Thunderbird ejection Video

Dargos · Post by **Dargos** » 2004-01-28 07:06am

Video of Crash

Cockpit Video

Happened at Mt. Home AFB back in Sept. 2003. Review board just came out with its findings. Piolet Error.

Queeb Salaron · Post by **Queeb Salaron** » 2004-01-28 12:09pm

You'd think he'd get a little more altitude before he started the loop, just to be safe.

::Sighs:: This is why I'm not a pilot. I feel bad enough scratching my car, never mind totaling a multi-million dollar aircraft.

Faram · Post by **Faram** » 2004-01-28 12:13pm

Hmm did he eject at the end of the 2nd video? Sure hope so.

NM just saw the name of that clip...

Soontir C'boath · Post by **Soontir C'boath** » 2004-01-28 12:15pm

I figured he could've pulled up more, seemed after the loop he just went on a linear course toward the ground.~Jason

Post by **Lagmonster** » 2004-01-28 01:07pm

Queeb Salaron wrote:You'd think he'd get a little more altitude before he started the loop, just to be safe.

::Sighs:: This is why I'm not a pilot. I feel bad enough scratching my car, never mind totaling a multi-million dollar aircraft.

*I'm* not a pilot because after my body got done reacting to a couple of high-g dives and rolls, they'd have to burn the cockpit after I got back.

David · Post by **David** » 2004-01-28 04:15pm

Ouch, spinal-compression.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2004-01-28 05:24pm

I hope Wicked Pilot can find the time to comment on this thread, what with him being much more knowledgeable about flying than any of us.

The Dark · Post by **The Dark** » 2004-01-28 06:02pm

Queeb Salaron wrote:You'd think he'd get a little more altitude before he started the loop, just to be safe.

He was attempting a low-altitude Split-S, which is a standard Thunderbird routine. Supposedly the pilot's now flying a desk rather than an F-16.

I got the second video late last night, but hadn't seen the first one (actually, I'm watching it now). It's very weird looking to me. The F-16's in a position to gain altitude at the end of the video. Either its momentum carried it into the ground, or possibly airspeed was too low and it didn't have sufficient lift.

Witnesses reported the engine seemed to go out, according to KBCI Channel 2, Boise. From watching both videos, the pilot begins doing something with his left hand ~:18 of Eject, which corresponds with ~:28 of TBIRD CRASH (I'm basing this off the fact that the half-roll ends at :8 of Eject and :18 of TBIRD). It's hard to tell, but it does seem like the plume visible through most of the video cuts out right around then.

However, the official inquiry led to a conclusion of pilot error. The best guess is that the airport's high above-sea-level altitude caused confusion. According to the inquiry, he topped out at 1670 feet, when normal altitude (above ground level) is 2500 feet.