THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 4, 1996 TAG: 9609040421
SECTION: MILITARY NEWS PAGE: A8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TODD PORTER
LENGTH: 72 lines
As I quickly ready for another day of work on Enterprise's flight deck, I fumble for the picture of my wife and son above my rack. While I'm not particularly superstitious, I just know the day won't start right unless I glance at the 3-by-5 glossy of Michele and Travis. I often wonder what they're doing at that moment. . . perhaps returning from Travis's soccer game or spending time with some neighborhood friends.
I last talked to Michele in our previous port call in Haifa, Israel. Other than a problem with the local utility company, all was well at home.
My stomach tells me it's time for breakfast, so I make a mental note to write a letter home tonight. I scoop up some fine Navy chow, then head for the flight deck to begin my day ``shooting'' the bow catapults.
After a briefing with the other catapult officers and filling out the wind requirement chits for the launch, I carefully inspect and don my flight deck safety gear - a cranial, goggles and float coat. A blur of motion and sound meet me on the flight deck. Ordnancemen checking their weapon loads, mechanics fine-tuning their aircraft, and air crews climbing into their jets highlight the final preparations being made for the sixth launch cycle of the day.
The noise of multiple jet engines turning at once engulfs me as I make my way to the ship's bow. Even though I've been on board the Enterprise for almost two years, I'm still amazed at the ballet performed by the sailors working on the flight deck.
At first the whole scene seems like pure anarchy, until you notice how each intricate job meshes into one large coordinated team effort. Increasing noise and hot jet exhaust push me one way and then another as I make my way between the line of planes to my station between the bow steam catapults.
Catapult crews are getting the 249-foot-long catapult tracks ready for the launch. A few minutes remain before launch time, so I walk each catapult track looking for foreign or loose objects. The flight deck ballet reaches its final act as aircraft directors glide their powerful machines of aluminum and steel to the beginning of the cat track.
A scurry of activity surrounds the first airplane of the cycle, an F/A-18C Hornet. Sailors carefully examine the aircraft's weapons, flight control surfaces and catapult line-up gear. A quick calculation, using wind speed over the deck, determines the proper launch valve setting to ensure enough aircraft velocity above the stall speed exists for a safe launch.
The catapult crew makes sure the Hornet is properly attached to the catapult as ordnancemen pull pins to arm the training weapons carried on the jet's razor-thin wings.
As I survey the scene for any possible problems, I see the confident smile of the pilot. In a moment he'll be hurtling from zero to 160 mph - in less than three seconds - into the open expanse in front of me.
It's time to rock and roll. A pause in activity indicates the launch signal is about to be given by the air boss. My heart rate increases and a few butterflies dance in my gut as I see the green beacon flash signaling for the launch to begin.
I give the tension signal to the cat crew and immediately the Hornet buzzes to life. At full military power, the plane's launch bar lurches against the catapult's shuttle, indicating this baby is ready to go flying. I scan the customary lights and look for the pilot's salute indicating he's ready to go.
Meanwhile, I run through a mental checklist: bow safety light, final, ready, launch valve set, and final checker thumbs up. As the pilot smiles and renders the proper salutation, I touch my hand to the deck, make one last scan, and then bring my middle and index fingers up horizontally, the signal to fire the catapult.
With a thunderous clap, the 44,000-pound aircraft zips down the catapult, its wings passing within feet of my head. The glow from the now-distant Hornet's twin engines leaves me feeling exhilarated. I repeat the sequence a dozen more times. After the last jet roars away and the cycle is over, my thoughts shift.
I can't help but wonder if Travis scored his first goal today. MEMO: Lt. Todd Porter, assigned to the aircraft carrier Enterprise's air
department, is a catapult officer, or ``shooter,'' in charge of
launching aircraft from the flight deck. by CNB