P-47 Thunderbolt ditching into The Hudson River
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P-47 Thunderbolt ditching into The Hudson River
Last edited by 7AC; 28th May 2016 at 21:36.

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P-47 Thunderbolt ditching
It is reported that a P-47 Thunderbolt has ditched in the Hudson River in New York, and the pilot did not make it out
Pilot killed in P-47 Thunderbolt Hudson crash » World Warbird News
The radio report says he survived the ditching, but drowned as the plane sank. Very sad to hear, particularly when he put the aircraft safely down in such a congested area. I have no idea if he wore a life jacket or not, but it is a reminder that even though your flight might not be planned beyond gliding distance of land, the water may still be the better option, and you should be prepared...
Pilot killed in P-47 Thunderbolt Hudson crash » World Warbird News
The radio report says he survived the ditching, but drowned as the plane sank. Very sad to hear, particularly when he put the aircraft safely down in such a congested area. I have no idea if he wore a life jacket or not, but it is a reminder that even though your flight might not be planned beyond gliding distance of land, the water may still be the better option, and you should be prepared...
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RIP Bill Gordon
[As an addendum to the first comment, there was a practice during the BoB that pilots ditching in the Channel would often pull the toggle on the Mae West just before ditching... this primitive version of the airbag was credited with saving more than a few lives.
]
[As an addendum to the first comment, there was a practice during the BoB that pilots ditching in the Channel would often pull the toggle on the Mae West just before ditching... this primitive version of the airbag was credited with saving more than a few lives.

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This appears to cover the actual contact with water, with minimal vertical motion at impact:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUomSU2ua84
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUomSU2ua84
Last edited by chromakey; 29th May 2016 at 17:49.

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Here it is on its way up from the water again:
http://i.imgur.com/xFXXNSX.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/xFXXNSX.jpg
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Here it is on its way up from the water again:
http://i.imgur.com/xFXXNSX.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/xFXXNSX.jpg
Should anything be read into this in regard to the amount of fuel onboard the aircraft?
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From the NTSB report:
"The wreckage was recovered from the river the following day and was transported to the West 30th Street Heliport, New York, New York. An initial examination of the wreckage revealed that the airframe was generally intact. The engine remained attached to the airframe. A cursory examination of the engine revealed that the number 18 cylinder on the Pratt and Whitney R-2800 radial engine was damaged, consistent with an in-flight occurrence. Oil was present on the exterior of the engine."
"The wreckage was recovered from the river the following day and was transported to the West 30th Street Heliport, New York, New York. An initial examination of the wreckage revealed that the airframe was generally intact. The engine remained attached to the airframe. A cursory examination of the engine revealed that the number 18 cylinder on the Pratt and Whitney R-2800 radial engine was damaged, consistent with an in-flight occurrence. Oil was present on the exterior of the engine."