Originally Posted by
Pirate
Slightly off thread, but PontiusNavigator cited the Buccaneer as having had catastrophic failures.
A wing fell off during Red Flag. It was captured on camera and broadcast on the news. Less than a second from breakup to impact at 500k.
Fleet was grounded and almost scrapped at the time. Eventually checks were done and the safe-to-transit clearance was given for the sqn to return via Laejes.
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http://www.faqs.org/docs/air/avbucc.html
However, during the 1980 Red Flag exercises one of the Buccaneers lost a wing and crashed, killing its crew. The cause of the accident was fatigue in the front wing spar, and the entire Buccaneer force was grounded and inspected. Some were repaired while others were condemned and scrapped, and due to this attrition one Buccaneer squadron was disbanded.>>