Working on the Flight Deck - Catapult 3 Holdback Operator

[@FlightDeckLife]

Hey everyone! Check us out on our new Instagram Channel @FlightDeckLifeVideos

[@Mom-USMCRichardUSMCChristopher]

Wow! I knew that all of you work in an extremely dangerous place on the flight deck, but I never realized the constant high pressure of an aircraft being sent one right after another. All of you work so hard, so fast, it's amazing. I think that what you do is so wonderful, but so very dangerous. Greatly, and sincerely, from the bottom of my heart, I say thank you so much for choosing to serve our country. The news media refers to athletes as heroes, totally ridiculous. You are the heroes, your families are heroic for having their loved one out there protecting all American's that you don't even know, for all of us to have our freedom, as we know it, so that we may enjoy every single day of our life. My family and I are so grateful, appreciative of your sacrifice for us. Thank you.

[@petebuck9889]

USMC Mom of 2 a hero is a person who runs into a burning building to rescue someone. These guys aren’t heroes they re trained to do a job in a busy environment

[@samgu619]

Apparently not the holdback operator. His job is to attach a metal stick to a rail.

[@ivant56]

It is impressive to see how everyone perfectly knows what he has to do and when, with zero panic, like a giant choreography. Thumbs up !

[@billgraves4346]

It's all changed since the 1960's when it took 5 sailors to hook up and hold back one F4J. The tension bar (T-bar) would break on launch and was replaced each time. The scariest part was when the ordinance (red Shirt) men pulled out all the arming pins while you were under the aircraft you knew you pretty close to a live bomb. But when you are 21 you think nothing bad is going to happen . It did sometimes and that's the reality of working on the Flight Deck. USS America CVA 66 Tonkin Gulf 1968.

[@robertkeech5015]

Hold back on #2 catapult.. USS Constellation CVA-64....'66-'68

[@oldfarmer4700]

Was supply S1, S6 can’t tell you how many hold backs we got in and had to handle them, 74 thru 77 CV67. I was wondering how the rig they were using worked because I remember the hood backs getting thru over the side after each use. Also each type of plane had a different kind. Guess it depended on the weight of the plane.

[@sheph7ceo799]

Damn I love these guys... now, do it at night, in the rain, with 30kts of wind across the deck and 30 degrees temp....

[@MidnightmoonRR]

Cat 3 is this guys jam

[@michaelpeterson4348]

The guys in the yellow shirt looks so bad ass when they squat down and point out with their right hand to go ! ( I want that job I could do that shit all day long ! ) thank you ladies and gentlemen aboard our aircraft carriers for making all this happen !

[@2view428]

Thank you share of flight deck life in action U.S. Navy.

[@schwarzerritter4451]

Well done !!

[@nathanaelgodson3994]

I love your videos :) Looks like you guys have a lot of fun doint your jobs. Awesome to watch, ive lernd alot from just watching you

[@brandonjpj1]

Love these videos. Question- does one person rotate through different jobs on the deck ? I assume the jobs like safety, fuel, bombs etc are dedicated roles but do the jobs you play videos of all rotate spots and if so - how do the rotations work ? Thanks !

[@brianl9944]

the CPO decides on a daily basis

[@brandonjpj1]

brianl9944 thanks For the response, can you elaborate ? For us civies?

[@TOhara-eb2lp]

ElectricRemi Yes and no. The Blue shirts, if they want and do well, can become yellow shirts. The green shirts have different jobs and rotate that amongst themselves. The purple shirts and red shirts pretty much, but not always, stay as they are.

[@6r14]

VFA－１０３ Jolly Rogers ! Skull leader.

[@michaelpeterson4348]

6 r thank you sir for your service ! God bless you !

[@Hey_MikeZeroEcho22P]

I hope this gets answered....... Question #1, what does that 'red shirt' pull.... on the fuselage and near-by wing tip missile...is it a pin?? Checking flaps?? Question #2, at the end of the video... there looks like a polygon raised metal structure that is placed on top of the "scooter"...is that on as planes are landing as well?? Question #3, also at the end of the video... there were three - four (3-4) brackets that were screwed into the 'gap' of the catapult, I never seen that, what is that for?? Thanks for posting USN Veteran OI Division onboard FF/FFGs 84 - 05

[@SW-lc1wx]

Near the end of the video, what is the purpose of those metal pieces you screw into the catapult 'track'?

[@SimDeck]

I asked the same question in another video. No idea.

[@MagicalWizard223]

Those are called buttons. They prevent the cable from falling in the track during or after a recovery.

[@michaelpeterson4348]

Very good I was wondering the same question thank you for answering their question

[@TheOrdomalleus666]

I did not choose Flight Deck Life. Flight Deck Life chose me.

[@kodiakwood4924]

God damn the shit I’m finding and learning on YouTuBe during this quarantine!!

[@Ironminer97]

awesome videos. you should make a couple videos of what happens under the flight deck

[@michaelpeterson4348]

I was wondering the same thing if you could make a video going down under the flight deck

[@chrismaggio7879]

That is actually all classified information. Not kidding... none of how this operation works below decks id for public knowledge and I am sure you can understand why.

[@shankhutoppo8201]

Imagine running across the path of the plane just before it's getting catapulted thinking you can cross it, but it gets too late.

[@daviddevillers6790]

what are laid into the catapult tracks after launch?

[@daviddevillers6790]

thank you - that makes perfect sense...

[@jamescannon220]

At the end when they're prepping the deck for recovering aircraft, what is the purpose of the inserts placed in the catapult track?

[@FlightDeckLife]

They help to prevent the cable from falling into the track during recovery.

[@Danielagostinho21]

How does pilots know what signals are you doing? how they know when to stop if the signal is below the cockpit window?

[@connor9528]

Daniel Agostinho the ABEs (green shirt) or whoever signals the ABH (yellow shirt) on what’s going on beneath, so the ABH signals to the pilot for the ABE. It’s like a relay.

[@chrismaggio7879]

Pilot watches just one person (yellow shirt) and that yellow person watches the green, red, white shirts under and around the aircraft, and relays to the pilot what he/she needs to do. Like busy ants, the flight deck crew readies the situation so the pilot can safely launch, and they trust that all is being done correctly and safely. At all times they watch that one person, not the scurrying mice under the jet.

[@panagiotiselsisi7752]

I want to model the deck of a Nimitz class carrier and looking for general arrangement plans. After I finish I might use them to decorate a wall. If you have any source of good quality plans please comment here.

[@chrismaggio7879]

The Chinese have the plans, just ask them.

[@crankcasy]

What is the smoke coming from under the aircraft?

[@BlasterJunos]

That's not smoke, that's steam from the catapult

[@crankcasy]

No this is smoke blowing down from aircraft you can see it at 6:14.

[@BlasterJunos]

Well, if that's what he meant then yeah. Always thought he was asking about the one after the CAT launch

[@ggt9724]

It looks kinda like exhaust on a car I don't think it's smoke though

[@crankcasy]

My guess is a breather

[@Bullock0099]

Yay! Happy there is a new video! Keep em coming...

[@michaelpeterson4348]

Yes please keep these videos come and it never gets old

[@wedge890]

What is he doing at 7:40 ?

[@airsoftgamers4032]

wedge890, I think they put those things down so that during aircraft recovery the wire doesn't go into the deck

[@Funnyseal53]

Why did you stop uploading

[@airsoftgamers4032]

Where are you deployed right now?

[@chrismaggio7879]

At sea... best answer anyone will give you.