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FW: Naval Aviator recalls A-7 pilot taking off (and landing safely) with Corsair wings folded ----- ARTICLE
by mgbrattland＠gerlecreek.com 12 Sep '26

12 Sep '26

I remember it. Happened at Miramar..I think my memory says someone managed to do it in a F-8 as well..maybe.mgb From: andy.cain(a)comcast.net <andy.cain(a)comcast.net> Sent: Saturday, September 12, 2026 12:52 PM To: Mike Brattland <mgbrattland(a)gerlecreek.com> Subject: FW: Naval Aviator recalls A-7 pilot taking off (and landing safely) with Corsair wings folded ----- ARTICLE From: Heyyyy fonzie <fonzie1jan(a)hotmail.com <mailto:fonzie1jan@hotmail.com> > Sent: Saturday, September 12, 2026 11:56 AM To: Heyyyy fonzie <fonzie1jan(a)hotmail.com <mailto:fonzie1jan@hotmail.com> > Subject: Naval Aviator recalls A-7 pilot taking off (and landing safely) with Corsair wings folded ----- ARTICLE Naval Aviator recalls A-7 pilot taking off (and landing safely) with Corsair wings folded Naval Aviator recalls that time an A-7 pilot took off (and landed safely) with its Corsair II wings folded theaviationgeekclub.com Folding wings are design features incorporated into aircraft to reduce the amount of space a plane takes up on a deck or other surface, so that more aircraft can be parked in a given area. They are most frequently found on aircraft intended to operate from aircraft carriers, where stowage space on flight decks and hangar decks is at a premium. The US Navy has got folding wing aircraft since essentially the dawn of carrier aviation. They are pretty much required in this day and age to save space aboard aircraft carriers because of the size of the aircraft in use. The F-35C, despite being the smaller of the two combat aircraft the US Navy employs, still has a wingspan of 43 feet. The F/A-18 has a 45 foot wingspan, the E-2 has an over 80 foot wingspan. So, they are pretty massive. Can an aircraft fly with its wings folded? A-7 taking off with wings folded David Tussey, former US Navy A-7E Corsair II pilot, recalls on Quora; 'I did fly with a Naval Aviator who had once taken off in the venerable A-7E with the wings folded. And remarkably, he made it back to land safely. No harm. No foul. But it was quite the story in the A-7 Community. 'The squadron involved was performing night carrier landing practice out of NAS Lemoore, CA. They were "hotseating" pilots, meaning, while the aircraft was still running (often while it was refueling), they would have one pilot get out, and another get it, and right back off you would go. So, you can see that this hectic pace of get in the airplane and get out there flying could create an opportunity for things to go wrong. 'In this case, the A-7 was lightly loaded (for the carrier landing practice), it was night, and the pilot did a "hot seat" while the aircraft was in the fuel pits refueling. There was no "final checker" so the pilot taxied out after refueling, and headed for the runway to takeoff. He did not notice that the wings were folded. A terrific pilot 'He did take off, realized the extreme position he was in, declared an emergency, and was able (somehow) to muscle the airplane around the pattern and land safely. Jesus H. C****t.' Tussey concludes; 'The guy was a terrific pilot with Vietnam experience, and the incident didn't hurt his career as there was no damage.just a violation of NATOPS. But boy did he earn a reputation in the community, and a lot of laughter.' Photo credit: U.S. Navy https://theaviationgeekclub.com/naval-aviator-recalls-a-7-pilot-taking-off-a nd-landing-safely-with-corsair-wings-folded/amp/

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Coronado Cays Yacht Club Old HSer Luncheon-Three old helo guys!
by mgbrattland＠gerlecreek.com 11 Sep '26

11 Sep '26

Gene Pellerin, Randy Abshier and Tom Pocklington among the many at the quarterly luncheon today at the Coronado Cays hosted by Gene Pellerin and others……Very enjoyable, good food and venue and a great catchup………mgb CDR Mike Brattland, USN (Ret.) <mailto:mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com> mgbrattland(a)gerlecreek.com <mailto:mgbrattland@brattland.org> mgbrattland(a)brattland.org Admin/Moderator SanDiegoCarGuys List & Calendar of Events <mailto:sandiegocarguys@brattland.org> sandiegocarguys(a)brattland.org 619 454-0496 ’38 Willys 2 Dr Sedan Webmaster for <http://www.brattland.org/> www.brattland.org <http://www.overthehillgang.com/> www.overthehillgang.com <http://www.overdrivehotrodnews.com/> www.overdrivehotrodnews.com <http://www.gerlecreek.org/> www.gerlecreek.org <http://www.helobubbas.com/> www.helobubbas.com <http://www.prowlers.org/> www.prowlers.org <http://www.gerlecreek.com/> www.gerlecreek.com <http://www.ford6vcarburetion.com/> www.ford6vcarburetion.com <http://www.westcoastwillysclub.com/> www.westcoastwillysclub.com <http://www.nssha.org/> www.nssha.org

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USAF CH-3
by mgbrattland＠gerlecreek.com 11 Sep '26

11 Sep '26

https://youtu.be/0apcQA1XVKs?si=e0-bR03oV-SoaN9A

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767 Mishap
by mgbrattland＠gerlecreek.com 09 Sep '26

09 Sep '26

Brian and Kevin, you two did a wonderful job of explaining all the inside baseball on this sad event..I am so pleased to read your many posts on whatever on the list but especially about this mishap. I feel certain everyone else is just as appreciative...Keep your turns up Brian and Kevin.glad you hang out with all of us...mgb CDR Mike Brattland, USN (Ret.) <mailto:mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com> mgbrattland(a)gerlecreek.com <mailto:mgbrattland@brattland.org> mgbrattland(a)brattland.org Admin/Moderator SanDiegoCarGuys List & Calendar of Events <mailto:sandiegocarguys@brattland.org> sandiegocarguys(a)brattland.org 619 454-0496 '38 Willys 2 Dr Sedan Webmaster for <http://www.brattland.org/> www.brattland.org <http://www.overthehillgang.com/> www.overthehillgang.com <http://www.overdrivehotrodnews.com/> www.overdrivehotrodnews.com <http://www.gerlecreek.org/> www.gerlecreek.org <http://www.helobubbas.com/> www.helobubbas.com <http://www.prowlers.org/> www.prowlers.org <http://www.gerlecreek.com/> www.gerlecreek.com <http://www.ford6vcarburetion.com/> www.ford6vcarburetion.com <http://www.westcoastwillysclub.com/> www.westcoastwillysclub.com <http://www.nssha.org/> www.nssha.org

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Prime Air Miami Update
by Brian Miller 09 Sep '26

09 Sep '26

Not a lot of answers, but it looks like they tried to go around way too late. More or less a brand new Captain to the 767 and a low time FO. Not at all unusual, at least where I work. NTSB alluded to it at the end that there is at least chatter that 21 Air management might be a factor. A simple “no fault” go-around policy should have prevented this. 21 Air has an in house pilot union much like Southwest. I was never a big fan of unions, but they are effective at taking safety decisions away from the bean counters and placing them in the hands of the operators. I think we can all point a command in our military careers where raising safety issues wasn’t exactly career enhancing. Now imagine being potentially fired for following SOP at the expense of a bottom line. No evidence that is the case here, yet. It’s a small world and the streets appear to be talking, though. Clearly this was a case of horrible judgment, but I wonder if there were cultural reasons at the company that led to it. Occam’s razor remains sharp. Go-a rounds are rare, but they happen. My company is the butt of a lot of jokes (many deserved), but we are the industry leaders in stabilized approaches, for whatever that’s worth. I know a few people who got phone calls from the chief pilot for landing unstable approaches well inside whatever they pushed here. Those approaches landings were complete non-events outside of the FOQUA data. Conversely, I’ve had to do a couple go-arounds for various reasons, usually traffic related. Never heard a word about it. Clearly they got behind somehow and pushed ahead until it was too late. https://youtu.be/0kYavVsRkZY?is=oD2SD9CzRLhAg8IN

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767 Mishap....Wave off
by mgbrattland＠gerlecreek.com 09 Sep '26

09 Sep '26

https://youtu.be/0kYavVsRkZY?si=NHbhJxR54e8q2fjQ

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767 Mishap
by mgbrattland＠gerlecreek.com 08 Sep '26

08 Sep '26

https://youtu.be/Mu9fPuew9zg?si=RQD7kM4JOGX4EYUd

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Mines Seals & 60S Helicopters
by mgbrattland＠gerlecreek.com 08 Sep '26

08 Sep '26

https://x.com/seanhannity/status/2097391383308898403?s=20 CDR Mike Brattland, USN (Ret.) <mailto:mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com> mgbrattland(a)gerlecreek.com <mailto:mgbrattland@brattland.org> mgbrattland(a)brattland.org Admin/Moderator SanDiegoCarGuys List & Calendar of Events <mailto:sandiegocarguys@brattland.org> sandiegocarguys(a)brattland.org 619 454-0496 '38 Willys 2 Dr Sedan Webmaster for <http://www.brattland.org/> www.brattland.org <http://www.overthehillgang.com/> www.overthehillgang.com <http://www.overdrivehotrodnews.com/> www.overdrivehotrodnews.com <http://www.gerlecreek.org/> www.gerlecreek.org <http://www.helobubbas.com/> www.helobubbas.com <http://www.prowlers.org/> www.prowlers.org <http://www.gerlecreek.com/> www.gerlecreek.com <http://www.ford6vcarburetion.com/> www.ford6vcarburetion.com <http://www.westcoastwillysclub.com/> www.westcoastwillysclub.com <http://www.nssha.org/> www.nssha.org

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USAF Rotorheads
by mgbrattland＠gerlecreek.com 08 Sep '26

08 Sep '26

https://usafrotorheads.com/ CDR Mike Brattland, USN (Ret.) <mailto:mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com> mgbrattland(a)gerlecreek.com <mailto:mgbrattland@brattland.org> mgbrattland(a)brattland.org Admin/Moderator SanDiegoCarGuys List & Calendar of Events <mailto:sandiegocarguys@brattland.org> sandiegocarguys(a)brattland.org 619 454-0496 '38 Willys 2 Dr Sedan Webmaster for <http://www.brattland.org/> www.brattland.org <http://www.overthehillgang.com/> www.overthehillgang.com <http://www.overdrivehotrodnews.com/> www.overdrivehotrodnews.com <http://www.gerlecreek.org/> www.gerlecreek.org <http://www.helobubbas.com/> www.helobubbas.com <http://www.prowlers.org/> www.prowlers.org <http://www.gerlecreek.com/> www.gerlecreek.com <http://www.ford6vcarburetion.com/> www.ford6vcarburetion.com <http://www.westcoastwillysclub.com/> www.westcoastwillysclub.com <http://www.nssha.org/> www.nssha.org

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HC-7 Sea Devils Website
by mgbrattland＠gerlecreek.com 08 Sep '26

08 Sep '26

http://www.hc7seadevils.org/new/index2.html Lots of historic information long kept by former HC-7 members on the website including a lot of great helicopter photos. Some of the content is restricted to members, but much of it is not...fyi.mgb CDR Mike Brattland, USN (Ret.) <mailto:mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com> mgbrattland(a)gerlecreek.com <mailto:mgbrattland@brattland.org> mgbrattland(a)brattland.org Admin/Moderator SanDiegoCarGuys List & Calendar of Events <mailto:sandiegocarguys@brattland.org> sandiegocarguys(a)brattland.org 619 454-0496 '38 Willys 2 Dr Sedan Webmaster for <http://www.brattland.org/> www.brattland.org <http://www.overthehillgang.com/> www.overthehillgang.com <http://www.overdrivehotrodnews.com/> www.overdrivehotrodnews.com <http://www.gerlecreek.org/> www.gerlecreek.org <http://www.helobubbas.com/> www.helobubbas.com <http://www.prowlers.org/> www.prowlers.org <http://www.gerlecreek.com/> www.gerlecreek.com <http://www.ford6vcarburetion.com/> www.ford6vcarburetion.com <http://www.westcoastwillysclub.com/> www.westcoastwillysclub.com <http://www.nssha.org/> www.nssha.org

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