From the Bayou to the TOMCAT - How CDR (Ret) Rick "Organ" Hammonds Became a Fighter Pilot (Pt1)

[@macmedic892]

Watched this while sitting at PHI in Houma, literally across the street from Hammonds Air.

[@martinbarrett6249]

What an absolute gentleman Rick is, look forward to part 2.

[@dataanalystbynight4375]

I am originally from the Houma area. I had a friend of mine who was trained to be a pilot from Hammonds Air Service. I had the pleasure of meeting and talking with Ricks dad, Mr Charlie. A class to his own. A great man. It is awesome to see this. I never met Rick but always heard stories about him and saw through pictures his dad had of him. This is great!

[@bobprestenbach3261]

That’s really cool I’m also from the Houma area and trained with mr Charlie

[@Tr0nzoid]

Being that I memorized everything about "Top Gun" when I was 11-years-old, I recognized that call sign "Organ" from the closing credits. I have only just now really thought about how big the F-14 was in relation to the crew in the cockpit. It can be imagined as swooping around like a little race car but that has to be an interesting sensation to drive all that 70 feet of plane behind you.

[@2ZZGE100]

Regarding TW, the GE-F110 engines in the F-14 B/D of course, had a better than 1:1 thrust to weight ratio under light fighter escort configuration (2 AIM-7, 2 AIM-9, guns, only internal fuel of 50%) rising to 60,400 lbf of thrust at Mach 0.8 at sea level. The A with the TF-030 had 42.000 lbf of thrust.

[@organhammonds]

2ZZGE100. You are absolutely right. The GE-110 was the engine the F-14 deserved from it inception. Unfortunately, I only flew the F-14 with the P&W TF-30, which was underpowered and, in the dynamic arena of Fighter aircraft, stall prone. Mover and I discussed this later in our interview, which I hope comes out. Very astute observation!

[@2ZZGE100]

@@organhammonds Thanks Rick. Delighted that my post caught your attention, Organ. The airframe was pure work of genius, let down by somewhat disappointing engines. Really appreciate your input. So wonderful to hear from a Tomcat pilot. I have seen two schools of thoughts regarding the P&W TF-030 engines. There are some who felt the engine was a big limitation to the capabilities of the airframe F-14 had to offer while there is other school of thought that 'Okie', 'Slammer', 'Snort' etc. all had offered from their experience where they said, below 20,000 feet, in dense air with a lot of lift available from the airframe and the TF-030 engines seemed to love thick and dense air, with the 'big boys' down in a slower speed fighting environment (below 400 knots, say), they were pretty much unbeatable in the Tomcat and used to clean the clocks of the Eagles and Vipers. For example, 'Slammer' beat a MIG-29 in an F-14A using the two-circle fight to his advantage. Alsom, there are stories of 'Slammer' going in an F-14A and cleaning the clock of a JO in an F-14D every time. 'Slammer' even said he preferred the A in BFM over the B or the D because it made him always be at his best and not to be sloppy due to the massive thrust in the B/D. They are some of the most high-time F-14 pilots as well so they also use the term a lot that the driver matters more than the machine. I heard 'Snort' never lost a fight in F-14A against a Hornet and used to bait some cocky pilots into a fight. He did use some tricks like lightening the F-14 by only going 50% fuel and pulling circuit breakers for the 'big boys' and the mid-compression by-pass to gain thrust. Regarding compressor stall, I have heard as long as you did not 'cross control' at high AoA, at very slow speeds (slamming the throttle in an out of burner while using rudder to move the nose around), the TF-030 engines did fine at very high AoA standing on its tail. Just don't take it out of burner. Of course, you are a real Tomcat pilot so obviously you know way more than I do about this. Not sure if your experiences match with anything i said, but that is what makes Tomcat community so fascinating that there is such a big variety of different types of pilots, but they all seem to be some of the most exciting pilots to listen to. Tomcat pilots are always really something else. Cheers!

[@hirumbiffidum9145]

Wouldn't it be really cool Mover if you did a podcast with retired Lt Col Mitch "Taco" Bell the KC130 pilot from the Marine Corps ? He's done all kinds of good interview and so have you !!!

[@deantait8326]

Was he interviewed on’Jello’s’ Fighter Pilot Podcast. Navy retired LT Commander I believe

[@tcox4508]

Lol where do they come up with these call signs. They crack me up

[@Lcash218]

I used to fly with Charley Hammond quite often when I worked in the Oil Field out of Houma! Rick actually buzzed our neighborhood in the F-14 and scarred my son half to death!

[@anthonytimperio1254]

I remember him doing this every so often. We lived right across the bayou from the air base.

[@Philistine47]

A great interview! And thank you for making the extra effort to release it in bite-sized chunks - it really helps a lot.

[@shaunroberts9361]

Wow. This fighter pilot has got some stories. Cannot wait for episode 2.

[@woolymittens]

Fascinating guy. You manage to get some great interviews!

[@andrewpullin4390]

Hey Mover, I love your Interviews with the older guys (being older myself). Looking forward to Part 2. I prefer your shorter 30-45 minute sessions because I can watch them in a sitting. The longer ones over an hour I think are just too long. Cheers Andrew (from Australia) Before MEN flew TOMCATS they flew PHANTOMS!

[@dpeagles]

Hearing all this cool history out of Houma is interesting since I flew out of there for PHI.

[@thomasirwin4099]

Great interview, and you're making me miss home- Organ is as Houma as Houma gets. What a HUGE personality!

[@shawn2443]

Mover!! OMG. Started out smiling. Then got the water eyes🥲. P-51...Bearcat...BD5.... F4...A4 ...F14. Wow. Just wow !

[@skid2151]

Great interview 👍! Thanks for sharing Mover!

[@ready4pullback]

Organ’s father, Charlie Hammonds was my CFI. This is an incredible interview. I heard you mention his name in the Top Gun reaction videos and came hunting. Thanks for doing this, Mover.

[@whataboutbobyt]

great vid, looking forward to the next part.

[@richb313]

Thanks for this interview I can remember going to the Houma Airshows in the early 70's so I was familiar with some of his early stories and memories of that time.

[@RobertSantos-rw8dy]

Thanks mates, enjoyed the talk... Cheers from Thailand.

[@kevinwells4986]

Thanks C.W. Staying tuned for part 2. Organ is still obviously sharp of wit.

[@CWLemoine]

Part two is up!

[@bobprestenbach3261]

Listening to to and seeing my favorite aviation KZbinr from Louisiana really inspired me to start flying. I’m from the Houma area and flew with ricks dad mr Charlie Hammond. The first time I ever stepped foot into an airplane was with mr Charlie for my first flight lesson

[@ronneidert]

Fantastic interview, can't wait for part two!

[@lynnecheermom]

Great interview! Looking forward to the next part. Interesting stories.

[@dougstitt1652]

Thx Mr. Hammonds and Mover great part one.

[@ronneglia5164]

Awesome guy! Can't wait for part 2.

[@DougThacker]

Outstanding interview! Thanks Mover!

[@joeyyc8515]

I had to catch up with Calculus as well when I arrived to college ; sadly I didn’t pursue something as exotic as being a Navy pilot, but I did graduate with a degree in Economics. Thank you, Mike and Mover for this interview!

[@Flipper-mno13]

Another great interview. Can't wait for part 2. Louisiana boys are the best.🇺🇸👍😉💜

[@pierheadjump]

⚓️ Thanks Organ Mover 😎 I was LDO civilian marine on oilers GONZO Station USNS MISPILLION TAO-105 fueled Ranger Midway Coral Sea Kennedy & all the small boys 😎

[@kufnukem6094]

What a great guy looking forward to more

[@perspicator5779]

Love all the interviews! Keep 'em comin'!

[@FD1CE]

Amazing interview, amazing man. Looking forward for the second part. Man as an Iranian, I can tell you that IRI has had taken its people as hostages since the revolution. Man, the world could've been too different and shinier if there were no revolution, and Iran could go on as a great ally and friend to US.

[@tkwood]

Awesome interview and stories!

[@Garythefireman66]

Can't wait for part 2. TOMCATS!!

[@Watchandcutgearchannel]

This guys is fun great interview

[@wagonerjared]

What a great interview

[@mandyfox9376]

Great interview 👍

[@GeraldLaumeyer]

Awesome interview cant wait to see the rest thanks Mover for bringing us into to world of jet fighters

[@happydays2300]

Hammonds Air Service? I think my Dad flew for them between the AF and when he was picked up by UAL. I have his log books. It is hop after hop after hop all over the South.

[@perspicator5779]

Great start! Next?

[@theo.r.bitter]

Hahaha, real-life call-signs are so much more entertaining than the glam names pilots are given in movies, like hangman, and payback. I mean "Rain" Waters, "Organ" Hammonds, and "Taco" Bell are hilarious.

[@dgax65]

Great interview

[@LoneWolf051]

knew a guy at Miramar callsign "Dudebro" ...epic

[@Mike_delta80]

I met his parents when I visited Houma to take pictures of an L39 fly-in in 2004

[@williammitchell4417]

Something to mention about the Cat vs say an F-5 or T-38, I always wonder if the nose since it's longer on that Northrop was a pain to fly. For example the P-39 vs the F-4U. The nose on the Corsair is so Dadgum long .

[@ronmoore5827]

Another good interview Mover, all these guys seem to have one thing in common,they talk with a steady calm about doing scary stuff in airplanes. I was in the Army in Germany in 79-80 (Fulda Gap) and we couldn't believe we just let Iran take our people and did nothing about it. Of course I was a 19 year old E-4 and wasn't really asked my opinion.

[@HankNinja]

Either one of these guys would make a great boss.

[@sc1784]

Fascinating individual.

[@gregorymaupin6388]

Outstanding Tomcats!

[@icool247]

I don’t live far from Houma. I live on the Westbank of New Orleans, pretty cool

[@toddie4usa1]

Tomcats!!!!! 😍😍😍😍😍

[@RocketToTheMoose]

I don't think people object to the F-14 being called "not a pure fighter. Rather, they object to it being called a "pure intercepter," like an F-101 or an F-106. Obviously, one of it's primary missions was fleet defense, but I've heard other F-14 crew bristle at the thought that that was all it could do in the air-to-air role.

[@deantait8326]

My wife’s maiden name was Hammond. She wasn’t a fighter pilot but she said’Organ’ was a nickname in H.S.

[@williammitchell4417]

If Organ is Mover's inspiration, Pappy's mine😎

[@mohawksniper79]

Noice one 👍🏼🤠

[@MDMiller60]

When Kennedy was shot? Oh, yeah. I was on Camp Lejeune and the base was put on alert, all liberty and leaves cancelled.

[@alexandertokarev580]

Those Blue Angels F-4s look hot. I wonder how they performed doing the routine.

[@Doug_Narby]

I saw both the Angels and the Thunderbirds in Phantoms. Words fail. Big noisy fast smoky fast big jets!

[@chrisbisho9785]

I saw the Blue Angels perform with F-4s as a kid in the UK in the early 70s

[@stanhumphreys9282]

@@Doug_Narby Words fail...perfect description. From 69 to 73 both teams rotated through Abbotsford's airshow starting with the Thunderbirds in 69. Saw the "Threshold" B.A. team of 1970. Incredible display of power and stick and throttle skill.

[@emmanuelgoldstein1918]

"Tomcat!!"

[@y_equals_mx_plus_c]

TOMCAAAAAAAAAAAAAATS!!

[@Nappi91]

TOMCATS!!!

[@ghurghust]

TOMCATS!

[@tcox4508]

Organ looks like Hawkeye from MASH