Why do some pilots take off from aircraft carriers without touching the flight stick?

@DefAviation ES 7·27·2024 · 23:29 0

Naval aviators are known as the best pilots in the world, as they can land their planes in a very small space.

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The flight deck of an aircraft carrier is a very limited space where landings and takeoffs are not conventional. On US and French aircraft carriers, takeoffs are made by steam catapults (or magnetic ones, on the newer ones) and landings are made by means of arresting cables. Without a doubt, landing is the most difficult maneuver, but takeoff is not without risks.

One of the risks involved in taking off from an aircraft carrier is compensating for the catapult's thrust on the aircraft and keeping it stable. It must also be taken into account that naval aviators endure strong acceleration during takeoff, and in such conditions it would be easier to make mistakes. To reduce the pilot's workload during takeoff and allow him to focus his attention on other tasks, most carrier-based fighter aircraft have an automated flight control system for takeoff.

This system automatically controls the plane's rotation during takeoff, i.e. the angle of attack of the plane to ascend once it leaves the flight deck after being catapulted. To avoid accidentally interfering with this operation, pilots place their right hand on a handle during takeoff. Flight deck personnel must verify that the pilot does not have his hand on the flight stick? before takeoff.

We can see this operation in this video posted by Alex Bowman, the pilot of an F/A-18F Super Hornet (two-seater). Just before takeoff, we see the pilot placing his right hand on the cockpit handle:

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Photos: U.S. Navy.