Whereas a land-based pilot can be expected to “grease” the runway, carrier landings demand that naval pilots make a controlled impact—essentially a crash aboard the deck. Landing on an aircraft ...

An F/A-18F Super Hornet uses MAGIC CARPET technology while performing a touch-and-go on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier George Washington on June 24, 2021. The technology reduces the burden on ...

Landing a fighter jet on an aircraft carrier is borderline surgical. The deck space is tight, typically only about 500 feet long, which is nowhere near enough for a jet going 150 mph to stop by brakes ...

Big change for Navy pilots in training: no more carrier landings in the T-45 before getting their Wings of Gold. Now, CQ happens later in the fleet jets. We talk through the pros, the cons, and what ...

For most mere mortals, the act of landing a fighter jet on an aircraft carrier is beyond comprehension. Experienced pilots count it among the most difficult maneuvers to perform. Even if we look at ...