This U.S. Navy film was made to educate pilots about the flight characteristics of the Ling-Temco-Vought A-7 Corsair II, and to prepare them for landing the aircraft on a carrier, as well as takeoff. The A-7 was developed during the early 1960s as replacement for the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. Its design was derived from the Vought F-8 Crusader. Copyright 1970, and filmed aboard USS Oriskany (CV/CVA-34). The tail markings of the aircraft indicate they are from CVG-12, Carrier Air Group 12 or RCVG-12, Replacement Carrier Air Group 12. (Note: one of the planes shown in the film, airframe 154349, survives today at the Pima Air Museum.)

Titles: A Corsair II is ready for takeoff. U.S. Navy presents: A-7 Familiarization – Carrier Flight Deck Operating Procedures (:06-1:13). Corsair II planes fly in the sky. A carrier is below as the two Corsair II planes approach. Corsair II lands on the carrier. A diagram explains in detail how the plane should land on the carrier. Animated plane and controls. Landing checklist. A diagram shows a straight approach to the carrier (1:14-3:56). A diagram shows the flight path based on wind conditions. The narrator explains what to look for. Animated pilot in a plane. Animated plane comes in and approaches the deck of the plane. A diagram explains the angle of the glide slope and of the ship moving (3:57-5:47). A diagram shows a ship moving and the angle changing. Animation from inside of the cockpit. Planes in the sky. Corsair II planes fly near a carrier. Corsair II releases landing gear. Corsair II lands on the deck (5:48-7:32). Plane rolls back a little bit. Corsair II taxis out of landing area. A man points where to go. Plane flips wings up. Pilot’s hand on controls. Control panel inside of the Corsair II (7:33-8:54). Plane director waves his hands. Launch bar. Corsair II is getting ready to be attached to the ship. Pilot gives a thumbs up. Crewmen on the ground. Controls inside the plane (8:55-10:21). A pilot salutes. Crewmen run on the deck. Corsair II plane takes off. Corsair II in the sky. Wave off lights flash. Corsair II plane comes in for a landing but pulls up a little and keeps going. Corsair II lands but keeps going, picks up speed and continues flying. Corsair II has its wings folded. Pilot in cockpit (10:22-12:38). Pilot opens the cockpit, removes oxygen mask and dismounts. Pilot climbs down the side of the plane. Plane flies over the ship. A hand pulls a control in the cockpit. Corsair II is dropped onto the hangar deck. Director waves his hands (12:39-14:46). A briefing on the ship. A hand jots down notes. Corsair II plane is inspected before flight. A plane tire. A pilot writes in marker on the plane. Launch bar is checked. Pilot in the cockpit (14:47-16:18). Crewmen prepare under the plane. The pilot checks buttons and starts to taxi. The director waves his hands. Corsair II plane takes off. Nighttime at sea. Corsair II on the deck at night. A wand is used as light. Inside the cockpit at night. Corsair II taxis at night. Director waves wands (16:19-18:26). Wands are waved to follow at night. Interior cockpit at night. Caution light blinks (18:27-20:03). Corsair II planes fly at night. Approaching a carrier at night as seen from the cockpit of a Corsair II. Corsair II plane lands at night. Wands wave the plane at night on the deck. Corsair II lands, nose wheel may swivel. Plane lights flash at night if you have a problem (20:04-22:04). Controls are pulled in the cockpit during a daylight taxi on the deck. Corsair II on the deck. Pilot inside the cockpit. Corsair II plane lands and the director waves the plane over. Corsair II takes off. Director on a phone. Plane lands. Corsair II takes off. Corsair II in the air, another lands. Plane approaches a carrier from the air (22:05-24:26). End credits (24:27-24:49).

We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example like: “01:00:12:00 — President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference.”

This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD and 2k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com