"Three-zero-five, Hornet Ball," Jax called out, his eyes locked on the "Meatball," the glowing amber light on the ship's optical landing system that told him if his glide slope was true.
On a standard runway, landing is about finesse. On a carrier, it’s a controlled crash. Jax reached for the lever on his right console and toggled it down. Behind him, the —a heavy, reinforced titanium-alloy bar—dropped from the aircraft’s tail, locking into position with a pneumatic hiss. arrester hook
The heavy "stinger" of the hook struck the deck, trailing sparks as it skated across the non-skid surface. Then, it found purchase. The hook's curved point snagged the #3 wire, the "target" cable for every naval aviator. "Three-zero-five, Hornet Ball," Jax called out, his eyes