A blast from the past.



Phantoms and Skyhawks and Whales, oh my!

It's cool to see the aircraft that used to be in the landing pattern at the NAS near the house where I grew up. The music is pretty good, too. It should have been part of the soundtrack of a Steve McQueen movie.

Two of the planes had markings identifying their pilots. One was Commander Henry "Hank" Urban Jr and the other was Rear Admiral William "Gene" Sizemore.

If you do a Google search on these guys you'll see they both had great careers in the Navy. Sizemore served 38 yrs in the Navy and his son (William Sizemore II) is also a Naval aviator and also a Rear Admiral. Hat's off to these guys and the others like them.

Gear, flaps, hook, harness, speed brakes, armament, spoilers. Then.... "Ringneck 16, fuel state 900#'s, I've got the ball"

and over and over down the chute... meatball, lineup, angle of attack.

Did I remember that right, 40 years removed?

Of the planes shown, I flew F-9's, T-2's, A-4's (operationally), a P-3 and an S-2 a few times, in a T-1 (I believe that's the Navy F-80), in an A-3, T-28 and H-2's, in the back seat of F-4's and maybe a couple of others in the video. Dang, I almost forgot that I learned to fly in a T-34 Mentor.

China Fleet Sailor, I thank you so much for reference to my memories.

One thing, though. I can't believe that the guy who was so far left on lineup coming aboard the boat wasn't waived off??? I think that was a 27C class boat, too!!! I don't think the got an O.K.3

The footage of the F-11 is the most I've seen anywhere. They were first class fighters for a while and were used in advanced jet training in Kingsville and Beeville but were replaced with single seat F-9's (wonderfully tough sleds) just before I got there. I wish I'd gotten a chance to fly one.

A heartfelt THANKS--

God Bless every one of you guys who sat down and strapped in. Brave, smart men. Some of America's best.

quote:

Of the planes shown, I flew F-9's, T-2's, A-4's (operationally), a P-3 and an S-2 a few times, in a T-1 (I believe that's the Navy F-80), in an A-3, T-28 and H-2's, in the back seat of F-4's and maybe a couple of others in the video. Dang, I almost forgot that I learned to fly in a T-34 Mentor.

It sounds like you may have spent some time at the Naval Test Pilot School, did you?

bob