HMS Ark Royal

archive of Dick Searles, Observer and original footage of Digby Stevenson.

The Wire Strop catcher can be seen on the Bow and Waist Catapults. The Video is taken from the Planeguard Helicoptor which then circles the ship. A Gannet aircraft is seen engines running and wings folded, also Phantom F4K's on deck with Buccaneer Mk 2's. Most importantly the viewer can now assess the degree of dificulty for Fleet Air Arm pilots to land on a small deck, seen in the final camera shot. The smoke and the turbulence from the island added to the difficulty. Operations were also conducted at night.