![]() ![]() The crane lifted the plane from the water, hoisted it aboard, and lowered it onto an empty catapult or onto a car truck. Two other cables, one in each wing, also were attached to the crane cable to steady the plane. He attached the cable to the recovery hook suspended from the crane. The radioman left his seat to get the lifting cable stowed behind the pilot's headrest. The aircraft recovery crane swung over the plane and the hoisting hook was lowered. The aircraft engine stopped and the Ship was towing the plane. A hook on the bottom front part of the main pontoon latched onto the sled. He wanted to avoid landing on top of or plunging through a swell. ![]() The pilot timed his landing to hit the slick with its ocean swells at just the right moment. The Ship's crew swung a boom over the side and lowered a 10-foot by 6-foot rope "sled" into the sea. The slick measured approximately 200 yards long and 100 yards wide. The Ship started a 90-degree turn and the turning stern created a relatively smooth surface called a slick. The flag was raised to the top of the mast. The plane flew alongside the ship at a 300-foot altitude. The "Charlie" (C) flag was raised at half-mast. Recovering the Kingfisher seaplane at sea required great skill and teamwork. Plane lands near anchored Ship and is hoisted aboard.Plane lands one mile ahead of the Ship Ship catches up to plane and hoists plane aboard.Plane lands near the Ship and is hoisted aboard while underway.If the Ship was in port, the seaplane was hoisted over the side and took off from the water The Kingfisher, with engine at full throttle, becomes airborne.A mechanical device at the end of the catapult abruptly stops the car.The blast propels the catapult cart and the plane from 0 to 70 MPH, a sufficient speed for safe flight. ![]() At the pilot's ready signal, a black powder charge is fired. Turn the catapult over the water about 30 degrees. ![]() The wind over the deck provides additional life for making the plane airborne.
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