Landing on Shipdeck

In recent maneuvers off: the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal, the United States fleet operated in complete tactical drill with the aircraft carrier Langley, 146 flights being made on and off the deck of the Langley, without casualty to plane or personnel.

When flights are undertaken, the upper deck of the Langley is completely cleared; masts and smokestacks and all other paraphernalia disappear. The Secretary of the Navy, Admirals, Captains and gobs jump into nets on the sides of the ship, with conspicuous lack of dignity, when a plane is about to alight. The getaway of an airplane is easy. But landing on the deck of the steaming war-vessel, pitching and rolling as it must, is a risky proposition. The deck looks broad to any one standing on it, but it is a mere strip to the anxious pilot. As the wheels of the airplane touch the landing surface, the pilot drops a large hook which engages with wires laid across the deck so as to secure a quick stop, smaller hooks engage with wires running along the length of the ship and prevent the airplane from turning.

The possibility of landing on and off a shipdeck gives full tactical value to the naval airplane, and Navy men are greatly impressed with the success of these maneuvers. Two new aircraft carriers, converted from the hulls of battle cruisers doomed by the Washington Naval conference, are to be put into commission. These will be longer, wider and steadier than the Langley.