Flying from the carrier

摘要

On the bow catapult of a US Navy aircraft carrier in the Gulf of Tonkin, the yellow-shirted director sweeps one hand low and forward; the other, a bit higher, opens from a fist to splayed fingers. The below-the-waist signal is for the catapult crew: 'take tension'. The high signal is to me, the pilot: 'release brakes'. I drop my heels to the floor but leave my toes on the rudders. My left hand pushes the throttles to the detent for full power.