My friend Mike commented he wanted to \u201csee\/hear\u201d more A-7E stories. I read his email just before going to sleep last night, so of course, I was thinking of the days of the Corsair as I drifted off to sleep. As a result, I spent another night at sea\u2026<\/p>\n
Sometimes a night at sea is a good thing, sometimes not. Depending on how the weather is in my dreams, and the sea conditions, as well as my fuel state. If the weather is good, I am flying around during the day, the sea is calm, and my fuel state \u201cabove the ladder,\u201d it is a good night at sea. I have had those other nights at sea, however, when the deck was pitching, the weather was bad, and gas was a question. Those are not good nights \u2013 in both my dreams as well as back in the days of real life.<\/p>\n
We referred to the S-3 Viking affectionately and sometimes coldly as \u201cThe Hoover,\u201d short for Hoover vacuum cleaner. This was because of the way the engines sounded. But there was also a sinister side to the Viking and all the other jets onboard any carrier. Just like the Viking\u2019s unofficial moniker, every turning jet engine on a flight deck was a dangerous vacuum cleaner waiting to suck down any hapless crewman walking by.<\/p>\n