iscover
The "E" referred to in the text. The author is flying the last Firefly in the vertical leg of the formation.
Air Safety
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How Coke Nearly Hit the Spot
Prior to the Korean War, the RAN FAA operated its Fireflies and Sea Furies from HMAS Sydney in much the same fashion as had been done during the previous conflict.
The catapult was rarely used as it was quicker to fly aircraft off in a free takeoff from a deck park ranged aft. In those days the Air groups (of which there were two) consisted of two squadrons and space onboard was not a problem. Came the Korean conflict it was decided to deploy two Sea Fury squadrons and one Firefly squadron which meant that deck space would be limited and that the catapult would have to be used.
The alternative of RATOG (rocket assisted takeoff gear) was tried once with disastrous results when a Sea Fury torque stalled immediately the rocket motors cut out at the top of the resultant very steep climb, killing the pilot.
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