E-2C Hawkeye Carrier Launch with Internal Audio

[gray eagle]

E2C launch from CVN 69

I was watching the different ABH handlers and noticed that one of them (next to the shooters) who was waving the pilot on to the cat and wondered if that was a wave (Female).

 

[Mike71]

Very well could be. She is giving a "take tension" signal to the deck edge or bubble operator to move the shuttle forward to firmly engage the launch bar "dog ears" and against the hold back release bar. She/he will then pass it over to the shooter for final turnup and actual cat shot.

It looks like the shooter and probably a shooter trainee are checking wind or weight values for the cat shot; they want to make sure of something.

At one time the E-2 could actually deck launch under favorable conditions. It has been a long time since I was an Air Boss, but NIMITZ Class had a solid white free flight launch line painted from the aft landing area to the bow for an E-2 to steer along if a deck launch was to be used.

The E-2 typically is spotted on a bow cat quite a few minutes before the launch begins and is the first one shot in order to get a big chunk of real estate cleared up and get rid of those dangerous props whirling around. The F-18s "slashed aft" on cat 2 will taxi or be towed off and aft as the launch progresses. It is all quite a pageant to say the least.

You notice a cat officer in training, but a qualified shooter is mimicking signals and the cat is actually not shot if both of them are not in agreement.

 

[MrZippy]

Yep! Hawkeye(s) first and Whales 2nd! Got to get up there quickly to tank the incoming flights if they are low on fuel. Slight correction...Angel 1st, then Hawkeye, then Whale, Fighter/Attack aircraft last but not least!