US Navy aircraft carrier operations are complex and challenging for the aircrew and shipboard personnel. A back-up exists for almost everything, and the ultimate backup for landing is a barricade recovery.

We talk to a pilot and RIO about their night barricade recovery while flying with VF-2 aboard the USS Ranger in 1989. Pager and Rico describe how they got into the situation, how they prepared when starting this unusual approach, and what it was like flying into a giant net at 150 mph!