Thunderbird crash!!!!

[Rifleman]

...........Aw, shucks..........

[chomp_rock]

It looks like he stalled it. If he is one of the best pilots the AF has to offer I think we'd all better fear for our lives .

[Scottler]

Take into consideration that Captain Stricklin stayed with his aircraft so long, possibly keeping it from flying into the crowd of 85,000 people, I'd say we're lucky to have him flying in our Air Force.

[loomex]

Good to see the pilot is ok.
I always thought the T-Birds had the guns and some other equipment deleted

Basicly that is true. If the need arises a T-bird can be put on-line in less than two days.

[N505AF]

The aircraft crashed right in front of me, he was a good ways off from the croud.  When he came in it didnt seem like he had power it was almost like a dead stick but he punched out at the last sec... very clouse call for the pilot.  I work on F-16 an F-15's every day but Ive never seen one go down before.  As of right now all the thunderbirds aircraft are still sitting on the flight line being guarded around the clock an the crash site is being looked over, theres not much left of the aircraft at all ithe JP-8  jet fule almost burned up ever thing...

[RIC_BARKER]

Well, for all of those that wondered why you have to stand so far from the flight line, and aircraft can't overfly the crowd - there's your answer. This could have been much worse, but looking at it now it's had the best possible outcome. No-one was hurt except the pilot's pride, the aircraft can be replaced, god knows the USAF can afford it!

I've seen the video here on UK tv, and it looks like a mechanical malfunction. The angle of attack isn't that high, and his speed is pretty low, so I suspect some sort of engine problem.

I've seen a dutch F-16 pilot stall an F-16 until it was stood on it's tail, light the burner and climb vertically! I suspect if he'd been able to, he would have done the same in this situation. Well, that's just what I think at this point, I'm sure the investigation will yeild some interesting results.

Ric B.

[Scottler]

I agree that it was possibly a mechanical malfunction.  I just don't think that Capt. Stricklin would have stalled the aircraft to the point of losing control.

My point is simply that the comment that we're all in trouble because he's the best the Air Force has to offer is, to say the very least, very insensitive.

But anyway, one question...when I saw them a few weeks ago, they flew over the crowd multiple times.  If they're not supposed to do that, why did they?  lol

[RIC_BARKER]

Well, they can overfly the crowd, but it has to be done in a way that if anything was to go wrong, the aircraft would be in a high enough "energy" state to pass right over the crowd....ie, fast and not in a direct dive at the crowd.

I think, feel free to correct me on this...

Ric B.

[CFS2_person]

That's too bad. Hey, where can i find video of the crash?
And another question, when you said the t-birds can go back into service in 2 days do they repaint the aircraft, or does it go into combat with it's red white and blue stripes?

CFS2_person

[RIC_BARKER]

That's too bad. Hey, where can i find video of the crash?
And another question, when you said the t-birds can go back into service in 2 days do they repaint the aircraft, or does it go into combat with it's red white and blue stripes?

Video here: http://media.kxly.com/stories/video/2003SEP/CRASH.ram

Oh, yes. The do repaint the planes, they do a pretty shoddy job too, you should see them up close!

Ric B.

[flyboy 28]

I saw the video on CNN... I didn't know it was a Thunderbird! What # was it? 5 or 6?

[Scottler]

From what I understand, #6.

[Ivan]

The most irritating fact of this crash was the airforce guy bragging about how good the ejection seat is... i think he didn't see some of the Mig-29 and Sukhoi airshow mishaps which would have ended much worse if they had the ejection seat of a F-16 instead of the K-36D

[Dan]

Good for the pilot.  ;D Whos posting the final report!??
Dan
Wales, Uk

[Scottler]

Ivan, all due respect, but I think Captain Stricklin earned the right to be proud of his ejection seat, don't you?

As long as it saves my life, it's all good.  It doesn't matter how much better the others are, as long as it gets ME out.