The Daily Lex – October 13th

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Going fast, stopping in a hurry

Originally published October 13, 2003.

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7 Comments

by Todd | October 13, 2012 · 4:16 am

7 Responses to The Daily Lex – October 13th

Bill Brandt

October 13, 2012 at 9:42 am

Your job at that point is to stuff the demon of doubt into its container, where you could examine it more closely later, usually just as you were falling asleep.

That is good advice for life.

I have mentioned the PBS Series Carrier – for me it was a fascinating series – 8-10 hours? – broadcast every week on some aspect of carrier operations – from the leaving San Diego to the coos – pilots – showing a Captain’s mast (some young woman at that hearing had a booze problem) – I have thought many of you lived this so wouldn’t need to watch it – but one segment – stood out for me ans stayed.

I’ll bet Lex was deployed during the shoing (2008?) but it involved rough seas, the roughest one sailer said he seen in 20 years.

You are on the deck of the Nimitz and the ocean is appearing – and disappearing – on the horizon.

So the Captain decides this would be a good opportunity for touch and goes.

The Navy Squadron commander is saying – as diplomatically as he can – because one doesn’t publicly question superiors – he’s saying that because of the conditions this is probably unnecessary.

But of course they start launching – the Hornets.

Thety showed film of a plane or 2 that hit the stern – one, an F14 – was witnessed by one of the Lexicans on the Kitty Hawk. Or or accurately he said, he had thought they all were in, went into the ship and 10 seconds later the Tomcat became a fireball – (both pilots ejected and survived) – so the Lexican would have been dead had he stayed to watch this.

Anyway I am thinking t0 to try and land on this 300 foot runway – at night – with the “runway” bouncing up and down 30 feet – timing your landing just so – not hitting the stern – I have a lot of respect for these pilots.

Iu suspect had Lex been aware of this segment he would have shown it – so here it is – part 1

Part One: http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=4gGMI8d3vLs

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Bill Brandt

October 13, 2012 at 9:44 am

And part 2 – The conditions were deteriorating so bad the Captain called off launching any more and it became a priority to send up the tankers and get the others down – in 1 piece

Part Two: http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=S0yj70QbBzg

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Bill Brandt

October 13, 2012 at 9:58 am

My apologies for the typos – man I “proofread” these before I hit send – and then reread it – and wonder ???? I suspect had Lex been around and in a playful mood I would have received an “interesting” call sign – but I shudder to think what it might have been?

But then didn’t Lex get his nickname for some comparison to dyslexia?

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- krisinnewengland
  
  October 14, 2012 at 8:23 am
  
  For wearing his name tag upside down for a DV visit. He said it was a good thing too because the #1 callsign in the running up to that point was: Fifi.
  Yeah – say it out loud – Fifi has the ball.
- Bill Brandt
  
  October 14, 2012 at 9:17 am
  
  Kris – I have learned that some of those call signs could be brutal! Fifi – Sperm – I was laughing for 10 minutes at his write up of the aerial exercise over CA with finally one pilot saying “I have sperm on my nose” – picturing 6-9 F18 pilots laughing uncontrollably through their masks!
NaCly Dog

October 13, 2012 at 1:01 pm

Bill,

Today we call that a biden moment. 😊

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Bill Brandt

October 13, 2012 at 5:42 pm

NaCly Dog – I seem to be full of them Will try harder and lowering my score

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