Sea Legs

The six fighters flew out over the water away from the two tankers. Wally looked at Sidewinder. "My fuel hose smacked a lady?" He felt a sense of shame. I guess I am gonna have to have George pull these tanks apart and fix them".

Henry and Wally watched as the six fighters flew away.

"Now you boys need to break the new flier into the tricks of maneuvering. Don't be mean or rude," Echo instructed. " Fly in a diamond formation. Sidewinder, I want you to follow them at the back of the diamond".

Scrappy grinned again. "That Turkey can't maneuver like us. We'll lose her real fast. I don't think she can even fly as fast as us either".

Scrappy took the point of the diamond and Speed flew on his right. Scrappy immediately led the formation straight up. "Up Jolly Wrenches," he called out. Sidewinder stayed glued to the back of that diamond like a stout soldier. Scrappy led the four through a loop. Sidewinder stayed with them. She started to smile, especially when Scrappy ordered the diamond into a slow roll.

"Is she still back there?" Scrappy asked Speed.

"Yup," Speed said. "Why don't you try the 'Lulu'?"

"Some of you guys can even do that one". Scrappy said.

"Well we might lose both the Scooter and Shins".

Scrappy started the weave in and out. Scooter broke away. He had not had enough flight practice to do those crazy moves. But Sidewinder stayed glued to Scrappy and Speed. She remembered the flying lessons of her mother. Lobelia Murphy, wife of Rear Admiral James 'Dash' Murphy had been a firm but gentle mentor to her daughter. Her mother had taught her all kinds of maneuvers. Her big wings and her flat belly between her engines made her maneuver more like a slower plane.

Scrappy was starting to get frustrated. She rolled over upside down in the air and looked down at Scrappy. "Are you done with this little game? I grew up with a mother who is a skilled flier. Want to try with me in the lead?. Want to make a deal?"

"Why not," said Scrappy.

"If you can't keep up with me, let the Pitties wash and give Scoot fresh paint. Stop bullying them".

"That's a deal".

"Now don't follow too close". Sidewinder cautioned. She skimmed along the water with long white flames shooting from her exhaust. Vapor coming off her wings as they swept back. She was picking up speed. Scrappy heard and felt the air go BANG from the sonic boom. Scrappy's eyes grew wide as he struggled to keep up. The shock wave behind Sidewinder was kicking up a rooster tail of water. She started to climb picking up more speed. Scrappy lagged behind. Now Sidewinder was looping up around in a big circle. She caught up to Scrappy and passed him. She waved her wings at him.

"Yay!", Scoot was saying. Scrappy was gritting his teeth knowing he lost.

The fighters formed up again. Sidewinder dropped down beside Scrappy. "No hard feelings," she said.

"That was some flying," Echo said to her.

"You still have to land on the ship," Scrappy said with an evil grin. "Gonna catch the wire with your shins again?"

Bravo dropped down beside Sidewinder. He couldn't see her eyes through her visor, but he anticipated that she might freeze up again.

"You know that every Navy Fighter Jet has a tail hook. You were born with it. Your father has one, and your mother has one. When the baby is delivered with that little stripy hook they know she is a Navy baby. It means you have sea water in your veins. You have Sea Legs. Without it, you would fall off the bow of the ship".

"But Mother never landed on a ship," Sidewinder replied.

"You don't know that," Bravo replied. "Your father is Dash Murphy. Did you know the Flysenhower would have Family day? Your father taught your mother how to land on the ship. Oh and that girlish shape of yours gives you a slower landing speed than the guys".

"And you fly real fast like Dash," Echo added.

"No need to be scared of landing. It doesn't hurt," Scoot encouraged.

"Can I go first? I still want to get it over with," Sidewinder asked. She could see the Flysenhower on the horizon.

"Hooks down Airman and get into the Hawk Circle. Sidewinder, you go first," Bravo instructed.

The term Hawk Circle did put a smile on Sidewinder's face and she dropped her hook. She learned the term in school. It was a term for the planes waiting their turn to land.

Sea Legs. She turned those words over in her mind as she opened her wings again, lowered her flaps and wheels. She opened her air brakes last. The LSO started to talk her in. "More power", he said. She applied more power. That lined up the yellow ball with the green lights. Sea Legs, repeated in her mind. Her gentle soft spoken mother had landed on this ship? Somehow that had encouraged her.

She kept staring at that yellow light. The deck rushed up. She gritted her teeth, but she didn't squeal this time. Bang! Her wheels slammed into the deck. Her hook grabbed the number three wire. She felt the fuel in her belly sloshing as she was jolted to the stop. She was wondering if her eyes were going to come rolling out of her head. But mercifully the wire slacked off. She lifted her hook and let the cable drop. Rogers was there signalling her off the landing area and to the flight deck elevator. She followed him to the elevator. As it dropped to the hangar Rogers finally spoke. "Look like your helmet took a beating from that fuel hose. Better the helmet than your head".

The elevator stopped at the hangar bay. She followed Rogers off. He took a screw driver and loosened the helmet. He slid it off her head. The air hitting her head felt refreshing.

"I am going to have to work the night repairing this thing". Rogers explained.

A few minutes later after several banging noises above the ceiling. Sidewinder heard the elevator again. On it was Scoot and Speed. Scoot just stared when he saw her without the helmet. The lights of the hanger reflected off her shiny bubble head.

"Psst, Scoot, You got to get ready for the wash job," Speed reminded. Then he looked to Sidewinder with new respect in his eyes. "Congratulations on a great flight today".