Reasons Why Navy Pilots Says ''I Have The Ball'' When Landing On An Aircraft Carrier

The flight deck of an Aircraft Carrier is where planes take off and land. The short runway makes it difficult for a pilot to land on the aircraft carrier. There are already examples that a landing can go badly wrong.
While landing on an aircraft carrier, the pilot often says “I have the Ball.” What does this mean?
An Optical Landing System that provides information on the glide path to pilots during the last phase of the landing procedure on an aircraft carrier is referred to as a "ball,". Navy Pilots often say, “I have the ball, " indicating that they can see the signals given via the Optical Landing System.
In its developed form, the Optical Landing System comprises a few interconnected elements, the most notable of which are the lights employed in providing visual cues to approaching aircraft, the light control system, and the mounting system.
The mirror landing aid was the first optical landing system, and it was one of the numerous technologies created in the United Kingdom following World War II that revolutionized the construction of aircraft carriers. The other two features were the tilted flight deck and the steam catapult.
The mirror landing aid was a gyroscopically-controlled concave mirror on the port side of the flight deck. There was a row of "datum lights" in an emerald green color on either side of the mirror. The aviator who was about to land was able to view the "ball", that was created by shining a strong orange "source" light into the mirror. The ball's position in comparison to the datum lights indicated the aircraft's position about the desired glide path. If the ball was above the datum, it indicated that the plane was high; if the ball was below the datum, it indicated that the plane was low; and if the ball was between the datum, it indicated that the plane was on the glide path. A consistent glide path was achieved due to the gyro stabilization system's ability to compensate for the flight deck's movement caused by the waves.
#aircraftcarrier #sailors #usnavy

[@navyproductions]

Did you know this? I find it very impressive how pilots take off and land on an aircraft carrier. Let me know what you think! 💙

[@beaglesguy]

ditto. this was my goal in 1976 leaving h/s, but 'twas not to be.

[@lordkreigs1978]

Some predecessor prior to the ball, a WWII era LSO with paddles and white background tarp for comparison would have helped. Also some actual examples of errors, wave-offs, and incidents in conjunction of the actual or reconstructions of low ball deck strikes / high ball wave offs and go arounds. Errors reading the ball missing all cables.... you get the idea.

[@trumanhw]

The S is silent in Fresnel ... it's fru-nell.

[@drumsoccer100]

We do not say "I have the ball". The correct call would be something like "500 grizzly ball 8.0". You have to get these details right to be doing these types of videos...

[@markjohnson9402]

@@trumanhw aw you beat me to it.

[@itsjohndell]

A million years ago I was a USAF Captain flying F4Es. The Navy would invite us in groups to "Observe" operations. Included was a hop in an F4(J?) off USS John F. Kennedy. The cat shot was eye opening by itself. But the return was pucker-factor + 1. My briefing by the Pilot was short enough, told me two things: Keep your hands and feet off the controls no matter what and after showing me the egress mech said "If I say eject, eject, eject the last one will be an echo. When the canopy goes go with it." The return was mind boggling. he trapped the first wire and since then I gave it up to US Naval Aviators. The best in the World, bar none. And the deck crews are unsung heros.

[@beaglesguy]

totally agree.

[@michaelmappin4425]

Anytime the deck guys get a mention. I get all fuzzy inside. Thanks.

[@TheFlyingZulu]

​@@michaelmappin4425 Haha same here... I was kc-135 flightline MX in the AF... I know what you mean. Ground support and aircraft maintenance are always forgotten.

[@neilfoster814]

F4's were on hell of an aircraft. In the UK we had J's and K's. My uncle was radar tech on the K. Brute power all the way up to 40,000ft

[@itsjohndell]

@@michaelmappin4425 Without the guys on the deck and down in the hangers the guy in the cockpit isn't going anywhere.

[@IggyDalrymple]

When I first hooked the cable in 1962, the exclamation was not voluntary but mandatory and it was "MEATBALL". My first boarding of an aircraft carrier was that first carrier qualification training flight and it was "solo". You were required to successfully "hook the cable" 8 times in order to win your Navy Wings. All prior "carrier" training flights were also solo on an old nearly abandoned Navy blimp base with gigantic hangars near Atmore, Alabama. All the instructors were dressed super casual wearing teeshirts and shorts. These instructors acted as landing signal officers and they could judge your airspeed & attitude by the amount of "daylight" between your wing and horizontal tail.

[@matthewk7507]

My brother was in the Navy, and always called it the Meatball as well. He never explained why it's called that though. Why is it called the Meatball? Thank you for your service my friend.

[@dave5833]

Thank You Sir for your Service.

[@IggyDalrymple]

@Paul Derby I speak the truth to the best of my 83 year old memory. As I recall I did my carrier qualification on the USS Lexington. We did our practice mirror approaches at an abandoned Navy blimp base in Alabama. The blimp base had no arresting cable, but had the mirrors. One of our instructors who was standing near the mirrors to talk us down on the approach was Marine Corps Capt. Scaglione. In '64 and "65 I instructed primary in T-34s at Saufley and then instructed primary helicopter at Ellyson Field.

[@lenyancey5236]

@@IggyDalrymple Thank you for your service, sir! You are a pioneer of the bravest kind!

[@m118lr]

@Paul Derby ..’Get outta here” with THAT stuff man. “Questioning” HIS service..geezzzz

[@michaelmappin4425]

Nobody except Maverick in the original Top Gun ever says, "I have the ball." The only correct response to the call, "three quarter mile, call the ball," is aircraft side number, aircraft type, ball, and fuel state. So it sounds like this: "Two zero four, Rhino ball, Four One." This means aircraft side number 204 is an FA-18 Super Hornet and he has the ball with 4100 lbs of fuel.

[@bobharrison7693]

Spot on. And most day VFR approaches are "zip lip" where the pilot does not make a ball call.

[@navyproductions]

Thanks for your valuable response! 💙

[@michaelmappin4425]

@@navyproductions I do want to compliment you on your outstanding videos. Sure there's some things that only people with direct experience are gonna catch but you provide the general knowledge that most people are going to want.

[@av8rgrip]

A super hornet is “rhino”? Or is this the squadron callsign. “Milking the Rhino” and the Rhino admin from hook ‘91 comes to mind. As I recall it was it was Skyhawk/tomcat/hornet/intruder/prowler etc.

[@djsmith2871]

@@av8rgrip Rhino is the Super Hornet's nickname. I believe the "Rhino ball..." call would distinguish it from a legacy ("C/D") Hornet, which would be Hornet ball...

[@lepusmalignis1628]

I was aware of the phrase "call the ball" from various mil-scifi books. I used it at the office to tell someone to "make a damn decision, already". By the time I left, it'd become office-speak...the only contribution to office culture that I made that could be said w/o a visit to HR. :)

[@agrobeson6471]

LOL on the HR!

[@TheOriginalFreak]

The "s" is silent in Fresnel. A Fresnel lens is an optical lens, which was originally developed for Lighthouses. It is named after its inventor, French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel. The name is pronounced /freɪˈnɛl/ (fray-NELL), the 's' is silent.

[@Dazlidorne]

I bet you are fun at parties!

[@Wh0isTh3D0ct0r]

@@Dazlidorne Thomas A. Anderson and I would get along just fine at parties, because not only that, but "comprises of" should have been either "comprises" or "is composed of"; and it's called an "angled flight deck," not a "tilted flight deck."

[@ToeTag1968]

​@@Dazlidorne I'm hilarious and I was going to comment the same thing about the silent S. Some of us try to help out KZbinrs with pronunciation so they sound more pro in later videos.

[@KeithCooper-Albuquerque]

@@Wh0isTh3D0ct0r I'm right there with you two guys! Good job!

[@vengeance129]

Thanks you. I winced every time he said freznel 😂

[@skippervt24]

I flew off carriers for 23 years. I never heard any Naval Aviator (the Air Force has pilots) say, "I have the ball". It was always squadron callsign, airplane number, just ball and fuel state, i.e.. "Active 305, ball, 3.5". A little research would go a long way.

[@PeteVA-212]

Roger that!

[@jkaposi]

Never heard 'I have the ball' in any of my PLAT films...AGREE!

[@georgewetherby8271]

As well as the correct pronunciation of fresnel. 😢

[@sporkmonster]

LSO “Roooooger ball!”

[@tomperock1615]

Thank you for your Service ❤. I’ve Wanted to be a Navy since 1983 Top Gun . I started Practicing on Flight Simulator in 2002 with 1998, 2002, 2004 and 2006 . Been 22 Years practicing on and off all kinds of Jets Planes . It took practice but I was able to land a F-A 18 at Catalina on Spot view from the back of the Jet . Landing it wasn’t too bad stopping it on a 3,000 foot Runway is very Difficult . I don’t know how you land on an Aircraft Carrier on a Pitching Deck . I wonder if catching the third Wire is the best move ..The old Aircraft carriers had four Wires . 😊Again thank you for your Service ..

[@ElPasoJoe1]

Generally, the "s" in Fresnel is not pronounced. Good video...

[@navyproductions]

Thank you for the feedback. We learn from every video and from every response. You contribute to making each video better, that's what we work hard for! Thanks again and sorry for mispronouncing 💙

[@Bender2497]

The S is actually pronounced, at least the LSOs I've been around pronounce it. And we don't say "I have the ball". The call would be something like "124 Hornet Ball 3.4" and the LSO would respond "Roger Ball". The "124" is the aircraft tail number, the "Hornet Ball" means that I'm flying a legacy Hornet and see the ball (a super hornet would say Rhino ball), and the 3.4 is the fuel state in thousands of pounds, so the LSOs can monitor your fuel state in case you bolter and need to hit the tanker.

[@transtubular]

@@Bender2497 Yes, just because others do it does not make it correct. It just means that all the folks you were around have also been pronouncing it wrong. It's French, the name of the man who invented the lens design. GO LOOK IT UP.

[@Bender2497]

@@transtubular True, but the "others" you speak of is the entire community of LSOs in the US Navy. 🤷‍♂

[@spuzzdawg]

@@Bender2497 They're still wrong. But it's also on brand for Americans to not care about something like that because it's foreign.

[@jpwoelfling]

I remember as a Navy Aviation Corpsman, We had to check pilots during their flight physicals for color visual acuity using a device that was suppose to mimic the Fresnel lights they would see on final. Very small lights, one over the other. The colors were red, green and yellow. The tech moves a wheel and the pilots have to say what 2 colors they see and which is top and which is bottom. Failure of the test, would require a full workup by the Ophthalmologist and a down chit, until checked by the physician.

[@estwilde]

I think this is the 'Farnsworth Lantern' test? It's funny cause I heard that one was easier to pass than the initial colorblind assessment using the Ishihara dot patterns (the colored dots in circles), which I was never able to pass, so I never bothered going any further with enlistment thoughts. In modern days with pilots talking about their experiences a lot of them mentioned just keeping going and bothering folks until they finally were able to get that lantern test and allowed in with waivers, but from my thoughts and talking to people it looked like I was headed for a warehouse job thanks to that colorblindness.

[@jpwoelfling]

@@estwilde You are correct, it was called the Farnsworth Lantern Test. I wish you had pursued your enlistment. Best wishes my friend for whatever life brings you.

[@thomasmaughan4798]

So that's what FALANT means! I get about half the Ishihara dots test but failed FALANT spectacularly. They all look yellowish (incandescent lamps). I have no difficulty with traffic signals, it is the tiny spot of colored light that is difficult, i probably have few or no "cones" in my central area of vision. I have also noticed that my eyes aren't the same in this regard and interestingly on occasion I have much better color vision. If I put tinted lenses over one or both eyes suddenly I can breeze through Ishihara plates and it is quite an interesting phenomenon. I've considered Enchroma glasses but they are very expensive.

[@g.k.1669]

@@thomasmaughan4798 I went to join the service in high school. They would not take me due to my inability to see red and green. My wife bought me the Enchroma glasses for my birthday several years ago. Yeah...that is a bit of a trip. Seeing how bright the color green is on street signs after putting on sunglasses and seeing that meat in the grocery store is not actually the same color as charcoal ash is quite the shock. My eyes now require glasses and I am hoping that the Enchroma glasses can be made in prescription lenses soon. I also found out that the color red is way overused on product packaging in the store.

[@thomasmaughan4798]

@@g.k.1669 Great report on Enchroma glasses. I sort of achieve a result by using my digital camera. For reasons not entirely clear, I seem to see colors just fine, a wavelength shift or something. My wife says, "Look at the colors on the mountains!" Really? What colors? I shoot a photo and look at the LCD, sure enough, there's the autumn colors.

[@limitby9]

A friend of mine in the U S Navy was named "Roger Ball". We didn't understand at first why old Salts would laugh whenever his name was called out when taking attendance in Navy Aviation Electronics school.

[@mikebutler7605]

Oh, they’ve got the balls alright - landing at night in the rain on a pitching aircraft carrier. There are none like them.

[@francestomic2772]

I have always been so impressed with the pilots & the deck crew. Each has a job & it seems they are all very serious about it. Wow just wow

[@powerbad696]

They have to be serious,Frances,it's the most dangerous on the ship.

[@Fitzy25]

It is absolutely no joke, you can ask anyone of the deck crew about the time they almost lost their life on the flight deck and anyone with at least a deployment under their belt will ask "Which time?" The flight deck is absolute chaos and my first time stepping on it during active flight ops was the most nervous I have been in my life.

[@soujrnr]

22-year Navy veteran here. First off, THANK YOU to all veterans out there reading this for your service!! I served with some of the best people in the world, bar none. Secondly, I love aviation! I did my pilot training in Spain back in the mid-80s. I love flying! Third, I often hear people talking about how great Naval aviators are because of carrier landings. Let's just set the record straight. Landing on a carrier does NOT make one a top-notch pilot. Fighter pilots are trained to FIGHT. Landing is just one aspect of it. A pilot who can land on a carrier is doing what he was trained to do, but if he can't dog fight in air-to-air combat, he's as useless as tits on a boar hog. No one will say of a pilot that he was great because he was able to land on a carrier. Instead, they'll say he was great because he shot down a whole bunch of enemy fighter pilots in combat. THAT is what makes a pilot great! Not carrier landings. So, a carrier landing doesn't make them a better fighter pilot than a Marine or Air Force fighter pilot. It just means they are landing on a smaller runway that is prone to move around a bit. Hats off to ALL fighter pilots who are well-trained to FIGHT, and hats off to the deck hands (carrier or land-based) that keep them in the air! Without the techs in the shops, fighter pilots would just be desk jockeys waiting on a ride. Again, many thanks to all of my fellow vets! You all are the finest group of people I ever had the privilege to work with (with rare exception). Happy new year!

[@richardclark4733]

Naval Aviators are the best trained in the world. Period.

[@rickb.284]

The Fresnel Lens was nicknamed the "Meatball"...this is how it was called the "ball"....a shortened version of Meatball...

[@xsfeatg]

Each jet has its own glide slope. In the 70s we manned a station in Pri-fly in the island structure where the Air Boss was, and for each different type of aircraft we thru in their glide slope. Good think the Air Boss knew all his planes, because at night, it wasn't that easy id'ing them.

[@dullonion797]

They don’t say, ‘I have the ball”, they say, callsign with aircraft type, ball, fuel state. “Bandwagon 210 Tomcat ball, 5.5. Starfighter 207 Phantom ball, 5.1…..

[@georgezachos7322]

I admire navy carrier pilots, especially when the going gets tough. Nighttime, bad weather, lights out, the works.

[@ironknuckle143]

Shout out to my fellow VLA sailors. The unsung heroes of Naval Aviation VB- 10, 11, & 12

[@MagnumN117]

Great video, thanks for presenting the info in such a clear fashion! And now we know!

[@DrDeuteron]

It's pronounced "fra NELL". He was a giant in optics, check out his spirals. (Fresnel Spirals)

[@55Reever]

Answered many questions I have had for years. I will book mark this video. Thank you very much.

[@billywilds1779]

What a great video. My dad after graduating from USNA in 1950 was a pilot. He said landing were interesting, especially while as a senior pilot he would normally land last, when the flight is full of planes and potential hazards.

[@Lorrdd]

Ah yes, if it isn't falsely claiming to be a veteran, it's falsely claiming to be related to one.

[@billywilds1779]

@@Lorrdd Well I'm 3rd generation Navy, which is most likely better than when you crossed the border from Mexico, moron.

[@SMX815]

Thank you & a great video 🙌👏

[@tom5256]

Fun fact the U.S.S. Kitty Hawk had the prototype Mk 6 Mod 3 so when you went to FLOLS school and seen pictures of it that was the one you seen. This is a pretty good video like a couple of people said there are some inaccuracies but they are small and don't take away from the video. I seen pictures I had never seen before and I went to FLOLS school and was on the Kitty Hawk.

[@toobasaurus23]

Carrier ops and the roles on the deck are incredible. Love to do any one of them.

[@edal61]

Great video, thanks!

[@simflier8298]

Great video! Something else to talk about is MOVLAS. This is used during extreme pitching deck conditions. The LSO manually positions the Ball where he wants the pilot to be as he predicts deck movements during landing. Great topic to cover.

[@tom5256]

Manually Operated Visual Landing Aid...I was actually told both that the LSO would use it to show were he wanted the pilot and other LSOs would use it to show were the pilot was. I guess it depended on the Carrier Air Group I don't know for sure.

[@simflier8298]

Some pilots would have a centered Ball while the stern rose so high they could see the screws turning. By the time they were In-close, the stern would level out. Ive seen footage of pilots coming in with a super high Ball indicating a Bolter, then catch a three wire. Takes a lot of coordination and skill to operate MOVLAS. Sometimes LSOs would just practice with it and aim pilots to the two wire. They call it the Green Machine because if you fly the way they display the Ball, you get a green, "OK" landing grade

[@beaglesguy]

Great vid. TY

[@pokerfitnessyoutube2837]

We never said…”I have the ball”. The LSO would say “ 3/4 mile, call the ball”. We would respond with aircraft number, type, and fuel amount…”704, Viking Ball, 3.5”, they would confirm….”Roger Ball”…..and we would continue the approach and land….(unless waived off or we bolter”.

[@LineOpsBoy]

The LSO didn’t say “3/4 of a mile call the ball” that was CATCC

[@rextorp5533]

@@LineOpsBoy Correct. The actual radio calls would be: CATCC: Gambler 704 you are 3/4 of a mile. Call the ball. Gambler 704: 704, Viking Ball, 4.5. (Or 704 Clara Ball, if he couldn't see the ball.) LOS: Roger Ball and wind speed.

[@leonardomedina418]

Pilots always have "the balls" to land on an aircraft carrier. period.

[@dbadaddy7386]

Integrated fleet, dude. Chicks fly too. Although these days folks with balls can identify as chicks, so I guess they would have the balls to fly.

[@notlikely4468]

Well...at least one

[@ZoeSummers1701A]

Sexist.

[@Lee0568]

Nice of you to acknowledge the Royal Navy for your ability to land on carriers

[@brianmankus6133]

Reading all these great comments is as interesting as the video itself! To all that served, my deepest thanks for your service!

[@egyphon]

Fascinating, thank you.

[@apaulmcdonough2170]

This call also verifies the Aircraft Type and Fuel Weight, to provide for the proper Weight Setting for the Arresting Gear.

[@bodazaphfa]

CVN-70 was my home for a long time.

[@woodsbikes6130]

Very informative video. Thank you for educating us. 🙂

[@Lorrdd]

Everything he said was factually inaccurate at best.

[@Hey_OverHere]

Well Done! Very Informative.

[@user-vm5ud4xw6n]

Cool video. Always been fascinated by aircraft carriers and the fay to day activities. Even though I’m not a pilot. Afraid of heights so it’s Terra Firma for me!

[@ORGANIZEDCoNfUsioN]

Thanks for answering that question. Always wondered what they meant by that. Like # 91!!!

[@mach179]

I worked at the USAF Test Pilot School from 1985 to 2010 and we had one or two Naval pilots that attended every year. I taught a class in Handling Qualities and if there was a LSO I have them give a quick briefing on landing on the "boat." I found two things that were very interesting. One, the LSO knew more about the landing than the pilot and two, every landing is graded and becomes a permanent part of the ship's log.

[@LineOpsBoy]

Landings are graded but they aren’t part of the ships log…

[@carsten4594]

Would have liked to see actual shots of the "ball" in action.

[@kellywilson8440]

When the pilot calls the ball it means he is aligned with the meatball a series of lights to help him hopefully land and catch the number 3 wire .

[@krashd]

The video just told us all that. Though they left out that interesting name for the FLOLS.

[@brett327]

Not exactly... calling the ball just tells the LSO that you can see the ball, not that you're on glideslope.

[@rectorsquid]

It's like a construction crew: There are a dozen guys all standing there watching the plane land and once it lands, they turn to watch the next plane land. I looks like just one or two of them are doing anything.

[@scottmelligan1281]

Each squadron has its own LSO. There are several squadrons. Hence, several LSOs simultaneously. The swap in and out based on whichever LSO's squadron is Manding at any one time. It is best not to have personnel running across the flight deck from the island to the LSO platform during flight ops.

[@ALPHARICCO875]

Super vidéo 👍 Thanks

[@markcraig3702]

Great video

[@dougadams9419]

I knew about the glide slope lights, even airports have them in case the radio glide slope fails (ILS), but I didn't know where "the Ball" came from.

[@c17nav]

At airfields that have them, the equivalent for Naval OLS is the Visual Approach Slope Indicator (VASI). It does not need gyro stabilization (obviously), and employs a fixed glide slope for all aircraft types.

[@fmh357]

Thanks, I always wondered what the "Ball" was. Now I know.

[@albertmontes11]

Very well explained........Ball

[@superbmediacontentcreator]

In the pronunciation of the word "Fresnel," the 's' is not pronounced... it is pronounced, "fer-nel." A very informative video...

[@tommcintyre2963]

Like in "Fresnel" lens the S is silent. I got the ball without the S means it almost time for underwear change. It takes balls to proceed. First trap in my T2J in 63. Thanks for the Website....

[@johnos4892]

I assume the precision approach path indicator (PAPI) a system of lights used at airports for pilot guidance during landing was an off shoot of this.

[@kingnb]

Were do you get your information at and from?

[@briancooper2112]

Cool video!

[@carolynthornton8017]

IN MY VIEW Bravo to you for another informative video. I love watching these. Thanks.

[@navyproductions]

Thank you!

[@carolynthornton8017]

@@navyproductions IN MY VIEW/ Your welcome.

[@michaelvachon1334]

Fascinating!

[@cjinasia9266]

These seem very similar to the PAPI lights at airports. Were they developed together?

[@calcmandan]

Ahh the vinson at the beginning. I lived on there for two years.

[@stephencannon3140]

There is also the same set of lights although smaller scale in two locations of the aircraft….1. Cockpit and 2. A-7/FA-18 anyway on the nose landing gear door…..in theory a proper glide slope would show on the IFOLS, cockpit and gear door…..as LSO’s get experience some can tell a proper glide slope by the engine pitch. Another fun fact….when the US Navy and USMC had the Grumman A-6 Intruder….there was a separate version called the EA-6B Prowler…..same basic design but different mission…A6 was attack/airborne tanker and EA-6 was strictly Electronic Warfare. When they were both in service they looked the same from the front…..they had to make a unique marking on the radome of the EA-6B as another aid to indicate EA-6B landing instead of regular attack A-6. Yes radio call signs but still another way….. most LSO’s are qualified to rate landings for all fixed wing aircraft assigned to the air wing. Since with the advancement of the F/A-18 technology and design that pretty much makes only two primary fixed wing aircraft……………..E2/C2-F/A-18….. The C2 is not necessarily assigned to the wing that is more of whatever shows up to the boat first. The C2 is exactly what it says….Cargo….Technically Carrier Offshore Delivery……personnel, equipment, jet engines, ground support equipment, Mail whatever will fit….if it fits it ships…and Yes the C2 is called the “Greyhound” for a reason.

[@jon-helgramite2478]

Lights on the NLG door and cockpit "indexers" indicate Angle of Attack not glideslope. Green = Slow Amber = On Speed Red = Fast

[@halimtalafuka9946]

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[@akulahawk]

The lights inside and outside the aircraft are angle of attack indexers. For the pilot, the scan pattern involves 3 things once in the groove: AOA (by indexer), line-up on landing area center line, and the (meat)ball. They don’t look inside at the instrument as reading it takes too long. If you’re seeing only the amber doughnut, you’re at the proper AOA therefore on-speed for landing. The ball is very accurate in showing how close one is to the proper glideslope. Stay on the centerline, keep the ball level with the datum lights and the AOA indexer showing only the doughnut, all the way down to the deck and you’ll likely catch a wire and trap aboard ship. Sounds easy. It isn’t. The flying requires a significant precision not required elsewhere in aviation. Only aviators that land on deck this way need to be this precise in how they land.

[@mpetry912]

On a case one approach nothing is said "zip lip" Case 2 and 3 there is a "Roger ball" call, usually followed by fuel state "one dot niner"

[@levibailey6256]

They never say "I have a ball", i'll give an example of what pilots actually say when making a ball call. For legacy hornets they would say something like this "110, hornet ball 3.6" They start with their side number then hornet ball and their remaining fuel state in thousands of pounds. If it was a F-14 it would be 110 Tomcat ball 3.6. Then paddles (the LSO) Would say "Roger ball"

[@billgrabher444]

Thank you

[@Primus54]

Okay… I have a couple of questions. I assume the arresting cable tension is based upon the aircraft type and weight, which would explain the fuel remaining callout. But at 3/4s of a mile, does that give the deck crew sufficient time to adjust the cable for the fuel weight? Also, what if the landing aircraft is carrying unused or practice ordinance, therefore affecting weight? How does the deck crew know these additional factors? Thanks for the information! 👍👍👍

[@levibailey6256]

@@Primus54 3/4 of a mile is usually when the ball becomes most visible, and also if you look up a case 1 procedure you begin your base turn once your directly Abram to the lso platform, and once your lined up your usually already at 3/4 of a mile and your groove time can begin, pilots need to be in the groove for 18 to 20 seconds no longer or they get a long in groove grade to their landing.

[@Primus54]

@@levibailey6256 Appreciate the additional info about the 3/4 mile approach.

[@levibailey6256]

@@Primus54 as for the weight of each aircraft, the arresting wire is preset to the MAX trap weight for each aircraft type it is the pilots job to ensure he is below max trap weight, so if that means dumping fuel to loose weight then that's what he has to do.

[@puirYorick]

Am I wrong or did the shorthand name "the Ball" derive from the original term *Pickle Ball* for the big green middle light that indicates a correct glide slope? It's entirely possible I was lied to though.

[@dougadams9419]

Did you also know that the pilot goes to full throttle on touchdown in case he misses all four cables so he can go around.

[@beauusa11]

Amazing!!!👍

[@Then.72]

Who ?

[@johnchamberlain5435]

The "s" is silent in Fresnel. It's a French name.

[@worakulkhonglaithong9555]

Nice video, … I have wondered since I watched Top Gun why Maverick said “ Maverick has the ball” before he land the plane … Thank you 😁😁

[@Hairysteed]

Except that's not how ball calls are said. It's tail number, type of aircraft, "ball" and remaining fuel in thousands of pounds. For example: "201, Hornet ball, 4.1" If the pilot cannot see the the meatball he calls "Clara"

[@MDMiller60]

In all the in cockpit carrier landing videos, I have never been able to find the ball.

[@dswpro]

Nice content. I always wondered. BTW "Fresnel" is pronounced "Fruh-nel" not fres-nel.

[@transtubular]

I was hoping someone else would have made this comment so I didn't have to.

[@erkful]

Fray nel … freinel

[@RajanSingh-oe4un]

Pronunciation is subjective. It changes with places.

[@skiahh]

@@RajanSingh-oe4un But there is no S in the pronunciation.

[@RajanSingh-oe4un]

@@skiahh There is no S in "beautyful" either but it's subjective.

[@rvnmedic1968]

I have the Ball concept! Excellent teaching lesson for us desk-bound aviators. Cheers, Bob

[@randybazemore3562]

Unless things have changed, pilots say "Roger ball" then state their fuel level.

[@jpreston9212]

Lots of fun facts and footage. The pronunciation of fresnel however is fruh-NELL, not frez-nell. The "S" is silent.

[@mattbrown817]

very cool

[@williamdodge5123]

USS FORRESTAL CV-59 82-84 82 Atlantic-Mediterranean-Suez Canal - Indian Ocean. Got close enough to Diego to fly a fallen Shipmate there and back to the states.During the Iranian hostage issue.

[@deanoh9980]

I always wondered what 'i have the ball' meant since i saw top gun in the 80s. Now i know. Cheers.

[@MrHrannsi]

I bet the chaps and lass at 3:02 where all thinking "Dang it, wish I was up there!"

[@piper0428]

How about auto land system???

[@Mushyguy117]

0:04 That's all the info I need, have a good day

[@pabloottawa]

They don’t say “I have the ball” It goes like this LSO: - Aircraft in the groove (3/4 mile on final), call the ball Pilot on approach: - 416 (aircraft number), hornet ball (I see the ball and adjusting accordingly for landing), 4.6 (the amount of fuel the aircraft has remaining) If flight lead is approaching carrier they always call out “HOLDING HANDS WITH 416, LOW STATE 4.6” Aircraft lowest on fuel lands first, not flight lead.

[@dejfcold]

Did you know the "s" in Fresnel is silent?

[@anitasmith4559]

"Impressive?" It is as amazing as heck how pilots take off and land on moving aircraft carriers. I feel as if I'm watching the impossible get done. The surgical precision required to perform such a maneuver has me on the edge of my seat. Even when a pilot aborts a landing, that's a hair-raiser too. Go Navy!

[@MacDaddyRico]

My carrier's a museum in San Diego... ICFN Electric Gyrocompass Technician USS MIDWAY CV-41...

[@bjmcguire2031]

Flew off and on carriers bunches. Instrction from the LSO was, “call the ball”. Pilots response was “roger, ball”.

[@philchurch1115]

U.S. Navy 1982 to 1988 VS-41 and VS-33 AZ2 and I worked the flight deck as a brown shirt plane captain on the USS Ranger CV-61 Jul 83 to Feb 84 west pac and in maintenance control on the USS Kitty Hawk CV-63 1985 west pac then shore duty and I would do it again but for 20 because it was great running around the flight deck during flight opps.

[@WarHoover]

Long Live The Hoov! VS-41, VS-32, SCWS

[@tomperock1615]

I have a USS Ranger Hat given to me from my brother who got it from a Friend at his Job .

[@tomperock1615]

I wonder what Night Ops are like . ? Or a Pitching Carrier ? Wow .

[@Harry-rj6kh]

I can relate to that. I was born with only one ball.

[@stevenpistole6557]

I had a coworker with one ball too. We called him Uniball.

[@av8ionUSMC]

As a military air traffic controller who did many many GCAs, all I ever heard was “BALL.” What’s with all the excess verbiage, “I have the”? Just teasing , but good video of the history

[@flyrobroy]

We literately never say “I have the ball.” Only Maverick says that in Top Gun…

[@hirameberhardt8643]

YES WE DO HAVE THE BALLS SINCE WW2

[@skip123davis]

the "s" in fresnel lens is silent.

[@Bynggo]

A similar lighting system is used when bringing yachts into dock lands. You have the correct line if the lights merge to one. Brilliant system.

[@olddog103]

“ROGER BALL”

[@olddog103]

No BOLTERS PLEASE “

[@beefeatereater9067]

Looks like the PAPI Lights that are located at the Runway's Airports.

[@brett327]

Similar, though much more precise, and gyro stabilized to account for ship's motion.

[@Tonetwisters]

Probably because they reach a point where the "ball" is in their court and they are on their own to get the aircraft on the deck.

[@dave5833]

No easy task landing on an Air Craft Carrier.

[@MrShortfastloud]

Why don't your videos line up with the sound? You have it there but just can't align them together.

[@keirfarnum6811]

The “s” In fresnel is silent; i.e., it sounds like “fren-nell.”

[@JamesJoyce12]

I can't believe you missed the obvious - the "ball" is the short form of the "meatball" which it was originally called because it looks like a big ol' meatball

[@runhardhooah]

"Three quarters of a mile. Call the ball."

[@randybazemore3562]

The video show incorrectly that the light is yellow on the bottom lens. It is red. If you land with the light red you are likely going to "buy the farm."

[@jhjeffysue4]

It’s freh-nel, not frez-nel, based on the name of the French inventor of the glass lens. Same lens used in lighthouses and for stage lighting.

[@localbod]

"tilted deck", I don't think so. Perhaps he meant 'angled deck'.

[@zzz7zzz9]

there actually saying "i have the balls", but the s is silent when on the water.

[@DavidHMLambert]

The S in "Fresnel" is silent.