General Category > Unofficial F/A-18 Acceleration Pack board
Questions on catapult officer
burner12:
--- Quote from: microbrewst on December 17, 2009, 02:50:12 am ---He's pointing so that everyone can tell he is indeed checking the areas that he has to before the launch. This way other people (pilot, checkers, cat crew) can all confirm that he did his job.
Also, its actually the Director and not the Cat Officer that gives the pilot the signal to go to military power. He then hands control over to the Cat Officer. 1:16
If there is a need to go into burner, the Cat Officer will give the pilot that signal before launching him. &feature=fvsr 0:16
--- End quote ---
Thanks for the info on the cat officer never knew what those signals were. but if you look closely at those 2 videos (I've seen them before, no offense) the yellow shirt is wearing kakhi pants which indicates he's an officer and not enlisted. Enlisted (aircraft directors wear camo pants) Officers wear kahki or desert camo. So those 2 are cat officers I don't know why the one with the Tomcat is being directed onto the cat though by an offcier? When really it should be an aircraft director.
micro:
Close, no cigar! CPO's (Chief Petty Officers) are enlisted, wear khaki's and are directors ;D. But I am impressed with your observation skills.
burner12:
--- Quote from: SpazSinbad on December 17, 2009, 03:03:32 am ---burner12, I'm not understanding your question about the specific Hornet catapult. Probably there is an official account of how a Hornet is launched somewhere. I'll look at the video again to try to understand what you are asking.
As microbrewst points out the Cat O does stuff 'for show'. His actions 'show' that he is checking the cat track fore and aft so that it is clear before final launch signal. Individual Cat Os seem to have variations on 'their dance' how they do things but for sure they all follow a strict protocol so that it is clear to everyone - including the pilot - what is going on. Having seen a few videos of USN launches I would be cackling at some of their antics in the past. Poor guys must get bored. ;D
Perhaps by pointing at the green shirt departing the scene the Cat O is showing that yes he has seen this green shirt and he is getting out of the way. Is that what you mean?
--- End quote ---
I agree that he is making safety check along the track and I also agree that pointing at the green shirt he has seen the pressure the cat is set at for the correct configuration this shot needs. But I wouldn't say they do it for show it's their job. I was just pointing out that in those 2 videos those are officers not enlisted giving the launch command. Enlisted don't have that authority( and that includes CPOs,they're enlisted) officers do. And I agree they must get bored.
And
SpazSinbad:
This site has some good information including animated signallers:
http://navysite.de/cvn/catcom.htm
____________________________
A good story about an E-2 being catapulted:
http://www.neptunuslex.com/Wiki/2007/03/06/event-four/
burner12:
--- Quote from: SpazSinbad on December 17, 2009, 03:33:51 am ---This site has some good information including animated signallers:
http://navysite.de/cvn/catcom.htm
--- End quote ---
Thanks for the site I'll look at it in detail. Otherwise I think we've arrived at the conclusion that the signals he performs are the following: cat track is clear of FOD and personnel, pointing at the green shirt indicates he sees the pressure is set correctly. Would you agree?
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