The only difference between deck and other military aviations consists of that airplanes of a deck aviation take off from ships and land on them. Such landings are very difficult because of weather frequent changes, strong wind, therewith there are only few or not at all finding-position orientations under the water. A deck pilot must have a perfect sense of espace: a sea wouldn’t forgive any mistake. “Deckers” use special modified airplanes. The shipborne fighter SU-33 (SU-27K) was added to the Russian armoury more than 10 years ago. The airplane is single-seater, it may be refueled in the air and can surely withstand modern enemies’ forces. Its takeoff is realized from a special springboard, and when the aircraft lands its hook catches a line of a road finisher.

Besides great moral workloads, pilots suffer enormous physical loads. An air battle on a modern fighter allows to feel the load of 6-7 points. But, as to pilots, the most fatiguing thing in their work is the long and scrupulous process of landing on a ship. The following reporting is about pilots of the naval aviation who drive their fighting engines skilfully.

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Usually the morning of the garrison Severomorsk-3 begins from a little conference with instructions before flights. The whole event took 15 minutes. Commanders reported on fighting trim, communication facilities are alright, medical and rescue services are also ready to work. Weather scouts said about the situation in flight zones: the sky is cloudness, the vivsibility is perfect. The only thing to consider-seasonal migrations of birds. A meeting with a bird in the air will not be pleasant.

Officers’ cockades differ. This is, for example, an old Soviet one. It is called “crab” and may be embroidered with gold threads.

A weather forecaster reports meteoconditions.

The military school in Krasnodar is the only one place in Russia that trains naval pilots. Students learn to land and take off aircrafts, and to fight in the air.

Pilots make necessary notes in such pads.

The main navigator reports the schedule of flights, weather conditions and the territory length. Everybody synchronized the watches.

Models of planes serve for visual demonstrations of flight elements or figures.

The pad NPL-M for different calculations.

Pilots’ equipments.

A rheometer.

Fighters are ready for action.

Attention! When a pilot left the cabin, set land safety devices immediately.

The obligatory element is the protective helmet ZSH-7 that consists of many layers, however it is rather light.

Colonel Eugen Kuznetsov.

The fuel TS-1, T-6, T-8. Refuelling under the pressure.

The trainer airplane SU-25UTG with landing hook takes off.

The educational and training center has airplane simulators KTS-33.

The Deck Aviation, Russia, the Navy.

And just to compare and for outlook broadening: the American deck aviation during the Second World War.

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via onepamop