When were wings unfolded on carriers?

On Wed, 07 Sep 2005 19:30:42 GMT, "Tom" wrote:

Nice looking aircraft, I always thought - what were they like to fly?.

Well, those that were unkind described it as "two T-28s flying
formation on dempster dumpster." :-)

It was a reasonably agile airplane for having as much wing as it did.
During low level ops (100' day, 300' night) it was stable and very
honest. Single engine performace was quite good at lower operating
weights. It did not get you anywhere fast. :-)

Quick
question that's always bugged me about carrier ops: On final approach, do
you fly the same heading as the carrier but a bit to the right then change
to the angle of the angled deck, or start your approach further to teh right
and treat the ships movement liek a crosswind from the right?

If the OOD is doing his job then the wind is down the angle. If not,
you do a little slip, not a "crab." It's a visual approach so actual
heading is not something in your scan; it's "meatball, line up, and
airspeed." Non-precision approaches (ADF and TACAN) were flown on BRC
(base recovery course) and you transitioned to visual and were back to
"meat ball, line up, and airspeed"); or missed approach.
Non-precision CCA or FCA (Fudd Controlled Approach) were like at the
field (fly the heading given and altitude suggested) until visual then
transion; or missed approach. Precision CCA was similar (and you
awaited "3/4 mile; call the ball") on all of them.

Night IMC approaches were always good for a thrill or two. Add in
some high seas and weather minimums and you might get to "splice the
mainbrace." :-)

Bill Kambic

Sorry Bill - I assumed your reference to the age of the aircraft would
have referred to the introduction of the aircraft - not the fact that
they are still flying (somewhere)...
Regards,

On Wed, 07 Sep 2005 13:19:13 -0400, wrote:

On Wed, 07 Sep 2005 10:45:55 -0500, Charlie Wolf
wrote:

S-2's or S-3's?? S-2's are now approaching 60 years old. S-3's would
be in the neighborhood of 35 yr old....

Stoofs. The last were retired in '75 time frame (from VS-73).

They are still flying with Brazil and Thailand (at a minimum) making
it one of the longest serving military aircraft of all time. :-)

Bill Kambic

On Wed, 07 Sep 2005 16:27:55 -0500, Charlie Wolf
wrote:

Sorry Bill - I assumed your reference to the age of the aircraft would
have referred to the introduction of the aircraft - not the fact that
they are still flying (somewhere)...

I guess I was one of the Last of the Giants! :-)

The design may go back as late is WWII. I once saw a photo of a twin
engine torpedo/glide bomber proposed by Grumman that was the spitting
image of the Stoof. It had larger engines (R-2800, maybe) and a
retracable gun turret where the radome would later be. I don't
remember a top or tail gun. It was also a bit sleeker, but not much.

I always thought that Grumman dusted off that old design, modified it
for ASW, and then pitched it to the Navy, who bought it. If so, the
design is even older than we give it credit for!!!

Many tens of thousands of student naval aviators "did time" in some
varient of the TS2. As a trainer is was a challenge, but not
insurmountable. It was honest and would not "bite" if you respected
it. Single engine performance was beyond spectacular. That last item
could "set you up" in some other aircraft, as few had the power to
weight ratio the TS2 did in a single engine configuration.

There are a bunch of S2s around as fire fighters. There are also a
fair number out there in private hands as "warbirds." Maybe if I win
the lottery someday...!!!

Bill Kambic

In my experience aboard 5 carriers the wings are folded upon landing.
and unfolded on the catapult just before launch. I can remember only a
few occasions seeing aircraft on the hangar with the wings unfolded.
Usally and A-6 on jacks doing some sort of maint. check.

Would not know about WW ll.

I was in the USN from ' 71-' 91. My 25 year old son has been on active
duty for the last 7 years. He is a STG2(SW).

bd popeye