[Scan-DC] RE: [MilCom] Looking for some input

[Robert Kirk]

The Navy is very traditional. "Paddles" comes from the days when the LSO 
stood at the edge of the flight deck guiding planes coming in for a landing 
with a set of oversize ping pong paddles but no radio: "tilt left, tilt 
right, higher lower", etc. If he waved the paddles frantically you were 
nearing disaster so should pull up and go round again for another try. 
Thus, the term "wave off" which is still used today. Now the LSO has a 
radio and there's a big reflecting spot on a mirror next to the LSO called 
the "meatball" or simply "ball", which the pilot centers keeping him on the 
right glide slope. The LSO still coaches him and gives"wave offs" when 
necessary. He also gives a grade for each landing which is posted later in 
the squadron's ready room. Life is cruel.

Bob Kirk



At 03:30 PM 2/15/05 -0500, Jeff wrote:
>Yea, I had some more recorded comms on it today of Salty Dog 422 with 3
>other "DOGS" using it as an A-A freq. It almost sounded like they were
>gearing up for a little show. Kept referring to SHOW CENTER. Might just be
>getting ready for a little DOG & PONY Show. No PADDLES involvement
>whatsoever for this flight but toward the afternoon, I did have an aircraft
>calling PADDLES checking to see if the field was good enough to work some
>practice approaches. So it does appear to be a freq that they expect to be
>able to contact PADDLES on. I guess PADDLES is as good a name as any.
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Larry Van Horn [mailto:n5fpw at brmemc.net]
> > Sent: Monday, February 14, 2005 9:11 AM
> > To: Jeff; Scan-DC; MilCom
> > Subject: Re: [MilCom] Looking for some input
> >
> > The correct term for the 387.9 freq at Pax River is "paddles." It has also
> > been used by the Airboss during airshows. Paddles is the same as final GCA
> > on the carrier and at most NAVAIRSTAs (Naval Air Stations). It is the same
> > frequency that the LSO (Landing Signal Officer aka Paddles) talks the
> > pilot
> > down to the deck.  The paddles frequency at shore installations is also
> > used
> > for GCA work and in some cases a final GCA when not being used for FLCP
> > support. And yes, FCLP does stands for Field Carrier Landing Practice.
> >
> > Have fun out there, 73 and good hunting.
> >
> > Larry Van Horn, N5FPW
> > Assistant Editor/Milcom Columnist
> > Monitoring Times Magazine
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Jeff" <j333_76484 at yahoo.com>
> > To: "Scan-DC" <scan-dc at mailman.qth.net>; "MilCom" <milcom at mailman.qth.net>
> > Cc: "MilAirCommsChat" <MilAirCommsChat at yahoogroups.com>; "MD_scan"
> > <MD_scan at yahoogroups.com>; "SouthernMDScannerForum"
> > <SouthernMDScannerForum at yahoogroups.com>
> > Sent: Friday, February 11, 2005 3:25 PM
> > Subject: [MilCom] Looking for some input
> >
> >
> > Patuxent River NAS has 387.9 in use pretty often. I am currently listening
> > to a recording of Aircraft 84-MIKE doing low approaches with the Tower
> > coordinating. They keep switching from "LOW" Approaches to "PADDLES"
> > approaches. Then the aircraft will go back outbound and the Tower will
> > tell
> > him to "Report the hook, inbound". Every once in a while I will actually
> > here "PADDLES" come up on the radio and advise how many "Paddles
> > Approaches"
> > the aircraft has done thus far.
> >
> > Anyway, for my query, what would be a good way to name a freq like this.
> > It
> > is not exactly a GCA freq, because of the PADDLES involvement. It is
> > definitely not a standard APPROACH freq. Would it be appropriate to name a
> > freq like this "PADDLES", I am hesitant as "PADDLES" probably only used
> > the
> > freq a fraction of the time, even though PADDLES was obviously involved. I
> > can't say I remember seeing a freq from any other source called "PADDLES",
> > so I figured I would solicit for some input before jumping the gun on a
> > good
> > attempt at an ID.
> >
> > Any thoughts on the matter would be helpful.
> >
> > Jeff
> > Southern MD.
> > RS Pro-26, 92, 94, 94 (A), 2035 W/OPTO OS535 Board, Uniden BC250(x3), 780,
> > &
> > ICOM PCR-1000(x2),
> > Roof mounted Scantenna on a 10' mast & tripod, fed by LMR-400
> > All of the computer controllable rigs are running under Signal
> > Intelligence
> > Products: http://www.scanstar.com/
> >