do air force get any training on carrier take-offs and landings?

Answer 1

Of course not, they're not the Navy..

Answer 2

In general, no. But there are a few exceptions.

The armed services have exchange programs. A Navy fighter pilot may come to the USAF to fly the F15 for 3-4 years and a USAF fighter pilot may go to the Navy to fly the F18 for 3-4 years. Obviously the USAF pilot in that case would have to learn and do carrier landings and take offs.

As far as the other USAF pilots flying the transports, big bombers and other large aircraft, they would never get the opportunity.

And a little know fact, a number of USAF planes had tailhooks and could probably do a carrier landing (albeit once). They include the F104, F105, F111 and the F117.

The new F22 also has a tailhook and since it is to be a tri-service plane (USAF, NAVY, MARINES) any version could probably land on a carrier with minimal damage.

So yes, some USAF pilots not only get trained to land on a carrier, they actually get to do it. With the F22 and the move for more "jointness" in the services, it would not be unreasonable to assume in the future all F22 pilots get trained for carrier landings, just in case.

Answer 3

To the dumb *** that said F-22s have a tail hook---you are dumb as ****. No nothing the air force owns is capable of a carrier landing. If it were, we would be the navy. The f-35 has many variants but the air force will still never land on a carrier. that is what the navy is for. The only ones that will have a tail hook is the marines and navy.

Answer 4

Dave doesn't know what he's talking about...

The F-22 is NOT a 'tri-service' aircraft. He's probably thinking of the F-35 which is not in service or LRIP for that matter. Most Air Force fighters have tail hooks and they ARE NOT carrier compatable! They are for the arresting gear on the airfields for IFE's. For the record...the first F-22 arrested landing operationally took place at Kadena AB, Japan.

There are many exchange pilots between the services. Further the Air Force has plenty of helicopters that are very capable of landing on a ship.

Answer 5

The Air Force always land at an Air Base. The Navy lands on Carriers at sea.

Answer 6

Nothing in the Air Force inventory is Carrier capable. Many Navy and Marine pilots would have problems if they didn't practice so much and fly so often at sea.

At three miles out, the carrier, which is about 1005 foot long flight deck, looks like a postage stamp. You come in at 185 MPH, kick it in the butt, drop to the deck and hope you catch a wire and don't bolter.

Answer 7

No. The exception being so rare as to be non-existent, there have been occasional exchange and joint programs that put pilots in the jets of the other services.

DUH! And helicopters! I worked on 'em for a year but didn't think of that. Thanks to all who did.

As far as USAF aircraft capable of carrier operations, some of our F-4s might have been able to survive it but there were some significant differences in the navy's airframes, beefier landing gear and such. F-111s were supposedly joint service also but the inter-service differences were even greater with these jets.

Answer 8

The answer is yes. Air Force and Navy pilots frequently fill joint or exchange billets and several AF pilots get assigned to carrier squadrons and fly with their Navy brethren.

Answer 9

We had Air Force HH-53 helicopters land several times. That's it.

Answer 10

No the Navy is the only military that have carrier qual'ed pilots. We don't have enough carriers in the fleet to deal with all the AF guys crashing into our fantail's.

Answer 11

Just the Navy and Marine Corps.