Best Cat Shot In The World

[cpuddle1]

lol I thought it had something to do with a feline. Now I just feel dumb. Excuse me while I slowly slink away.

[MXXT1979]

I was a shooter .... Long hours, but it was the dopest job I ever had. Plus I was a Dual Warfare E-3, on my second cruise. I should have got a NAM for that! And capped too.

[bobbycv64]

what ship were you on, and yes, I know, this is all enlisted, except for the cat officer. The Officers I served for were pretty cool too.

We all Served, America's Navy - be proud and honored to know that our fellow BROTHERS served too, the SeALS :-( Someone needs to pay for the STUPIDITY of putting them in a 1960's era copter. OBAMA, you are at fault.

[Navyvet2006]

Damn I remember that shit like it was yesterday

[Navyvet2006]

I think that's one of the good old boys Hall, But I'm not for sure

[foolecoole]

out of curiousity (me being army, not navy) why is it called a cat shot?

[flanny020]

@foolecoole cat is short for catapult, and they "shoot" the aircraft off the cats. hence, cat shot. hope that helps.

[mymy826]

omg I feel really stuppid! I was actually thinking "cat"..ooops, great job !

[tigermaples]

What makes this the best cat shot in world? I done this job for years and it looks exactly like the thousands of others I've seen. Don't get tired of watching it but wondered what makes this different from the others.

[robert812007]

good old EA-6B one of the most dangerest planes on the deck

[sidesjeremy]

@robert812007 What are you fucking high? These jets were no more dangerous then an F18. In fact, the E2 hawkeye was far more dangerous. For starters they have props that spin low to the ground and you can't even really see them spinning especially at night. They are fucking invisible at night.

[bobbycv64]

@sidesjeremy I was an AD2 on Constellation AIMD Jet Shop, could stand in front of the intake and never bothered me.

PROPS - FORGET IT.

YOU ARE 100% CORRECT, NOW THAT TAKES GUTS!!!

[Themodcrafter]

Cat shot is a Catapult shot. The plane should have a Launch Bar that attaches in between the two white strips which basically sling shot the plane. It also has a tail hook to slow down the plane when its landing on the carrier.

[pchoi619]

Looking into the navy and this looks pretty cool. What is a cat shot?

[shadowblade145]

@pchoi619 A Cat Shot is a airplane being catapulted from the ship. And good boy. Navy all the way.

[MrElgeneralisimo]

FUCK YEA! GO NAVY!!

[WilhelmSchulz]

That was slick! I got to give him props on that.

[Ownage2themax3]

Cat shot? I don't see any feline turned into a high-velocity projectile.

[minero2525]

i admire all maintenace crew for such a great performance, these aircrafts cannot fly without their perfection......bless you hads for the wonders you guys make

[nastos19]

0:40 seconds earned for your life

[bobbyd411]

Thumbs up lets the shooter know the jet is ready, The Airboss is in direct communication, but he's doing too many things to watch every launch. Red shirts are both crash and salvage and AO's, the ones in the back ground are the hot crew, waiting for an incident to happen on the landing evolution.

[bobbyd411]

Thumbs up lets the shooter know the jet is ready, The Airboss is in direct communication, but he's doing too many things to watch every launch.

[318tiran]

is that bass and bivens lol

[LostDog88]

Has been a while since I have been here. Thank you to all who have seen this and shown your respect. Much obliged.

To this day, whenever I am near an airport and smell the smell of JP, I smile just a little on the inside.

[adamcrookedsmile]

What are the guys on the little vehicle in the background? They seem to be wearing red shirts, are they firefighters?

[DeathsBite]

@adamcrookedsmile They are AO's (Aviation Ordnance) they build and load the bombs on the aircrafts.

[kumasan727]

@DeathsBite They are not AO's, they are crash and salvage.

[kyouta4444]

@adamcrookedsmile no, the redshirts are responsible for the weaponsystem of the jets and helis

[xX3MINE3MXx]

Long hours short pay all kinds of crappy weather. RESPECT!

[jmillski1]

0:22 this guy has to be an incredible break dancer.

[brettt777]

Oh wow does this bring back some memories. I was a flight deck troubleshooter and cat checker on Prowlers back in my Navy days from '78 to '89. That was the absolute coolest job ever!

[bgaudry]

What makes this better than the billion other cat shots?

[WardogOtter]

@bgaudry because it's witha prowler...lol. No really to me what makes it "good" is how clean it is, no unexpected interruptions...no mistakes...just good clean work. 

[omg101man]

y is their a green jacket their? arent their suppose to be 2 white jackets. U know the safety ppl.

[kevinthehatt]

@omg101man The green jackets signify Final Checkers. They run under the plane and all around it making sure that nothing has broke at the last minute before takeoff. Then they signal the shooter (white jacket) who then launches the plane.

[dalesalsa]

God Damn that is a dangerous job.... very cool.. :)

[carlosmurphy4u]

My cousin was on the carrier Independence in the 60's same time I was in the Air Force.

He told me that in the 18 months he was on board 4 guy's got blown overboard from jet blasts and one guy was a new safety officer, 2 were rescued.

[61afondo]

if you believe the kings of the world because they do not spend that money on saving lives instead of being kings of hatred and death.

[tootiekorps]

cool outfit and posses

[tootiekorps]

cool outfit and posses

[MrVinny53]

its great to see these shots i would not have otherwise thanks.

[FIXMYVEHCILE]

I fought harrirs just verticaly took off

[linkxsc]

@FIXMYVEHCILE that not a harrier, I believe that thats an A6 intruder, harriers are used by the marines not navy

[TheUncleDougger]

@linkxsc basically it is an A-6...but that particular one is an EA6B Prowler.

[linkxsc]

@TheUncleDougger isnt that the E war version?

[Iteban]

@linkxsc yeah, I think those things under the wing are AN/ALQ-131 jammer pods, or some of that family of devices, and that bigger area on the top of the tail is also that upgrade on the avionics but I don't remember what version

[airdale001]

@Iteban The pods are part of the ALQ-99 ECM system.The "football"like structure on the tail is the fin cap assembly.That houses the antenna arrays and the sensitive receivers designed to process the radar signals.I believe it might be the E-J version,depending on the Block aircraft flying.

[brettt777]

@Iteban ALQ-99 system like airdale001 said. I was an avionics tech on Prowlers for 11 years.

[LostDog88]

Thanks BIll....you are right Jet Fuel is a nasty oily substance. I remember that every time you stepped out onto the flight deck the first thing that you would be inundated with was the smell of JP.

Loud? Someone once told me that during OPS it is so loud that a man without hearing protection would be deaf in 1 minute and unconscious shortly after that. Don't know if it is true, but I can tell you this. You actually want to wear your hearing protection. Double as a matter of fact.

[cisan]

who was taking the video? Is this usually allowed?

[VideoFairy]

My dad was a cat operator on the Connie, very proud of him :)

[dumpedonu]

I'm sure it's 0-150 is closer to 4 sec.

[Chompchompyerded]

Almost makes me want to re-up. Don't guess they'd want an 83 year old though.

CVA 42 Franklin D. Roosavelt "Rosie"

[makeminealarge1]

0 to 400mph in 10secs

[RancidElf32]

Its goes 0 to 150mph in 10 seconds..... not 400mph....

[Volvorules60r]

@RancidElf32 Its actually 0 - 150 knots (nautical miles per hour). which is about 180 mph and it hits this speed in under 3 seconds

[bc1969214]

@RancidElf32 it has to go faster than 150 to take off and you can see it's off the deck and flying is well under 10 seconds.

[danimal139]

USS Ronald Reagan. It is VAQ-139.

[BattleBornJackalope]

What ship is this off of? the Officers are in yellow float coats and Khaki pants and Brown not Black Boots otherwise we are enlisted out there :-)

-ABE2 (AW) of the USS John C. Stennis CVN-74

[cobra42777]

former P/C there's nothing like being behind a jet at full military.

[jeremyjsmith35]

Especially an EA-6B make your whole body shake from a former P/C

[hyingst]

Even better to be between the front two cats during a launch

[gityuj]

They are enlisted not officers

[trotp3]

Lost Dog has it right. They are not officers, they are enlisted dudes. They are not captains, you have this confused with the term plane captain. P/C has nothing to do with rank, most P/C's are probably airmen P/C's & Troubleshooters are two diff. jobs. The T/S give the thumbs up to the Shooter, the Shooter is in direct sight of the pilot. They also have nothing to do with the Cat.

Smartass ex P/C

VF-32

80-84

[Grundalizer]

Why do they stand there like that with their arm way up in the air?

[LostDog88]

Looking dumb and staying alive on the flight deck are two different things.

they stand like that for two reasons. Thumbs up lets the air boss know the plane is ready for takeoff. The second arm if you look close is holding a pad eye to keep from being blown off of the flight deck..

And no, they are not officers.

I was one, it was a loud and dirty job. I loved every minute of it.

[WakeUpDummies]

Right on Bro! I am too much a pussy to do that job. My hats off to you.

[abrunke]

im joining the air force, but tis the canadian air force, lol o i dont plan to be on any air craft carriers

[sparks12001]

@abrunke This is clearly a navy prowler..... You can see the insignia US Insignia...

[abrunke]

i know... i was just saying it would be a cool job... dirty but cool :)

[jeremyjsmith35]

Same here enjoyed the hell out of it very stressful job though don't pay attention to detail and you will get yourself or someone else killed.

[billsterling2006]

@LostDog88

as a former ground pounding warrior - i gotta tell you Lost Dog - i envy your service a lot. i am totally in love with the "ballet" that goes on with ALL the shirts on deck!

and i know it was loud (my God!) and i know it was dirty and i know JP4 gets right down into your very pores - but i totally understand amigo - when you say:

"i loved every minute of it."

yeah!

thanks

bill sterling

[Dremple]

@LostDog88 Indees Bro! Did a good job, hanks. I have come to appreciate these comments as they are more and more containing an actual relevant conversation(as in yours). It's kinda nice to learn more than a few new ways to butcher the English language or finding New ways of using cuss words(some not so new).  Thanks, and they don't look Goofy to me. If it twern't for the mean Greenies we couldnt Launch. Aim High!

[marvinf14]

@LostDog88 VF-2 Bounty Hunter F-14D USS Constellation 97-99 LOVED every minute of it!!!!

[abrunke]

hand signals and letting the flight deck know that ehs ready to take off

[xynj0yanthe]

wow amazing

[sacktappedu]

Just wondering...What exactly do those 2 guys do?

[bodenbadger]

Those guys are troubleshooters and are giving the thumbs up to the pilot so he knows it is okay to take off after a final check.

[hellsmacked]

they hook the catapoult 2 the landing gear on the plane

[Autovomatic]

Actually they are Officers......Captain's and they look at all the ailerons, rudders and flaps. Pilot rotates stick in a circle pattern and all the flaps, rudders and ailerons move. These trouble shooters make sure that everything is moving freely with out any snags.

[brettt777]

@sacktappedu As the plane taxis up to the catapult, those two guys start at the front of the plane and basicaly check evrything from there back as the plane is being positioned on the cat. Then they stay back there just off the exhaust blast as the pilot goes to full military and checks all the control surfaces and give the thumbs up til it launches. Very dangerous especially at night because they are moving around under the plane as it is moving to the cat.

[113stDFX9900]

Respect to all of em. no matter what position or what they do 100% respect

[justizzle550]

Agreed

[couragio235]

AWESOME!!!

[solehead90]

soon ima be doing this

[skierplaterandy]

this is a standard cat launch? whats so special?

[cm411266]

dont prop urself

[skierplaterandy]

what?

[ForAll23]

>whats so special?

Yes, whats so special...?

Nothing really!

[cbremer83]

Why are so many poeple freaking out of the blast deflector? Is it really that controversial for you poeple? It performs a simple task, keep exhaust blasts and debris from hitting aircraft and people behind it. It's that simple. When aircraft with afterburners are on the cat, the flames sometimes hit the deflector. Needless to syy, you don't want that burning nose cones or personel. That would make for a bad day.

[75keeper]

EA-6Bs always made my bones rattle on the flightdeck...lol

[Jamesbrev]

that was hit man

[rkasior]

That huge wall as you call it is called a JBD Jet Blast Deflector, I did 4 years on the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson thats how I know, has nothing to do with FOD, thats what FOD walkdown is for

[crasskicksfukinass]

.......you know, I forgot all about jet blast. I need to stop posting so late at night. lol. I realize what you're saying now, it makes sense

[adrastea99]

There is literally no reason for the catapult

And what is the point of the hueg wall behind the plane?

[crasskicksfukinass]

The "huge wall" is there to prevent FOD (foreign object debris) from getting in the way, and also, if the plane intakes any FOD, it wont go blasting down the flight deck into someone

[adrastea99]

How would FOD get in the way of the launch BEHIND the plane?

Granted, you dont want debris to be blasted backwards, but would it not be more economical to use a net then a million dollar wall?

Also, catapults suck

[ut000bs]

The huge wall question was answered already. The catapult allows jets to gain enough airspeed to fly in a short distance such as an aircraft carrier. Without them, you'd have to have an airfield. ;)

[Esuavio]

Yeah, and they can only carry twenty planes and can only launch them one at a time

[Bushranger777]

No. Modern supercarriers can carry 70-80 aircraft and have four catapults.

Now, if you're taking about an *Invincible* class...

[Esuavio]

i was replying to the other guy

[stevel666]

The reason for the catapult is to accelerate the aircraft to a speed whereby the wings produce lift. For conventional aircraft there is no other way. Aircraft with vectored thrust such as Harrier do not require a cat. They use powered lift instead of aerodynamic lift. The deflector protects everything aft of the launching aircraft from jet blast. Often there are other aircraft holding behind the deflector awaiting launch. Jet blast can not only blow people off the deck but move parked aircraft.

[cbremer83]

Are you really that stupid? How are you going to get 50,000lbs of aircraft and weapons into the air with out a cat? The only aircraft that can do it with out a cat are VTOL types like the Harrier and the JSF. That because they use direct lift. It's impossible to get a large aircraft up to take-off speed without a CAT on a carrier. Look how far a F-16 goes down a runway with a full combat load before it takes off. Takes a few thousand feet. Get educated.

[smakcage]

you forgot about STOL. Harriers and SU-27K typically use a ski jump for take offs.

[cbremer83]

True, I forgot about the ski jumps. But, they would not work for most aircraft. At least not at the sizes built by the US. We tend to like them big and powerful. There are advantages and disagvantages to that. A CAT system seem more efficiant too, since you can have aircraft landign and taking off the same deck at the same time.

[smakcage]

Well it's not so much that the U.S. have bigger aircraft. The navalized Su-27s (Su-33) are regular sized fighters. The ski jump gives them a positive AoA on takeoff, however they can't take off with max weight. Conversely, a catapult system is going to take room and put lots of stress on the nose gear of an a/c being launched. 2 systems that provide different advantages. As with the blast deflector...just ignore them. I don't even know how one can debate their usefulness.

[cbremer83]

The aircraft are built with CAT launches in mind, so they have beefed up front gear. I've never heard of a front gear failure due to cat use. I do not have any idea the maintence required to keep them operational compared to a standard gear though.

[Wags182494]

While the ski-jump type is able to get aricraft such as the -27K in the air, it does not allow them to launch a fully fueled, fully loaded aircraft into combat. Russian Navy aircraft are not used like the US aircraft. They are more for the protection of the fleet instead of an expeditionary force.

[12bl34ea56ch]

You guys have an amazing army!!

God bless you!

[dyce189]

navy.

[bigred2989]

What was that symbol on the plane's tail? Looked like a dog or something.

[Magician1607]

It was VAQ-139 The Cougars! They are on deployment right now..should be getting back soon...they were in the same hanger as us when they were on the beach

[sostav]

and where is the cat?

[flatsignedbooks]

catapult

[JazzDogProductions]

the guys on deck wear different colour jackets. why? what for? what is their function?

[flyboy4692]

Each color represents a different job on deck. For example, red jackets move ordinance and attach them to aircraft for missions.

[dtbakerqwe123ou]

I have a link to the colors that represent the job functions of flight deck personnel -

it won;t let me post it - email me I'll send it.

Navy vet

[dtbakerqwe123ou]

dtbakeratmacdotcom

[k4mik4ze84]

Why is this named Best Cat Shot in the World ? Is there anything great abt this vid ?

[ut000bs]

Yeah! Prowlers! :D

[VS24AT]

A-6's were also noisy bastards. So loud your molars would rattle in your head.

pretty awesome sensation

[NOSMOJEFF]

your right....power trims as a mechanic my teeth floated in my jaw bone I swear!

[VS24AT]

Come to think of it, Intruders were so loud, my nasal cavities would resonate = runny nose/sneazing.

fact

[ysblueangels]

Roooockkkk.

[ut000bs]

Yeah, they only wish they could be Rooks or even Scorpions. ;)

Or maybe you said rock. I definitely know where that is hehe

[Magician1607]

Hell yea..only wish they could be like the Rooks ;)

[reachforu]

Heck yeah, I'm a scorp!

[ut000bs]

I was a Scorpion (That's VAQ-132 to the uninitiated.) from 89-92. After that, I was with VAQ-129 and then VAQ-137.

[ninjaspy2005]

Hey that was VAQ-139! They are in the same hanger as us haha

[HisMajestyOKeefe]

"Where do we get such men?" Admiral Tarrant (Fredrick March) in the Bridges of Toko Ri

Or:"It really sucks to be married to Grace Kelly and get yourself killed"

[Cerberus413]

Great position for the video! Good job!

I was with VMFA-314 back in 96-99 aboard the USS Nimitz....I loved being a final checker! We used to wear green and also white!

[madcan87]

what are those green guys for? do they check if everything's working? please explain... i'm very interested in these flight deck operations!

[qwertyplay123]

Green=Catapult and arresting gear personnel, ground support equipment

Yellow=Flight deck officers and Plane directors

Red=EOD, ordnance and crash crews

Blue=Lift operators, tractor drivers

Purple=Aviation fuel

White=Safety, LSOs, Medics

Brown=Plane Chiefs/Mechanics

[reggie2569]

The "green guys" are trouble shooters/final checkers. Their job is to make sure all flight surfaces (ailerons, flaps, stabs and rudders) on the aircraft are good to go just before launch. The video here shows the aircraft coming up on full military power, the pilot then cycles all flight surfaces of the aircraft. The final checkers are in that position to visually check if everything is functioning correctly. If so the will give a thumbs up to the shooter who will then launch the aircraft.

[queeny1616]

was that a prowler im not sure cool vid

[Kopihucky]

Yes it was. EA6B

[kel1981]

Fuck they don't half shift