My first ride in 1 of our planes (P5M1) was a new pilot check out. That means maximum bank angles & so on. That was some what of a thrill. Flying into San Francisco I wanted to see the place. Went into the tail bubble for a good view. As an after thought I put the strap across the tail up. The bay there was so rough It tried to throw me out. Had my feet firmly planted & pushing against the strap, kept me in place. Another dumb thing on that trip, I stayed behind to fix one of the other boats that needed a new air scoop. They did not have 1 that fit a 1 only had 1 to fit a P5M2. Had to take a hand file to make it fit. Seems like it took a couple of days. That was the first time I was ever on a ship. Rather than sleep on the plane. thought it might be nice to sleep on a ship. Once I saw the bunks & so on, went back to the plane. had to go back & check blanket back in. Trip to ship #2. Everyone on the plane was to take a 2 hour watch. Navigator took his watch ( The radio on the plane could be changed to music.) every so often you were to blink the wing lights so people knew you were awake & watching thing. Navigator tuned in music & started the APU . That was a miniature jet engine hooked to a generator. A horrible whine & loud. May be the main reason that I have tenitas, now in both ears & right ear changes pitch every so often & at time has 2 noises at the same time. One good thing is as my stress level goes down, ear noise goes way dawn. Left ear it even goes away.
Bay was so rough in the morning, when they finally got someone awake, we opened the door, the boat wold come by When it would raise up someone would jump aboard. had that been a white hat that went to sleep, chances are there would be he!! to pay.
Rough sea landings.Being on the fuel panel, there was not a seat, safety strap or head set. Didn't know that they were going to try a rough sea landing. Just to see better I stood up, hands on the back of the cockpit seats & arms against the cir-cut breakers. Rough sea landing, when close to the water, both engines to full reverse. Lucky that I did not go out the front glass.
The spot light (1 million candle power) was good for once on the ground & once in the air. Fix it again for next flight. 1 Of the guys in our crew had some kind of a sleeping sickness. Once he was found while filling the coffee pot, went to sleep & water was every where. He was also found a sleep in a Bombay. Lucky for him no one opened the bay. The constant speed alternator ( named a Sun Strand. Very complicated), ours would screw up once in a while. had to flash the field, sparks flew all over the place. For a while we had a pilot called Oddles , because he had lots $$$$. He had one of those French cars that would level itself. We use to push on it to see it go up & down If memory is correct 1 day we did that until it ran the battery dow & he call road service or what ever it was called in those days. He loved to get so low the indicator would indicate we were under water. He was happy as a clam, me was nervous . Rocket runs, had spaces on the wings for 8 dumb rockets. There was a rock out behind Catalina island. Dive at it near vertical, Go way passed the max air speed.
Wings flapping & everything shaking. When the rockets were launched they went off with an very loud bang. Naturally they wanted to see if they it the rock. Then pull out of the dive so hard I wondered if the wings were going to fold. One day it was scorching hot a 5,000 feet that when the door (Hatch ?? :laughing
was opened it was like sitting in front of a blast furnace.
Never saw the Sea Dart fly, but did see it doming some high speed runs.
There were 2 ways to turn the monster around, some rudder like things on the rear & 1 engine forward & 1 backwards. Yep turning on a dime & getting change. The hull on our boat leaked, O&R came out & put a new hull on it. Still leaked.
More fun, silly, goofy & stupid stories later.
Need to lay down & hope back settles down.
Jim
