The My Vibe Thread

[BigKen]

Navy losing two fucking Jets. This is a pretty big deal, and I am certain there are a lot of asses getting chewed out.

The first loss was totally stupid. Hangar deck crew lost control of the cart pushing the aircraft onto the elevator and pushed it off.

The second lass was the aircraft missed the wire and instead of powering up, tried to brake and went off the angle. That sounds like a pilot error or an engine malfunction. 99% of wire misses result in thrusting and getting back into a pattern to attempt another landing. No way in hell brakes can stop a jet on a carrier deck.

 

[Southieinnc]

No one has all of the facts.

I was in 'Nam for four tours. I got there when I was 18 years old. At 19 I was a crewman on an SH3A and trying to help guys my own age in the middle of a fire fight. I picked up bodies of guys younger than myself. Most fighter and bomber pilots are barely twenty four years old and yet are asked to fly multi-billion dollar machines. Our military doesn't want anyone over 40 driving any of them. Response time is critical and milli-seconds matter. I quit flying just before I turned twenty and took a position in Flight Deck Control accepting full responsibility for making sure that every aircraft had a full tank of gas when it left the ship. Never screwed up once. Never lost a bogie or a pilot.

I just hate people talking about stuff they know nothing about, like they're experts.

I worked closely with every pilot at Lemoore Naval Air Station.
I never saw a 20 YO flying an F35. Most were in their 30's.
I did see younger pilots flying F18's
I also saw pilots certify for air shows - thse were not kids either.......
I saw an F22 in the hangar but it wasn't there!

 

[Southieinnc]

Yeah, we all know you were in Nam, thanks for your service but again what is the bigger issue. And they do know what they are talking about, they are talking about the Navy losing two fucking Jets. This is a pretty big deal, and I am certain there are a lot of asses getting chewed out. Just seems to me you're choosing the wrong thing to be concerned with.

Before I was hired at Lemoore NAS, nobody was allowed to take vacation. After I started, everyone took their vacations.
My 3rd day, somebody dumped an F18 in a field next to the airfield. The piloy ejected when his fuel guage said he was empty.
IMy boss said, you're in charge and left.
I got to see 1st hand what it looks like when somebody screws up in a $90 million jet!
When we pulled the wreckage from the "mishap" I saw about 400 gallons leak out......
All recovery was done at night and the wreckage was hidden from view in storage......
The pilot was discharged.....

 

[BigKen]

I got to see 1st hand what it looks like when somebody screws up in a $90 million jet!

AND How good the guys in charge at the top are professional at "Cover MY OWN ass" and "shit on someone else"

 

[Southieinnc]

AND How good the guys in charge at the top are professional at "Cover MY OWN ass" and "shit on someone else"

Navy senior officers vary tremendously. Pilot Commanders tend to be very loyal and trustworthy.
Non pilot commanders are as you describe. Definitely CYA!

I once had the opportunity to ask a group of senior officers in a meeting if "Washingon" knew this (very important) job was going to shit!? Priceless!

 

[BigKen]

I once had the opportunity to ask a group of senior officers in a meeting if "Washingon" knew this (very important) job was going to shit!? Priceless!

I once sat in a shipboard meeting with CNO (Chief of Naval Operations) Admiral Elmo Zumwalt. He left me and the rest of the enlisted guys with a comment that I'll never forget. "I don't care who you are or what rank you hold. Do what you're commanded to do and do it to the best of your ability. Try doing it your own way and fail, don't look for forgiveness. Mercy is not in my dictionary for those who think that they are above the rest of us."