Questions on catapult officer

[SpazSinbad]

I guess the CAT O has to be able to tap his head with his right hand and rub his stomach with his left hand at the same time to get the job.  

Here is a Sinatra    Goshawk CarQual Brief PDF zipped made from the original PPT [in colour] (Powerpoint) at:

http://www.wings-of-gold.com/cnatra/CNATRACQBrief.ppt (0.74Mb)

[SpazSinbad]

From the Goshawk CQ brief above

[SpazSinbad]

burner12, said: "You know it's kinda confusing when I look at that file Razgriz suggested fists mean brakes on but whenever I see a launch the aircraft director puts up the fists (brakes on) a green shirt runs from the cat signaling its hooked up and the director moves his torso from side to side. So if fists are brakes on, why have them on when you are about to take off? So what is the correct signal for brakes on and off?"

http://www.hnsa.org/doc/pdf/aviationboatswainsmateH.pdf (6.4Mb)

Hand Signal Extracts from above detailed (deck equipment & procedures) document are in the zipped PDF below, with an illustration of one point above (yet to find the 'wiggle' signal).

[SUBS17]

Hey Microbrewst or SpazSinbad when is the launch end speed set for the cat prior to launch is this already past onto the ground crew prior to taxing to the cat or does the pilot pass it via radio before he hooks up?

[SpazSinbad]

I don't know when the launch weight is passed to the catapult crew but according to Hornet NATOPS: "Catapult Hook-Up. Before taxiing past the [catapult] shuttle, aircraft gross weight should be verified." There is a chap on deck with the weight board. USN personnel should say more about this though.

[burner12]

I don't know when the launch weight is passed to the catapult crew but according to Hornet NATOPS: "Catapult Hook-Up. Before taxiing past the [catapult] shuttle, aircraft gross weight should be verified." There is a chap on deck with the weight board. USN personnel should say more about this though.

I'd agree with you Spaz. While the yellow shirt is bringing the plane forward onto alignment with the track a green shirt will have shown him the board at which his plane's weight should be. the pilot, if need be, will correct the green shirt. then while still taxing forward they will pass that info on to the cat operator who will set the catapult pressure for the right weight setting. And I also read that the Cat O has to check the cat settings, so IMO that's why he points at the green shirt. to tell the pilot the cat settings are correct, that it's pressurized to the right amount.

[JamesChams]

Mr. "Spaz,"

I'm glad you have access to all these resources and have posted them here for all to see. 
Cheers!


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Virtuali,

If your reading this, "we" (FSX Users) need ground crew that can do the correct US NAVAL hand signals for the default and Mr. Javier's Nimitz/Eisenhower Carriers as well as on all Military bases.  If you can fit that in to any of your developments with a Marshaller, I know it would be greatly appreciated by all.  Grazie!

[burner12]

Mr. "Spaz,"

I'm glad you have access to all these resources and have posted them here for all to see. 
Cheers!

I second that. You have been a big help to us all. Thank you.
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Virtuali,

If your reading this, "we" (FSX Users) need ground crew that can do the correct US NAVAL hand signals for the default and Mr. Javier's Nimitz/Eisenhower Carriers as well as on all Military bases.  If you can fit that in to any of your developments with a Marshaller, I know it would be greatly appreciated by all.  Grazie!

[Razgriz]

Virtuali,

If your reading this, "we" (FSX Users) need ground crew that can do the correct US NAVAL hand signals for the default and Mr. Javier's Nimitz/Eisenhower Carriers as well as on all Military bases.  If you can fit that in to any of your developments with a Marshaller, I know it would be greatly appreciated by all.  Grazie!

+1

I'd buy it if it was payware.

[SpazSinbad]

burner12, in the instance(s) you point out in videos the Cat O is returning Pilot salute. No one is pointing at greenshirt IMHO. Perhaps at a different time in a different video that may happen; but not in the two Hornet videos you mention IMHO.

[vuong]

Once the catapult fires, the hold-back breaks free as the shuttle moves rapidly forward

I'm just curious how the hold back break free, is it some kind of shear pin? Just wondering how the mechanism work.
Jimmy

[SpazSinbad]

vuong, this online downloadable PDF has most up to date USN deck equipment information: http://www.hnsa.org/doc/pdf/aviationboatswainsmateH.pdf (6.4Mb)

Sadly in this instance it concentrates on the other launch aspects with the holdback not getting much of a mention. However a lot of procedures about deck crew catapulting are explained therein. More later on the holdback details.
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From the 'LSO reference manual' PDF: http://server2.simulacion-esp.com/Janes%20FA18/Documentacion/?download=Landing_Signals_Officer.pdf (5.5Mb)


There is this info: "Preparing Aircraft for Launch. The aircraft is spotted just aft of the shuttle at the battery position. After the holdback is installed the aircraft is attached to the shuttle, the bridle tensioner is actuated applying pressure against the grab and moving the shuttle forward to tension the aircraft.
Firing the Catapult. After tensioning, the catapult is fired by opening the launching values and permitting steam to surge into the cylinders. The force of the steam pushes the piston in the cylinder breaking the tension bar. The steam then forces the piston forward, towing the shuttle and aircraft at an ever
increasing speed."
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As you can probably gather I'm more interested in the OLDE SkYhawke so it is easy to reference that info at: http://www.skyhawk.org/specials/html/holdback.htm for HOLDBACK info. I'll look for HORNET specific later.

[SpazSinbad]

Looks like the catapult system has changed and changed again:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_catapult

"At launch, a release bar holds the aircraft in place as steam pressure builds up, then breaks (or "releases"; older models used a pin that sheared), freeing the piston to pull the aircraft along the deck at high speed. Within about four seconds, aircraft velocity plus apparent wind speed (ship's speed plus "natural" wind) will be sufficient to allow an aircraft to fly away, even after losing one engine."

[burner12]

Vuong the answer to your question is a dog bone. The holdback bar has a piece of steel that connects to the back of the landing gear. it's the size of a small dog treat. Half of it is put into the holdback bar and the other half into the landign gear connecting them. Then when the cat fires due to physics the steel breaks straight down the middle of the dog bone, 1/2 staying inside the holdback the other goes along for a wild ride on the planes landing gear.

Watch this video he gives good insight on cat ops, 

if you are really anxious then go to 5:12

[vuong]

Thank you  very much gentlemen.
Jimmy