U.S. Navy Tailhook – Aircraft Carrier Arresting Gear

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U.S. NAVY AIRCRAFT
TAIL HOOK

 

 



 


Presented is an
authentic U.S.Navy arresting gear commonly referred to as a tail hook. This device allows an airplane to land safely
on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier by hooking a wire that is stretched across the flight deck. Though we can not be
certain, we believe it dates back to the Vietnam Era or even earlier and may have come from a plane with a big round engine.

                         WW II F4F Grumman Wildcat

 

In 2011, the Navy will be celebrating the centennial of the Birth of Naval Aviation and
tail hooks date back to the beginning.  It is reported that aviation pioneer, Hugh Robinson was the one who had
invented the tail hook that Eugene Ely used, when he landed his Curtiss Model D biplane on the deck of the “USS Pennsylvania”,
on January 18, 1911.

 

 
 

SELLER’S MEMBERSHIPS INCLUDE THE TAILHOOK ASSOCIATION, ASSOCIATION
OF NAVAL AVIATION, SILVER WINGS, AND THE NAVAL HISTORICAL FOUNDATION.

 


Photo of Vietnam Era A6
 

HOW THEY WORK: Prior to making an “arrested landing”, the pilot lowers the hook so that it will
contact the deck as the aircraft wheels touch down. The hook then drags along the surface until an arresting cable which
is stretched across the landing area is captured. The cable lets out, transferring the force of the landing aircraft
to the arresting gear through the cable to large dampeners below deck. A “trap” is often-used slang for an arrested landing.
An aircraft which lands beyond the arresting cables is said to have “boltered” Occasionally, the tail hook bounces over one
or more of the wires, resulting in a “hook skip bolter.”

 

 

CRITICAL DIMENSIONS:

LOA 25”   Shaft 18” L
x 1 1/8th OD    
Hook 7” L x 3 7/8th Max width     7 pounds.

 

 

 

MARKS:

 

 

 

On
starboard side of hook a large “P”.

 

On
the flange joining shaft to hook a small “P L”

 

On
the back side of the hook there are numbers and letters on a straight line, but some are upside down.

 

 

 


Arrow points to Part Number

As best we can read the stamps: “LEOEI” then upside down 7097 then right
side up USA then a large “H” with I O above on their side, then right side up some numbers which look like 1911
A.

 

                 Arrow
point to large “P“
      Arrow points to small “PL“

 

CONDITION: The tube has been cutoff
at the point the collar attaches to the hinge on the aircraft. It is otherwise complete and in the condition of last use.

Buy this rare relic of Naval Aviation! It will make a great addition to your office,
den or family room.


Current Era FA-18 Hornet trapping a wire

 

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