It wasn't the firm landing on the aircraft carrier that surprised me. Our Navy pilot flew our C2-A Greyhound nicely, but firmly, onto the deck. The loudest noise was the hook banging and scraping along the deck.
However, the catapult launch the next day was breathtaking. Literally. Going from zero to 140 mph in two seconds stops your breathing and probably causes the heart to skip a beat as well.
So, here's how it came about.
A friend of mine, Admiral Miller, USN (Ret) called and said that he had a spare seat on a plane heading out to the John C Stennis ( http://www.cvn74.navy.mil/home.html ), would I like to come aboard. That would be a yes. The Navy's goal is to invited business leaders on board a naval vessel to help people better understand the Navy's mission and how it conducts its business. I got to grab the empty seat and ride along with a bunch of CEOs.
So, off I go to
On the first day of our visit we had a lecture from Captain Davis of the Commander Naval Surface Forces Headquarters. Capt. Davis, as were the other Naval offices I met, is a highly educated and articulate man. His lecture was fascinating as well as educational. His command is responsible for supplying all USN ships except aircraft carriers and submarines. They supply material to 163 ships around the world, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They are also involved in the development of next generation destroyers with the goal of reducing shipboard personnel from 340 to 40(!). Highly automated.
Following the lecture we then visited the USS John Paul Jones, an Aegis class destroyer. The Admiral is piped aboard and the rest of us follow for a wonderful tour of a fighting ship. The officers and enlisted personnel of the ship were a delight, proudly serving us a tasty lunch while helping us understand the workings of the ship. What a wonderful crew.
Properly fed, we then head off to another lecture by Mr. Bickert, Deputy Commander Fleet and
Lectured out, that evening we had a rousing dinner at the Del Coronado including a number of current and retired naval officers. What a blast. One retired captain has a sail boat. 28 feet long, sharp bow at each end, no motor. He sails from the dock to the bay to the ocean to the dock. Sometimes alone. He is a purist sailor to his core. Impressive guy.
The next day (drum roll please) we head on over to the North Island Naval Base to learn how to be a passenger on a C2-A Greyhound. ( http://www.navysite.de/planes/c2a.htm ). This is the twin engine turboprop airplane that schleps freight and curious civilians to and fro the carrier.
We learned that the C2 is the safest plane in the Navy's inventory (blah, blah, blah), we've never lost one (blah, blah, blah), and you're going to enjoy the ride (blah, blah, blah). Then the pilot then casually mentions:
- The seats face backwards because that way they,and we, can withstand a 20g crash
- There are no windows (actually on two small portholes which serve no purpose). We will be flying in a dark, metal sausage sitting backwards.
- Here are our helmets, foam ear inserts, ear muffs like on a shooting range, goggles and floatation devices in case we crash into the ocean aboard this totally safe airplane
- Here's how you pop the escape hatch in case we crash
- But don't inflate your floatation device before exiting the aircraft because then you will be trapped inside. For life.
- But don't inflate your floatation device before exiting the aircraft because then you will be trapped inside. For life.
- There is a "relief tube" onboard, but for guys only and you will be "reliefing" yourself in front of 20 of your newest, closest friends (talk about stage fright).
- Said tube is NOT a sound activated communication system, no matter what some enlisted sailor tells you. Do not put the tube up to your mouth and shout into it.
- Said tube is NOT a sound activated communication system, no matter what some enlisted sailor tells you. Do not put the tube up to your mouth and shout into it.
- Have a nice trip
And off we go. Nice flight out, sitting backwards in a crowded, dark, noisy tunnel NOT thinking about having to pee. The crew chief gave us a 20 minute warning before (crash) landing, a five minute warning, a 2 minute warning and BANG, the gal next to me grabs my leg. Were you not paying attention to all those hand signals?:)
Here is a quick clip showing a Greyhound landing (not ours but just like it):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldwUuoIsDY0&NR=1
Our 24 hours aboard the Stennis was a whirlwind tour consisting of:
- Met the brass:
- Admiral O'Bryan who is responsible for the carrier strike force consisting of the Stennis, cruisers (small battleships), destroyers and submarines.
- Captain Johanson, the first class Commanding Officer responsible for the Stennis
- Capt. Johanson started the
- Capt. Johanson started the
- Command Master Chief Powers, the highest ranked enlisted person on the ship. Of the 5,000 residents on the Stennis, CMC Powers is responsible for about 2,500 of them. Average age 20-21
- Herding cats
- I sense that if you are ever in a fight, CMC Powers is the guy you want to be standing behind.
- Herding cats
- Admiral O'Bryan who is responsible for the carrier strike force consisting of the Stennis, cruisers (small battleships), destroyers and submarines.
- Set up in our staterooms, which were actually pretty good sized, with bunk beds, sink and small closets and drawers.
- Observe flight ops (sort of an air traffic control tower)
- Managing the deck activity really is a ballet. Planes and personnel comingling, missing each other by feet or inches. I watched sailors bend over to walk under a fighter's exhaust. Majestic motion, followed by brute strength during a launch or landing.
- The arresting gear lasts for 125 landings, then has to be replaced. The large wire across the deck that the airplane hooks can be changed out in two minutes(!). During busy flight ops, it can be changed out between two planes landing.
- Managing the deck activity really is a ballet. Planes and personnel comingling, missing each other by feet or inches. I watched sailors bend over to walk under a fighter's exhaust. Majestic motion, followed by brute strength during a launch or landing.
- Observe flight ops from the sidelines (RIGHT THERE along the side lines!)
- We insert foam rubber plugs into our ears, covered by hard ear muffs. An officer is trying to explain to one of our members how to roll up the foam rubber insert to place it into her ear. It's a new experience to her and she not quite clear on what the officer is say. I'm walking by so I say "Just roll it up like a booger". The officer looks at me and says "Are you SURE you've never been in the Navy?!?".
- Deck scene is just like the opening shot from "Top Gun". Steam and everything.
- We insert foam rubber plugs into our ears, covered by hard ear muffs. An officer is trying to explain to one of our members how to roll up the foam rubber insert to place it into her ear. It's a new experience to her and she not quite clear on what the officer is say. I'm walking by so I say "Just roll it up like a booger". The officer looks at me and says "Are you SURE you've never been in the Navy?!?".
- Photo op with the commanding officer (CO).
- Nice diner with Executive Officer (XO), 2nd in command of the ship
- The servers were a delight. Met one young lady from a town next to where I grew up. They all had smiles on their faces the whole time. They, like we, were having a ball.
- The servers were a delight. Met one young lady from a town next to where I grew up. They all had smiles on their faces the whole time. They, like we, were having a ball.
- Observe call to General Quarters (combat prep, simulated attacks, damage control parties, fire fighters, etc)
- When GQ is called, 3,000 sailors need to get to their battle stations anywhere on the ship within 4 minutes.
- They did.
- They did.
- When GQ is called, 3,000 sailors need to get to their battle stations anywhere on the ship within 4 minutes.
- Light shopping in the ship’s store (been there, seen that, bought the t-shirt)
- The store is small but efficient. It's called "The Mall" because the smaller one is called "The 7-Eleven". That one must be tiny.
- The store is small but efficient. It's called "The Mall" because the smaller one is called "The 7-Eleven". That one must be tiny.
- Observe night flight ops from Vultures Row, arresting hook throwing sparks up as it dragged alone the deck; full afterburners while launching. Awesome sights and sounds.
- Sleepless night as our quarters were right below the flight deck, personally listened to EVERY launch, EVERY landing. Finally quieted down around 5:00 am, but then had to get up to pee anyway.
Second day
- Awakened at 5:45 but at least I didn’t have to pee
- Breakfast at 6:15, met the most interesting 19 year old NROTC student from VMI. Level headed guy. Made the breakfast very special.
- Observed the command center of the ship. They direct all the weapons of the ship from fighters to Gatling guns
- Visited the bakery. What a blast. The bakers are the heroes of the ship since they make the goodies, including birthday cakes.
- Visited the shop where they repair jet engines and then test them.
- Walked the entire flight deck stern to bow observing different stations and aircraft along the way.
- Chapel, Chaplain, library and Internet access room for emails.
- There is a protestant chaplain, a Catholic chaplain and a Jewish chaplain. (This is not the start of a joke). When the Catholic chaplain helicopter's from ship to ship he is on the "Holy Helo". Then the Rabi chaplain is aboard the helicopter it's the "Kosher Copter".
- There is a protestant chaplain, a Catholic chaplain and a Jewish chaplain. (This is not the start of a joke). When the Catholic chaplain helicopter's from ship to ship he is on the "Holy Helo". Then the Rabi chaplain is aboard the helicopter it's the "Kosher Copter".
- Weapons review from 9mm semi-auto guns to 2,000 lb laser guided bombs.
- The kid who gave this lecture was a hoot. He personally loves every weapon in his care. When one of our members asked to hold an automatic weapon you could see in his eyes that it wasn't going to happen. Not MY baby!! The officer accompanying us saw a PR disaster in the making so he gently took the weapon from the sailor and said "Sure!", handing it to the lady who made the request. I kept my eye on the sailor and as our gal grabbed the weapon the look in the sailor's face was akin to someone grabbing a child without the parent's permission. The child was safely returned to the waiting arms of the sailor.
- The kid who gave this lecture was a hoot. He personally loves every weapon in his care. When one of our members asked to hold an automatic weapon you could see in his eyes that it wasn't going to happen. Not MY baby!! The officer accompanying us saw a PR disaster in the making so he gently took the weapon from the sailor and said "Sure!", handing it to the lady who made the request. I kept my eye on the sailor and as our gal grabbed the weapon the look in the sailor's face was akin to someone grabbing a child without the parent's permission. The child was safely returned to the waiting arms of the sailor.
- Medical: surgery, dental, 50 bed hospital
- The doctor noted that he had performed 40 vasectomies during the last cruise. 40!! Somewhat surprised, I asked if they were ALL voluntary. He said yes, although he knew a couple of people he’d like to pull from the gene pool.
- The doctor noted that he had performed 40 vasectomies during the last cruise. 40!! Somewhat surprised, I asked if they were ALL voluntary. He said yes, although he knew a couple of people he’d like to pull from the gene pool.
- Vultures Row for one more visit, watching our taxi land.
- Last goodbye with the CO as he presented his personal coin to each of us
- The Launch
- Sit backwards, tug your lap and shoulder straps as tight as possible, cross your arms and hang on tight to the opposite strap, press your shins against the seat back in front of you so your legs don't fly up, lean hard against the straps and press your chin down onto your chest.
- 20 seconds to go
- Engines bellow, props roar. The Greyhound is straining, quivering, wanting to join the race! Let's go! Let's GO! LET'S GO!!!!
- Bang! Zero to 140 mph in 2 seconds. Slammed against the harness. Can't move, can't breath, can barely think.
- Hot shit!
- Sit backwards, tug your lap and shoulder straps as tight as possible, cross your arms and hang on tight to the opposite strap, press your shins against the seat back in front of you so your legs don't fly up, lean hard against the straps and press your chin down onto your chest.
Sample cat shot as seen from a pilot's perspective. At least they get to sit facing forward:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9pPMeJQcM4&feature=related
Food for thought, carriers are built to last 50 years. The last admiral to serve on our newest carrier is currently in elementary school.
Our Naval officers are incredibly talented people. Our enlisted personnel are rock stars. I loved everyone I was honored to meet. In the hallways, in the dining mess, on the carrier deck, aboard the destroyer. They are rock stars. I miss them already.
To see trip pics please go to:
One of my beautiful daughters-in-law asked me how do you thank a friend who invites you outto an aircraft carrier.
I just don't know.
Thank you, Admiral. God Bless
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