VS-31 Cruise Video

[Single Seat]

Pretty damn cool video. Especially for the S-3's :icon_tong

 

[FLY_USMC]

It's amazing how hours of studying, briefing, fun, concentrating, sweating, nerves, arse pain, practicing, lectures, and danger put to music looks like total dicking off. Sweet video.

 

[Schnugg]

Nice cruise video.

 

[SemperGumbi]

How can you not have a soft spot in your heart for a jet with windshield wipers and boom mics?

 

[el douge]

How can you not have a soft spot in your heart for a jet with windshield wipers and boom mics?

HA! I agree...such a nice aircraft and its sad to say goodbye. But it was a great video. I loved the part with the pacman game...classic.

 

[FLYTPAY]

HA! I agree...such a nice aircraft and its sad to say goodbye. But it was a great video. I loved the part with the pacman game...classic.

Cruising with the LANTIRN and PACMAN(Ms.) upgrades...must have been nice! Solid Topcat product!

 

[e6bflyer]

How can you not have a soft spot in your heart for a jet with windshield wipers and boom mics?

Ah...so true. Now just throw in a coffee maker and a toilet and we are talking!

 

[robav8r]

Great squadron - had the honor of being a "Topcat" from 1997-1999. BTW - they are disestablishing next month (March '08). I'm hearing the "festivities" promise to be very entertaining . . . .

 

[HeloBubba]

Great squadron - had the honor of being a "Topcat" from 1997-1999.

As an NFO? Or an FAW?

 

[robav8r]

As an NFO? Or an FAW?

I'll refer to myself as a "hybrid" back then. AW LDO - was NATOPS qualified as a SENSO. Got some great front seat time though at Fallon and the entire fly-off from the John C. Stennis maiden deployment off the coast of San Diego all the way back to Jacksonville. Good times !!!

 

[HeloBubba]

I'll refer to myself as a "hybrid" back then. AW LDO - was NATOPS qualified as a SENSO.

Please forgive my ignorance of this "status". As an LDO did you fly as a SENSO? If so, was that because of a shortage of AW's? If not, did you fly as TACCO then? What kind of billets were AW LDO's supposed to fill?

 

[wink]

How can you not have a soft spot in your heart for a jet with windshield wipers and boom mics?

That wiper was a bomb sight to any War Hoover pilot worth his salt. And the boom mic... the Blues fly with a boom mic, the only other TACAIR guys I'm aware of with the boom mic waiver.

 

[robav8r]

Please forgive my ignorance of this "status". As an LDO did you fly as a SENSO? If so, was that because of a shortage of AW's? If not, did you fly as TACCO then? What kind of billets were AW LDO's supposed to fill?

Back when VS squadrons still retained the PMA of ASW, Aviation Operations Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers (632X/732X) were typically assigned to operations billets such as Assistant Operations Officer, Training Officer, AW Division Officer, etc. They (we) were also assigned in a DIFOPS status which meant we flew and were required to maintain a current NATOPS check. Because we were prior AW's, obtaining a SENSO qualification only made sense. After logging 200 hours of flight time (as an officer) and maintaining NATOPS currency, you were eligible for designation as a Naval Aviation Observer (NAO). (BTW - the breast insignia worn before the NFO designation in 1968 - I think !!!).

 

[Joe Kaposi]

I can't see a video link here. I collect cruise video's, as an Aussie they are very hard to get. Anyone with any should hit me up for a trade.

 

[Renegade One]

After logging 200 hours of flight time (as an officer) and maintaining NATOPS currency, you were eligible for designation as a Naval Aviation Observer (NAO). (BTW - the breast insignia worn before the NFO designation in 1968 - I think !!!).

Correct.

I can't see a video link here.

Me either...