Like Brunel's Atmospheric Railway the tube of the catapult has a longitudinal valve covering the slot except where it is displaced to allow the connection to the internal piston to pass through.
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In the 1950s the lake was used in the testing of improved Martin Baker Ejection Seats, following catapult launch mishaps on carriers in which Fleet Air Arm aircrew often sustained serious compression injuries to the spine after ejecting from submerged aircraft.
Her complement of 14 Yokosuka D4Y dive bombers and eight Aichi E16A seaplanes were catapult-launched, but landed either on conventional carriers or land bases.
"On the Yankee Station" - the title story, set during the Vietnam War in which Lt Larry Pfitz on his first mission loses his Phantom shortly after takeoff from an aircraft carrier on Yankee Station and blames Arthur Lydecker, a member of his ground crew; whom he demotes to catapult maintenance; this provides Lydecker with the opportunity for revenge.