Something a little different for Flightdeck Friday this Memorial day weekend. We are working on a project that if luck holds out, we should be able to post over the weekend, provided we don’t have to make an unbidden trip that lurks around the corner…if so, we’ll roll that project to the 4th of July….
Inventor, racer, aviator – intense and relentless competitor. Father of Naval Aviation.  These titles and more accrued to one Glenn Hammond Curtiss, born this date in 1878 in Hammondsport, New York. Not satisfied with the sedate life of the pedistrian, he earned money for his first bicycle while working for Eastman Kodak (where his natural inventiveness and…
Who was Daniel Weitzenfeld? If you have anything to do with Naval Aviation, you should be thankful for this: epecially in light of the way things used to be: From the Washington Post: Daniel Weitzenfeld, 90; Navy Innovator Tuesday, May 13, 2008; Page B08 Daniel Kehr Weitzenfeld, 90, a retired Navy rear admiral who was…
  Speaking of ethos…great new site (h/t: Maggie) put up by the family of “Mac” McWhorter, who flew in VF-9, was CO of VF-12 and the first Hellcat ace. Lots of remembrances by those who were there and remember him both during and after the war. We’ve added the site to the blogroll on the right under…
So Friday we achieved escape velocity from the Beltway for Norfolk and appearance as a guest speaker for the winging of NFO class 07-5. Hosted by VAW-120 (and Skipper — top flight production too, BZ to ALCON) the ceremony marked the official transition of the fledglings from mere students to replacement NFO’s, designated 1320’s (or…
Episodes Share your experience Be there or be square…
15 April 1935–Passage of the Aviation Cadet Act created the grade of Aviation Cadet in the Naval and Marine Corps Reserves. The Act set up a new program for pilot training in which otherwise qualified college graduates between the ages of 18 and 28 would be eligible for one year of flight instruction, benefits of…
Pausing for a moment to acknowledge this signatory event in VAW history before returning to the discussion on the Maritime Strategy later today… -SJS 1967: VAW-11 (West coast) and VAW-12 (East coast) constitute the two largest squadrons in the Navy with some 200 officers and 800 enlisted each. Each squadrom supports 4 plane E-1B Tracer…
The Background: On 8 February 1965, a change to Bureau of Personnel Instruction 1210.4C authorized a new designator and name, Naval Flight Officer (NFO). The new designator was appropriate for “an unrestricted line officer, a member of the aeronautical organization . . .who may fill any billet not requiring actual control knowledge of an aircraft.”…
The keel of the first nuclear powered aircraft carrier, the USS Enterprise (CVAN 65) was laid at Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company. Enterprise under construction in slipway #11 Big E in late 1960 (USS Robert E. Lee in foreground, outbound for sea trials) Underway, October 1962 with CVW-6 embarked for the Cuban Missile…
