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My buddy in VT-19 was on the cat in front of me on the Lex on our first cat shot in '89. I could see his wing tips and tail in front of the JBD. He launched and when he squeezed the PLCs and the cat bar he accidentally squeezed the mic button at the same time. He broadcasted, "Holy F*ing Sh*t!" There was a moment of radio silence at which Paddles replied, "(976 ... you owe me a case of tequila.) No, I will never forget my first time. Thanks for posting.

The heavy breathing reminded me of a movie I may have seen a time or two. “Open the pod bay doors, HAL.” “I can’t do that, Dave.”

I would imagine the next thought is, "Oh crap. Now I have to land this thing." 😁👍👍

My son did his Carrier Quals in the T-45 a few years ago. He said it was the best ride he'd ever been on! He did his advanced flight training in Kingsville, TX, and got his wings in June 2019. Thanks to all who serve and their families! Stay Safe.

I was wondering if there was going to be a scream of joy and a sigh of relief when you stayed an aviator rather than becoming a sudden submariner. It was gratifying to hear both.

I recognize that breathing pattern. From my first working fire as a firefighter. I can only imagine a cat shot is a thousand times more adrenaline filled? Amazing video.

lol, this man was sucking more wind than a 747 turbine!! Congrats on your first CAT, god bless naval aviators!! loved the video!

I love the increased breathing around 2:49 and then the exclamation at 2:57! And just think…he got paid to do this! Many years ago, as a Navy flight instructor I would brief student naval aviators for their first flight out to the carrier. To a much greater extent than briefs for any other flights, I always had their full, undivided attention! Once we manned up, “lead safes” would lead a flight of two or three SNAs out to the boat, into the “break”, setting up the proper abeam distance in the pattern, and getting one touch and go for ourselves. We would then orbit overhead as the students conducted their quals. If we were lucky, the Air Boss might call us down for a trap to refuel, and that was just fun - steady deck, good weather, daytime ops - not a big challenge for an experienced tailhooker. Once airborne again, we would resume loitering overhead until directed to catch a couple of students who had finished, then lead them back to “homeplate”. Interestingly, many students’ landings back at the field after qualifying were nothing to brag about. They were just too excited or too spent to get it all together for that “easy” landing. After I completed my initial quals, I know many of my peers celebrated that evening at the O’Club. Not me. I was done for the day. I called my dad (a former NA) and went to bed. Maverick would have been so ashamed.

Amazing. My dad was in the Navy and helped work (alongside McDonnell Douglas) in transitioning this jet from the Hawk into the Goshawk. Even after it was live, he remained working on it while stationed at Training Air Wing 2 (VT-21/22) in Texas. In fact, when he left the Navy, he was offered a job by Boeing (but he turned it down). It's an amazing jet! Prior to working on the Goshawk, he served aboard the Ike (USS Eisenhower CVN-69). Each time I see a Goshawk in photo or video, I feel a sense of pride for my dad.

I’ve seen this one before, well, pretty sure I have, but it’s just as thrilling the second time as it was the first.

Man I love the engineering that goes into this, look how the hud is perfectly lined up with the airframe, and how the hud and airframe match and line up with launchline, that's soo cool

Thank you for sharing this video. I've always wondered what it's like to be in a cockpit in that position. Thanks for your service, learning to fly, and taking us along!

The deck crew always gives me baseball umpire vibes 😂 just loving every second of your job!

2:52 of anticipation, 4 seconds of excitement, a life time of fond, terrifying memories.

Naval Aviators are the best pilots of any branch of service. Launching might look easy enough but there's still plenty that can go wrong in a hurry. Landing is a whole new ballgame. This is especially true in bad weather and at night. I've watched countless recoveries and the night traps never cease to amaze me.

To me, this speaks volumes to the bravery and concentration of pilots such as these - although this man’s breathing quickened slightly before launching his total professionalism took over as the flight began. Cheers

I was a Tractor Driver for V-1 Division on the USS Midway 1981 to '84 so I knew all the things that were going on AROUND the jet and approximately how long it takes for him to take off. I also know that the Oxygen mask makes it slightly more difficult for the pilot to breath than without a mask, so there's that. Nice to relive that scenario again.

I'm a student gyrocopter pilot, and a couple of weeks ago, I did my first take-off, it all happened so fast, I couldn't really process it, but the feeling of relief at being airborne is something I will always remember, I guess it must be the same for every pilot.

Sounded like Jello yelling "bolter" in the background. Love the increase in sucking breaths waiting for launch, it's gotta be a blast every time...

You can talk about it all day but you just can’t describe the ride, you never forget your first shot, mine over forty years ago

Nice view of a launch - can't say I've seen many but I know they look easier to do than they really are. I salute pilots for their skill and performance.

My first cat shot was in a T2J-1 in 1961. Hydraulic cat -- a definite "E ticket" ride!!

Not quite there yet… but on my way! Just thinking of getting my first salute on the catapult makes me giddy. Love the videos! Subscribed!

This cat shot reminds of the best line I ever saw on tv or during a movie: “you see Gloria! You see what happens when you mess with a warrior!” Still love that scene.

Yeah. You sounded perfectly in control. Well done.

You can sense his smile right after take-off. Really good stuff.

Well done, brother! Many thanks for your service and sharing the memory!

So cool! Thank you for sharing. Thank you for your bravery and service, too!

I worked onboard the JFK on waist cats and have always wondered what it would be like to take your first cat shot. This provided me a decent depiction. Thanks for another great video. So much excitement and you still need to keep the adrenaline level because the next thing is landing. Good Lord!!!!

I watched the whole thing!! Wow!! I could feel your breathing was making me at the edge of my seat!! What a great rush!!

Wow! Always wondered what it was like. What a fabulous video! You must have been thrilled, excited, a bit scared - all at once!

What a great view, congratulations, and thank you for your service!🇺🇸

This sounds like the breathing I did just before paddling my first class V+, big-water rapid. Congrats to you!

That was so fun! Vicarious but still, what a thrill. Just ran across your channel and have really been enjoying going through them. My parents were both pilots and your breathing reminded me (besides other things) of my mom running out of landing strip when I was six. She said I was laughing the entire time. I thought a corn field was a great place to park.

Nice one bro. Great work from the guys on the ground and fair decent timing from the tower. Enjoy your career. What a beautiful beast she is.

The breathing. The tension. The locked-in 'only way out is through this'. The whoop and the awesome 'that was awful'. It's childbirth for men!!! 🙂Thank you for sharing such a unique experience. Increases my respect even more. God bless you and yours, keep safe.

Rob, THAT was the most intense video I've ever watched. It drew me right in. I felt like I was your back-seater ... it totally drew me right into the experience. I'm like ... OMG, our plane is getting hooked up to the catapult ... followed by I N T E N S E buildup ... buildup .... to that second when we're hurtling down the deck .... aaahhhh .... I must have aged a couple years, that heavy breathing reminded me of the buildup in Jaws ... or maybe that special brownie I ate an hour ago is kicking in, I dunno .... but two thumbs up, man

Love these videos as a civilian being recruited by the Navy back in 1985 out of college for OCS we werr fortunate to be taken on the USS Ronald Reagan in VA dry docked . We had a tour of the entire ship it was incredible . Flight deck with a walked through everything from calling the ball in the tower to walking the deck . Much respect for our officers who were pilots and escorted us everywhere for that week at the Naval base and Officers club . Great experience for a then 22 yr old .

The sound of relief once airborne!👍

Great Job. One of the best vids to be able to watch. Love to see that first landing!!!! God Speed to all military pilots and support folks!

Being a airframer @ 40 (det 5) in the early to mid 2000's I had a few dozen cats and traps back in the back of a C-2. Not a whole lot to see back there, although once I sat next to the window during a catapult and watched the deck (and people) go by. That one sticks out in my memory the most.

I’ve said it before, but Thank You for your service. I know that you’re getting paid to do some fun stuff, but it’s not all fun. Fair winds , calm seas, and landings that you can walk away from. Salute and much love.

Love it Man! Thanks for sharing this!!!

amazing video, thak you for sharing. Can't even iamning what a ride that has to be!

Superb, thanks so much for posting ...

I find it pretty funny that the second you go off the boat you realise that you're flying - something that you've actually done before and it's all fine again.

Excellent material on your channel so far.

I dub thee call sign"HEAVY BREATHER"!!!⚓🇺🇸

Good looks man, good looks

"Woo...tha was awesome" I bet dude! Stoked to have found this channel!

Love that sound of relief!!!!! Whew!!!!

That’s really an interesting perspective, thanks for posting!

For me it was 26 April, 1978, Lexington. Total flight time when I took off to get my first landing (in the T-2C), a grand total of 100.8 hours!

Wow the anticipation was killing me! I can only dream of how you felt!

the ONLY experience I have that I can think would give me just a smidge of the gut wrenching adrenaline that would be felt right before taking off is the countdown while on the block at state for the 400m sprint, I didn't think I could handle that kind of feeling while having to get off that block perfectly and then sprint faster than I had ever sprinted against the best runners in my state, and I can't imagine i could stay conscious when one wrong move could very easily kill you and THEN think having to think about landing, incredible stuff.

Thanks for posting this! That's quality original content- giving us all at least a superficial idea of an experience that only relatively few people ever get. Audio was a bit NSFW though...

How to go from crapping yourself to THIS IS GREAT! in 2 seconds.

NAVAL AVIATORS ROCK! THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE! From a retired VA doc!

Thanks for sharing!

Even I was hyperventilating during that long wait! What a rush!

When you look back, how hard was it to land a T-45 on the carrier vs other jets?

Thanks for all yall do for us out there buddy!

Never gets old. Well done!

i did my first flight only 4 weeks ago in the T-45. best time ever!!!

There are certain things you remember for the rest of your life.this is one of them... I remember my first cat shot which was way back in 1980..... you also remember your first trap as well.which is way more important...ha... I really lucked out and caught the 3 wire on my first try. Then I boltered 4 times...LOL... sure miss flying...best time of my life.... but I sure as sh*t dont miss Case III pitching deck recovery ... that will make your sphincter pucker....

I bet it never gets old

Perfectly calm. Must be quite something in rough seas with heavy rain and wind gusts.

Thanks for sharing. I would love ride in a plane getting shot off of a carrier deck.

He will give Darth Vader a run for his money …. Impressive breathing!

Sooo cool, guy!! Good job!! No matter how cool you THINK you are ... a 'first' like this, does get the blood pumping!! Thanks for the ride!!

That was awesome :) I didn't know that you guys used TCN on launch, but thinking about it it makes perfect sense since a lot of your departure and flying will be relative to the carrier. Very cool.

Thank you so very much for your service !!!!

I can see how important it is to pay attention in training.

Very Cool my Navy brother! I wonder if the Air Boss picked up on your increased breathing rate??? lol. Thanks for sharing Rob. Be safe and cheers from Michigan.

Roy, I’ve subscribed! Hearing the heavy breathing (and the little hooray at the end) put a different light on watching these aviation vlogs which I do out of sheer fascination…how does a plane launch and land on such a tiny platform!? Sometimes it begs comprehension! 🐑🐑🇳🇿🇳🇿NZ

First time was in a T2A (the single engine model). The date of the first carrier qual set your date of rank, (if you earn your wings months later) and earned your second gold bar on your NAVCAD insignia. In the good old days,1965.

The “Mustache” has left the chat….

Wooooo, that was awesome. So jealous. I would love this experience.

your rapid breathing sound just before the launch represents that your were nervous. because it was first experience. nice job! thank you for your service.

I can only imagine what that is like. I’m sure it’s something you never get used to. I have the utmost respect for you and all naval aviators. What position is your throttles at when launching?

Want some cool pilot merch for your collection? robroy.myspreadshop.com/all It's the best way to support my channel and my personal favorite is the "Mustachio" patch!

Been there, done that, as many, many others. Mine was in 1967 in a T-2B on the Lex. Then plowback, then A-7E's, then VN on the Big E. What an incredible ride! Fly Navy!!

I was seventeen, an OS and reported to duty out in the ocean on USS Lexington. I'll never forget that feeling.

Kinda like your first solo. It's all on you to control it and bring it around for a landing.

A couple years from now, my first will be 40 years hence…. In a T-2 off the Lex. Remember it well… but not nearly as vividly as that first trap a few hours before.

My first cat shot was in a TS-2A (VT-31) aboard the Lady Lex in 1967. I thought that shot was something, but the TS-2A was a fairly light bird. My first cat shot aboard the USS Randolph (I was in the right seat) in an S-2E somewhere in the Atlantic heading to the Mediterranean really put me back in the seat. For those not aware, the USS Randolph had hydraulic cats (I thought the Lexington did also) which had a 180 foot stroke. The first 60 feet was the acceleration, the next 60 feet was the coast and the final 60 feet was braking the shuttle to a stop. The fully loaded S-2E, with all the normal gear and 32 sonobuoys weighed in at about 30,000 pounds. The cat would accelerate the bird from 0 to 120 knots (131 mph) in 60 feet. We called it caging the eyeballs. When those cats were designed during WWII, they were never intended to launch aircraft that heavy. My first arrested landing was aboard the Lexington in a T-28C. When we got back to the ready room after our landings, on guy commented "Did you see all those people up on the island?" (There was an observation platform on the after part of the O-7 level (flight deck is O-3). Another guy said "What Island?" We all laughed. We were so in shock after our first arrested landing, most of us did well to follow the director. Of course in a T-28C, we deck launched to leave.

I soiled myself just watching! Can't imagine what that must be like! Coolest job in the world.

On the left side of the HUD, the little box with '50' in it, looks like the airspeed indicator. As he goes off, it increases. Right side sits at 40 for awhile, as he accelerates down the cat (probably altitude). So with the speed of the ship and wind, he's getting 50 knots over the deck. Pretty good.

How was that landing like 😁??

Less than a second after the cat, you can hear every gram of fear leave him. Amazing.

NICE video...thanks for sharing the experience!!!

I found myself checking my breathing!

Is that darth vader on the cockpit?

Balls of steel! Wow!

Nice calm day for a launch!!

Holy sh*t! Why is he breathing so hard for just a cat shot? After he launches, he needs to catch the 3 wire coming aboard (or one of the four). I hope that he didn't hyperventilate so much that he boltered a few times... I guess things are a little different now since I earned my wings of gold in 1975 but I salute all naval aviators who brave the weather especially when trapping at night.

Great! I remember my first solo (to compare) - I felt well trained and in control.

Bad ass man, congratulations!

Man! Gotta be the coolest feeling in existence!!!