And this my friends is why I joined the Navy!

[Admin]

Navy

 

On a carrier, the Naval Aviator looks over at the Catapult Officer

 

("Shooter") who gives the run up engines signal by rotating his finger

 

above his head. The pilot pushes the throttle forward, verifies all flight

 

controls are operational, checks all gauges, and gives the Cat officer a

 

brisk salute, continuing the Navy/Marine tradition of asking permission to

 

leave the ship. The Cat officer drops to one knee while swooping his arm

 

forward and pointing down deck, granting that permission. The pilot is

 

immediately catapulted and becomes airborne.

 

Army

 

If you've ever seen an Army helicopter pilot preparing for takeoff, you

 

will note that the pilot gives the ground guy a thumbs up before he is

 

given hover and takeoff signals. There are two theories about the origin

 

of this gesture. One is that it is to show that the pilot has identified

 

which of his fingers is the thumb so that he will be able to properly

 

operate his controls. The most compelling theory says that this is to show

 

the ground crewman that the pilot indeed knows which direction is up.

 

Air Force

 

 

 

We've all seen Air Force pilots at the air force base look up just before

 

taxiing for takeoff and the ground crew waits until the pilot's thumb is

 

sticking straight up. The crew chief then confirms that he sees the thumb,

 

salutes, and the Air Force pilot then takes off. This time-tested

 

tradition is the last link in the Air Force safety net to confirm that the

 

pilot does not have his thumb up his ass.

 

 

[icebob]

Glad you enjoyed this Ian.

 

 

[dazza 38]

Hmmm, I dont know what to say.

 

 

[Guernsey]

 

Alan.