight Students, working towards their wings of gold on a hot August day 75 miles east of Jacksonville, FL.

This jam focuses on the Director, Shooter, Topside Petty Officer, Center Deck Operator, Deck Edge Operator, Plane Checkers, and, of course, the pilot.

If you like this jam, make sure to watch the link below and pay attention to the interview in the last two minutes.

Fly Navy!

Chapters:
0:00 Welcome Aboard
0:45 Catapult 2 Launch
2:30 Shooter Final Checks
3:53 Catapult 1 Launch
5:03 Plane Checkers
6:00 Deck Edge Operator

Photo credits:
231205-N-VX022-1045 ATLANTIC OCEAN (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class August Clawson)
231208-N-VX022-1024 ATLANTIC OCEAN (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class August Clawson)
231106-N-SK336-1429 MEDITERRANEAN SEA (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jennifer Newsome)
160315-N-MY901-048 ATLANTIC OCEAN (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Krystofer N. Belknap/Released)
231129-N-TE455-1087 ARABIAN GULF (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Mo Bourdi)
230809-N-VX022-1265 ATLANTIC OCEAN (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman August Clawson)
170917-N-PE636-058 ATLANTIC OCEAN (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Anthony Flynn/Released)
160316-N-GR120-117 ATLANTIC OCEAN (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Anna Van Nuys/Released)
170916-N-PE636-051 ATLANTIC OCEAN (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Anthony Flynn/Released)
180624-N-UV609-0014 ATLANTIC OCEAN (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class David Mora Jr./Released)
180923-N-ET513-0091 ATLANTIC OCEAN (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kallysta Castillo/Released)

Music:
Drive-Breakbeat-173062

#ASMR #relaxationmeditation #flightdeckoperations #usnavy #f18 #superhornet #flynavy #avgeek #naswi #flightdeck #navy #growler #theodoreroosevelt #topgun #navalaviation #aviation #aviationworld #aviationlovers #fighterjet #trending #goshawk #cockpitview #navy_motivational_video #cockpitviews #dcs #dcsworld

[EnricoPalatzo]

Pretty good explanation from a Driver. When I was a “plane checker” we wore white vests with a black and white checkered board back, and called ourselves “Final Checkers”. We also verified the ailerons rudders flaps and uht’s were in take off position after the “wipeout”.

[flewnvy]

Good stuff Pail! Not much has changed since my days on the deck of KITTY HAWK as a Shooter. FLY NAVY!

[billbrockman]

Every American should be proud to see these young men and women.

[peepers]

Wow! Seeing something 99% of us will never get to see otherwise. Thank you Sir

[Allied-Aircraft-WW]

Just fabulous man. I’m Royal Air Force and we all bring something to the party but you guys just do carrier ops the best.

[fespa]

That was a f'n great video. There is no " Maverick" without many, many Mavericks. Thank you all for your service.

[rickbrandon]

I can’t imagine all the red tape you had to wade through for authorization to publish these videos. Thanks for your service Pail 🫡

[kentr]

It's great to have someone who knows describe exactly what goes on during a catapult launch. We see it in the movies, but of course the movie doesn't explain just how the launch works. Thanks much Pail!!

[southjerseymountain]

Awesome video Pail. Excellent graphics, slow- mo and super crisp video. Great commentary and it felt like I was on the deck being trained. We cannot thank you enough for your service to our wonderful Country. GO NAVY and may God bless the USA

[PsRohrbaugh]

Grandfather flew in Vietnam, father went to the air force academy. But I couldn't serve due to health issues. Videos like this are the epitome of bittersweet.

[frankenmizer]

Thank you for highlighting the enlisted crew. God bless 'em all. Fly Navy.

[sue-ellencallaghan]

Heck yes, great to hear your voice again. I love these deck videos and really seeing the deck crew doing their thing and getting a clear explanation.
We've missed you, glad to know you're safe and sound 🤗❤🇦🇺

[bygzam]

Can't believe it took me this long to stumble across your channel. It's everything I want from an aviation channel - clear and informative moment-by-moment narration from the pilot himself, no whack overbearing music, ads or promos. Visual pointouts and explanations of moments/details of interest, awesome POV camera makes me feel like I'm right there in the cockpit. I have a particular fascination with the process of catapult launching so stuff like this is doubly awesome, being able to see this freely on the internet makes me feel glad I was born in the time and place I am. Looking forward to future uploads!

[Dr_Bobo]

Awesome and astonishing are the only words I can think of to predicate of these sailors!

[PeteVA-]

Thanks for the play-by-play commentary. The launch bar and holdback system are much better than ours 50+ years ago. But I do have a couple of one/half of the holdback bars (broken intentionally upon the CAT shot) that were taped under the tailhook/fuselage connection still as paper weights. Good for office talk over the passing years. Fly Navy!

[sfcjones]

I like watching these. Dad was Navy in WW2. I went Army and gave them 25 years.

[williamflinn]

I miss my days on the flight deck - best job I ever had! Go, Tomcats!

[richardgreen]

Things have changed a lot since my days in carrier aviation - 50+ years ago. I was in props, so hit the Lady Lex (CVS-16) in the T-28. Still remember my first trap. The ones after that not so much. Then off to more ground school and multi-engine training. Since I had orders to a Anti-Sub Carrier based squadron, more traps in the TS-2A, but had an instructor in the right seat (no solos in the S-2s), but he did not say a word on either trap. Then more ground school and off to the RAG (Replacement Air Group) for training in the actual aircraft we would fly in the fleet. More day traps and the first cat shots (T-28 and TS-2A were light enough and powerful enough to deck launch - not so for the S-2E tipping the scales fully loaded at nearly 30, 000 pounds. Complete that, then off the fleet squadron as a "Nugget" (the new guy). My first cat shot on the USS Randolph (CVS-15) was a real jolt as she still had the hydraulic cats, they would get your attention.

[GaryBrandt-fl]

Great video! I love the voice overs with the explanations of what is going on. Beers to you and Fly Navy and Marines! ⚓✈️⚓🍻🍺💪

[justmeeagainn]

So many moving parts! Thanks for breaking it all down, Pail.