Good Footage of F-4s at Da Nang AB

[ironroad]

A short film on the VMFA-323's role in the Vietnam War and a short history on the build up of Da Nang Air Base durin the height of American involvement in the war.

 

 

[Skyviper]

I know there land bases have arresting gear for emergencies but I didn't think the gear was used in the manner a carrier uses it. Makes sense I suppose if the airstrip is short.

[charlielima]

One of my favs.

Its also posted as this in case it gets un you tubed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_G-lpdlSrRI

CL

[ironroad]

I know there land bases have arresting gear for emergencies but I didn't think the gear was used in the manner a carrier uses it. Makes sense I suppose if the airstrip is short.

Most large airports, regardless of country, use arresting cables, barriers, and/or runway "overrun" areas at the end of each runway to recover damaged aircraft.

 

Also, most runways are thicker at the ends, where the touch down markings are, to handle crash/hard landings; however, just because a runway is "long" does not mean it is rated to handle aircraft/equipment above a certain weight. Nor does it mean it can handle situations beyond certain "stress points" (i.e. big boys like the 747 and C-5 are limited on the types of runways they can "slam into without the material underneath giving away or hot exhaust gases from fighters can melt certain runways).

 

During the Vietnam war, US Marine air base at Chu Lai was so short that they had no choice but to use catapults and arresting gear to launch and recover aircraft (A-4s during the early years). Also prior to 1965, Da Nang had to use arresting gear and temporary matted runways to recover the Marine aircraft based there. After American involvement was stepped up Da Nang expanded and became a large hub for just about everything that few in and out of South Vietnam.