TPS takes to open seas

  • Published
  • By Della Perry
  • U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School took another step in building relations with other military services when Class 05B journeyed to San Diego recently and spent the day aboard the USS Stennis.

"Flying out to the carrier was an adventure in and of itself," said Capt. Randel Gordon, TPS student. "The C-2 Greyhound Carrier Onboard Delivery aircraft, which brought us from the mainland to the ship, had no windows and all the seats faced backward. This added to the excitement of the flight since the seating arrangement was already a little disorienting, and you couldn't really see when you were about to 'trap' on the carrier."

Captain Gordon described the trap as a controlled crash. "We heard a loud BANG as the COD slammed onto the deck and then we were thrown back into our seats as if we'd hit a brick wall. The COD came to a complete stop in about three seconds. What a ride!"

The purpose of the visit was two-fold; professional development in seeing how other branches of the military operate and comparing the different applications of avionics -- what could each branch of service bring to the other.

Edwards TPS representatives included Col. Andre Gerner, TPS commandant, Navy Lt. Cmdr. Gregory Burgess, TPS Navy staff representative, 1st Lt. Robert Brown, TPS executive officer, and 1st Lt. Javier Hurtado, and 2nd Lts. Carlo Molina and Benjamin Wilson, all special courses representatives. The TPS students who attended were Capt. Solomon Baase, Italian Air Force Lt. Crescenzo Esposito, Capt. Randel Gordon, Capt. Jacob Jackson, Capt. Kyle Kolsti, Capt. Miles Middleton, Capt. Charles Ryan, Capt. Christopher Smith, Capt. Randy Warren and Capt. Troy Welker.

Many people have taken cruises, enjoying the plush accommodations or have watched numerous TV shows highlighting the captain's cabin with its brass embellishments and paneled walls. True naval ships are nothing like either of these. A U.S. Navy vessel is a floating city, completely self contained and every space is utilized to the max, Captain Middleton said.

There are more than 5,000 people, eating, sleeping, working and functioning as a complete unit -- with no room for error, he said. It was built for the sole purpose of being a fighting unit, ready to protect and defend. It's made for war!

"It struck me how dangerous a place the flight deck is during flight operations because there's so much going on in such a confined space," Captain Kolsti said.

Captain Middleton summed up the Navy operation when he said, "I've never seen a more highly orchestrated and efficient process. Aircraft were trapping, clearing the landing surface and resetting for a catapult launch at an amazing rate. Nearly every 30 seconds to a minute, another aircraft would trip.

"Two to four catapults could be used to launch aircraft in rapid succession. Typically, after trapping the aircraft they would set up for an immediate launch. Every person on the deck knew his or her job and precisely when to accomplish it, making the operation almost seamless."

Teamwork, that's what it's all about -- without teamwork, everything falls apart, Captain Baase said.

"The teamwork exhibited by the crew of the Stennis to accomplish their mission was nothing short of spectacular," Captain Baase said. "I'm hard pressed to think of any other organization where so many players have such an integral role in accomplishing the boats primary mission -- launching and recovering aircraft."

TPS students said the USS Stennis was definitely an 'eye-opening' experience. The students are ready to share their teamwork with Navy representatives in a reciprocal visit, and show them how to land aircraft on a lakebed without water in the arid Mojave Desert.