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USAF Thunderbird down

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Old 2nd Jun 2016, 20:00
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USAF Thunderbird AND USN Blue Angel down

Multiple reports on Twitter reporting that an F-16 from the Thunderbirds has crashed earlier following an engine failure following a fly past of the graduation at the USAF Academy at Colorado Springs.

Multiple sources also confirming that the pilot ejected and is under medical care already. Here's hoping for a swift recovery

https://twitter.com/newsblab/status/738457936763092993

Looks well to me from these pics.

Pics of the jet...

http://denver.cbslocal.com/2016/06/0...medium=twitter

Last edited by devonianflyer; 2nd Jun 2016 at 20:33.
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Old 2nd Jun 2016, 20:19
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F-16 Thunderbird Crash

One of the T-Birds has supposedly crashed during or just after their performance at the USAF Academy graduation ceremonies. News says the pilot ejected and there is a poor quality photo on Facebook showing a T-Bird F-16 down in a field. The nose is damaged and it is on its belly. Anyone know any details?
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Old 2nd Jun 2016, 20:26
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Thunderbird incident after grad flyover

Thunderbirds fighter jet crashes in Colorado Springs after flyover at Air Force Academy graduation ? The Denver Post


Pilot safe and jet appears intact in nearby field.
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Old 2nd Jun 2016, 20:32
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And now this...

BREAKING Blue Angels F/A-18 has crashed in Smyrna, Tennessee | AIRLIVE.net

Not a good day for the US display teams... All crossed for the USN crews...
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Old 2nd Jun 2016, 21:08
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One dead in the Smyrna crash but reports do not yet say who or what. Bad day all around.

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Old 3rd Jun 2016, 01:31
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The aircraft came down in a field:


The pilot, reported by the Denver Post as Major Alex Turner, parachuted to safety. Obama, concerned, met with him afterwords:



All things considered, the Colorado incident could have been worse.
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Old 3rd Jun 2016, 07:42
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Officials credit his flying experience for being able to put down the plane while keeping it intact.
That's clever ... eject first, then land the aircraft?

A sad day indeed, and RIP Capt Kuss.
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Old 3rd Jun 2016, 14:19
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Her pictures show the pilot safely following his aircraft via parachute to the ground below.

The pilot, identified as Maj. Alex Turner, was able to land the jet intact -- despite ejecting.

"I think it is a testament to the exceptional pilotism of our Air Force Thunderbird pilot," Bohn said.
Exceptional spin doctoring by the AF PR machine, take random luck and frame it as pilot heroics.
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Old 3rd Jun 2016, 14:36
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Remote control I guess. That's multi tasking.
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Old 3rd Jun 2016, 14:36
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Great he is OK, but as to missing schools and hospitals, he avoided the USAF Academy!
RiP the Blue Angels pilot. Very sad
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Old 3rd Jun 2016, 14:40
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I have to ask how many here claim to have mastered "pilotism" ... *

* My spill-chocker doesn't like "pilotism", and Bohn is a good name for someone using it. Is his nickname "Dome"?


However, whilst the USAF Dribble Machine is a good source of laughter, not such a good day for the Blue Angels, the USMC and Capt Kuss.

Last edited by MPN11; 3rd Jun 2016 at 15:35. Reason: Fighting spill-chucker
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Old 3rd Jun 2016, 15:19
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Reports say the Thunderbirds Falcon was already in landing config, lined up for runway at KCOS. Slow, and gear (and intake) likely absorbed most of the impact, thus the relatively intact airframe.
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Old 3rd Jun 2016, 19:46
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Originally Posted by MPN11
That's clever ... eject first, then land the aircraft?
How about figure out what is going on, controlling some sort of a heading and then ejecting.
Must not be that high anyway if on approach.
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Old 3rd Jun 2016, 20:38
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Un-piloted landing? It's not unheard of

F-106 Accidents & Emergency Landings
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Old 3rd Jun 2016, 23:49
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Un-piloted landing? It's not unheard of
RAAF had a Mirage do more or the less the same. Engine failure in the circuit, ejected, airframe deposited itself in a swamp with only a few dings in the bodywork. Now resides in a museum.

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Old 4th Jun 2016, 01:15
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Now that's a proper paint job - look at that go fast fin flash.
None of this stealth grey bollocks.
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Old 4th Jun 2016, 01:41
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Shoot, even deployed the chute.
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Old 4th Jun 2016, 05:12
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I've seen that Mirage up close and the lack of damage is remarkable. I did meet an ex Mirage pilot (RAAF) who was given a severe reprimand for successfully deadsticking a "silent" aeroplane home rather than abandoning it...
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Old 4th Jun 2016, 07:10
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In Jan 1960, a Danish Hawker Hunter pilot ejected after suffering an engine failure on the approach...

...the aircraft then made an almost perfect belly landing at Skrydstrup AB some 3 miles away!

Apparently it suffered such little damage that it was repaired and put back into service - although I find that hard to believe.
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Old 4th Jun 2016, 08:36
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IIRC there was a USAF fighter where the pilot messed up the approach to the extent he was over the runway, nose-high on the back of the drag curve and ejected.

The ejection shut the throttle and pitched the nose forward, the aircraft touched down and engaged an arrestor cable, stopping with no further damage than the missing seat and associated missing parts etc.

The pilot thereafter having the reputation that his aircraft landed better without him than with with......
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