NORDO in the Rhino

摘要

My pilot and I briefed for a day recovery tank and SSC mission with our section lead. We planned to do package checks at our lead's tanking altitude, then proceed to a separate altitude for recovery tanking. We then would rejoin as a section for the SSC mission. We walked on Diamondback 104 on a beautiful April Fools' Day while deployed on USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63). The skies were beautiful and clear, with the sun shining on a steady deck. The jet preflight went as planned, and all indications pointed to a normal day launch and recovery—that is, until we manned up and strapped in.