Old tired Hooker

[hink441]

Here is something you don't see everyday. This is an A-6 tailhook. This hook was used and retired from service. You can see the wire slap marks on the face of the hook. We had to visually inspect these every 10 traps, any defects and they would be removed from service. Every 100 traps they would be x-rayed for structural damage. Every 500 traps they were retired from service and replaced. The floor tiles in the pictures are 12" tiles, so you can judge the size. These things are built like a battering ram and take alot of abuse. A heavy souvenir from from my USN NAVAIR career. Thanks for looking. http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/#EMO_DIR#/rolleyes.gif

 

http://i776.photobucket.com/albums/yy45/hink_album/Hook004.jpg

 

http://i776.photobucket.com/albums/yy45/hink_album/Hook003.jpg

 

http://i776.photobucket.com/albums/yy45/hink_album/Hook001.jpg

Here are the original pics.

 

 

[hink441]

Just to add to this old thread.

 

Here is (L to R) an F-8 hook point, an S-3 hook point, and an F-14 hook point. In the back is a in flight refueling probe. Items I found in my garage today.

 

[phantomfixer]

That is a cool collection...something a MX guy can appreciate...

[Swifter]

I second PhabPhanFixer's comment...as an ex-McDonnell flight tester, I enjoy pondering the designs, loads and uses of all the hardware bits installed on these jets.

[hink441]

Thanks for the comments. Maybe you guys will like this. Here is a nose launch bar from an A-6 Intruder. These pieces were closely tracked as for as launches accumulated. Every 10 launches required a visual inspection, and 100 launches required x-Ray and dye penetrant inspections. 500 launches and the bar was retired.

 

 

 

[phantomfixer]

seriously cool hardware...unless a depot item...seems a lot of these could have become paper weights???

[hink441]

Yes, if you were at sea, the high time bars, hooks and hook points were usually tossed over the side or became doorstops or paperweights. I managed to keep a few over the years. They were a consumable item and were not reworked.

 

Chris

[phantomfixer]

Thats awesome....I woulda had em by the box load...pitot tubes on C5s were consumable...as were the windscreens...gave away all of the pitot tubes..and still have a center main windscreen...the stuff the military tosses!

[Blaze1]

On 6/19/2019 at 7:51 PM, hink441 said:

Here are the original pics.

 

 

 

 

Here's a picture of an A-6 tailhook milliseconds away from performing its task.

[hink441]

1 hour ago, Blaze1 said:

 

 

Here's a picture of an A-6 tailhook milliseconds away from performing its task.

That is a great picture. That is the tanker version of the A-6 known as the KA-6D. 
 

Chris

[Blaze1]

1 hour ago, hink441 said:

That is a great picture. That is the tanker version of the A-6 known as the KA-6D. 
 

Chris

Yep.  You can see the semi internal basket installation just ahead of the tailhook.🙂

[hink441]

Bringing this old thread up again. 
 

Today I got an A-7 Corsair hook-point. Really like this one, shows a bunch of wear and tear. 
 

 

 

 

[Blaze1]

Looking through all these heavy duty items you've posted hink, I've been wondering how much they weigh?

[hink441]

12 hours ago, Blaze1 said:

Looking through all these heavy duty items you've posted hink, I've been wondering how much they weigh?

The heaviest piece I own is the A-6 tail hook and it weighs around 35 lbs. 

[Blaze1]

Thanks hink.

 

From your earlier post it looks like the hook is about 3 feet long.  Considering the length and the job it has, I'm trying to figure out whether I'd consider 35lbs as being heavy or not.

[Blaze1]

On 1/15/2011 at 6:27 PM, hink441 said:

Here is something you don't see everyday. This is an A-6 tailhook. This hook was used and retired from service. You can see the wire slap marks on the face of the hook. We had to visually inspect these every 10 traps, any defects and they would be removed from service. Every 100 traps they would be x-rayed for structural damage. Every 500 traps they were retired from service and replaced. The floor tiles in the pictures are 12" tiles, so you can judge the size. These things are built like a battering ram and take alot of abuse. A heavy souvenir from from my USN NAVAIR career. Thanks for looking.

 

 

 

 

hink, you interested in this: Cheap Hardware.😁

[hink441]

2 hours ago, Blaze1 said:

 

hink, you interested in this: Cheap Hardware.😁

Wow!! That is priced pretty high for my budget. 😳😂😂

[hink441]

On 5/31/2022 at 10:27 AM, hink441 said:

Wow!! That is priced pretty high for my budget. 😳😂😂

Here is the price just in case somebody is interested. 😂😂

[hink441]

Just obtained a cut-down A-4 Skyhawk tail hook. Been wanting one of these for some time now and this one came along. 
 

Don’t know why it was shortened, or why it was painted white. I cleaned up the paint job and was pleased with the original paint job underneath. 
 

The hook came with the name of the previous owner. He was a 30 year career Naval Aviator that flew A-4s, S-3s, and F-14s. Retired as a Navy Captain. 
 

Before and after pics. 

[hink441]

This one is a tail hook stinger from the C-2 Greyhound. This one is one of my favorites. 
 

 

 

[hink441]

More pics

 

 

 

 

[hink441]

This is a hook from a USAF F-111   
 

 

[collectsmedals]

On 10/22/2022 at 8:00 PM, hink441 said:

This is a hook from a USAF F-111   

That is impressive. I served on an aircraft carrier, and I cannot imagine trying to stop an airplane as big as an F-111 with a tailhook!

[hink441]

13 hours ago, collectsmedals said:

That is impressive. I served on an aircraft carrier, and I cannot imagine trying to stop an airplane as big as an F-111 with a tailhook!

The F-111B actually did carrier trials on the USS Coral Sea back in 1968. The trials were conducted after the Navy had cancelled the program. The USAF kept the F-111 and flew them up until around 1998. 
 

Here are some pics of the F-111B during the Coral Sea carrier trials. 
 

My hook is from an USAF F-111 Aardvark. 
 

 

[hink441]

Just acquired this F-4 Phantom hook point.