U.S. Naval Aviators Talk The Dangers And Thrills Of Taking Off And Landing On An Aircraft Carrier

An F/A-18E Super Hornet, assigned to the “Knighthawks” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 136, prepares to launch from the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) in support of Exercise Trident Juncture 18 U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Adelola Tinubu

National Interest: 'No ride like it': Naval aviators talk the dangers and thrills of taking off and landing on an aircraft carrier

* Naval aviators have a very exciting but dangerous job, and Insider recently had the opportunity to talk to two seasoned aviators about one of the US Navy's most intense jobs: Flying off a moving aircraft carrier.
* Lt. Cmdr. Matt Deppen, who has trapped on almost every aircraft carrier in the Navy, and Capt. J.J. Cummings, the commanding officer of the first-in-class USS Gerald R. Ford, talked to Insider about the thrills and the dangers of carrier take-offs and landings.
* "There's no ride like it in the world," Cummings said. Deppen called catapulting off the ship "the most exciting roller coaster you will ever be on in your life."

The US Navy's carrier-based pilots are skilled aviators who have to be able to take off and land on a ship moving swiftly through the open ocean. Two experienced naval aviators recently talked to Insider about the thrills and the dangers of the job.

Fighters and other aircraft aboard the US Navy's Nimitz-class aircraft carriers are launched using steam catapults. The new Ford-class carriers use the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), a more advanced catapult system.

"Taking a cat shot is the most exciting roller coaster you will ever be on in your life," Lt. Cmdr. Matt Deppen, who has served for 11 years and trapped on every aircraft carrier in the Navy except the USS Ronald Reagan, told Insider.

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WNU Editor: It must be tough for these naval aviators when they retire.