Thursday, July 3, 2014

improbable landing

Harrier jet's nose gear malfunctions. A stool wooden stool is prepared specifically for this situation. Pilot places jet spot on.

My hang glider was a Haririer II (pdf), I have a warm spot for Harriers. Irrational, I know, but still.

It amazes me how young the pilots seem. As a kid and military pilots were around all the time, generally pilots seemed old and brave and worldly. Now they seem young, a bit scared and vulnerable.



Americanpower.blogspot.ca seen on Little Dead Animals, well spotted, Kate!

9 comments:

Shouting Thomas said...

Pretty cool boys playing with toys.

In my next incarnation, maybe I'll be a flyboy!

Eric the Fruit Bat said...

Looks like the days of landing on a heaving greasy skillet are well over but I'm guessing a pilot still needs to have the right stuff.

rhhardin said...

The pilot wasn't in any danger. Bending the airplane was the problem to be avoided.

JRoberts said...

The thing that stands out to me is the "boring little disciplines" day-in, day-out that makes any person competent in their field and therefore capable to handle stuff like this when it happens.

Evi L. Bloggerlady said...

Great video.

Aridog said...

Now they seem young, a bit scared and vulnerable.

Of course, you are always that if in any military circumstance with danger involved. Anyone who says they weren't is just lying.

Chip Ahoy said...

My favorite part is all the deck hands pouring out from their concealment like the Munchkins in Wizard of Oz. Suddenly the deck is full of them swarming the jet. \o/ \o/ \o/ \o/ \o/

Aridog said...

Chip....I cannot even imagine the tension on a CVN flight deck during take offs and landings...so much happening in so little space with so much force and speed. Also explosives.

I am in awe of the regular guys and girls who wear those various colored suits as they scramble to do their jobs, let alone the pilots who bring in the aircraft. I'd have to say Navy and USMC pilots have it all.

A helicopter in to a hot LZ is scary enough, blinding dust, you cannot see, yet you have to guide the man down...that's something that happens now and then. On a CVN carrier that is every day all day for the entire tour.

Yes, like the Munchkins in the Wizard of Oz, those men and women do jobs that'd scare me witless. My background is Army, but when the Navy says it "is a force for good" ... believe it.

deborah said...

I think it was strange when he said at the end, 'there's no way to train for a landing in a situation like this.' Wut?