These guys are either crazy or damn good pilots or both!

[justinc]

My Bro sent me this, he is a Helo pilot in the RAN formerly RN also and has had to do similar with Sea Kings ... bloody norah!!!😮😮😮

Jc

Lynx helicopter landing on ship in rough sea - YouTube (https://youtu.be/NJIZTL2ZyEw)

[101RRS]

Just a matter of waiting for the ship to stop having its hissy fit and going for it [bigsmile1]

[rocket scientist]

I remember being in a Seahawk and landing on one of our ships in similar seas. It gives you even more faith in the amazing ability of Navy pilots.

[JDNSW]

Think about those who landed fixed wing aircraft on very small carriers in rough seas during WW2. I'm thinking for example of the hunt for the Bismark, when I seem to remember reading of Swordfish being flown off the Ark Royal in conditions that the experts considered impossible - and some of them got back and landed successfully in similar conditions.

[Tombie]

I remember being in a Seahawk and landing on one of our ships in similar seas. It gives you even more faith in the amazing ability of Navy pilots.

Same!!

[carjunkieanon]

Think about those who landed fixed wing aircraft on very small carriers in rough seas during WW2. I'm thinking for example of the hunt for the Bismark, when I seem to remember reading of Swordfish being flown off the Ark Royal in conditions that the experts considered impossible - and some of them got back and landed successfully in similar conditions.

*some* of them got back.

I remember reading (somewhere) about poor blokes in WW2 willingly taking off from the carrier to try to find and sick ships/subs - knowing that they were operating on the very edge of their fuel range, and the chances of them getting back to the carrier were slim and the chances of getting picked up if you ditched in the sea were zero.

[JDNSW]

Yes - there were definitely other issues, but the subject was landing on in severe sea conditions.

In a similar thought, consider the RAF pilots who flew their Spitfires (or Hurricanes, can't remember which) onto a carrier during the evacuation of Norway, despite never having landed on a carrier before, and with no arrester gear. (The carrier was torpedoed a few days later and few of the pilots survived)

[Ausfree]

Yes, there is certainly a lot of training and skill shown by that helicopter pilot.

[AllTerr]

My buddy was a USN pilot back during the 1st Gulf War, and once told me that you don't know hard until you try landing an F-18 on a blacked out aircraft carrier in rough seas at night....

[justinc]

The blackout deck landing at sea training was pretty extreme. Having to drop a Sea King on the deck in blackout, only an illuminated white line via torch of some kind , and the tip of the rotor ends up less than 6 ft from the tail of the helo that landed before yours. Lots of skill and training required!!

Jc

[scarry]

That is amazing skill.

There is footage around of winching people off a yacht during a very rough Sydney to Hobart,that is amazing as well,and a lot more dangerous.

[justinc]

That is amazing skill.

There is footage around of winching people off a yacht during a very rough Sydney to Hobart,that is amazing as well,and a lot more dangerous.

One of my brothers colleagues was involved in some of those rescues that terrible year, including recovery of some deceased 😕

[bob10]

The Fleet Air Arm are a breed apart. In any Navy. However I remember the USN pilots were not keen on landing on Melbourne, they said it was like landing on a postage stamp. One of the best I saw was a RNZN Wasp pilot during a helo transfer in very rough weather, he must have used our Tartar missile launcher as a reference point, [ it was placed horizontal to the deck, east west], I swear he had his wheel that close to it must have been touching. Didn't miss a beat.

A4G Skyhawk on HMAS Melbourne Deck Ops early 1970s - YouTube (https://youtu.be/Vy0vWedmc_4)

[bob10]

These blokes were on a wing and a prayer.

Deck Landing A Royal Navy Instructional Film (1942) - YouTube (https://youtu.be/CfzQwAbz9F4)

[AllTerr]

Pilot Shows Off His Amazing Skills As He Lands Plane With Malfunctioning Gear - Rumble (https://rumble.com/v2z8bj-pilot-lands-harrier-fighter-jet-without-landing-gear.html#.WdKq_4r9StY.link)