JAS-39 low rolls.

[sandozer]

Swedish pilot risks drop after 'Top Gun' stunts - The Local (http://www.thelocal.se/45702/20130119/#.UPvS0CeExtw)

Looking like the jockey`s time may be up.

[Duncan D'Sorderlee]

"...dangerous 'barrel' roll..."

:=

Duncs:ok:

[Kitbag]

The pilot's commander at the F21 squadron in Luleå (http://www.thelocal.se/tag/lule%E5) in northern Sweden has written to the Swedish Armed Forces Disciplinary Board (Försvarsmaktens Personalansvarsnämnd (http://www.thelocal.se/tag/F%F6rsvarsmaktens_Personalansvarsn%E4mnd)) to recommend dismissal.

According to the commander's report, the 26-year-old pilot performed several rolling manoeuvres with the aircraft at very low altitudes.

"He has exposed himself, state property and third parties to far more serious risks than is acceptable," the report stated.

He was furthermore found to have attempted to cover up his reckless behaviour by failing to filing to file a report of the incidents and by later lying to officers when questioned.

The report details how the 26-year-old's employers had subsequently lost all confidence in him due to his actions and the attempted cover up.

"The employer lacks confidence in him as an individual and consider him therefore plainly unsuitable as a pilot and an officer."


With no facts other than the report in the paper I wonder whether it is the lack of flying discipline or (more likely?) the attempts to cover it up that have led to this?

[M609]

Having worked at a Swedish fighter base, and finding their approach to "just culture" to be very good, I suspect the latter.

.....depends how low he got off course.

[ORAC]

They seem to make a habit of it...

MEcUrCwpVDs

[Kitbag]

The video posted by ORAC reminded me that quite often the members of this forum* generally give kudos to low flying; the many Mirage/Jaguar/Bucaneer/Harrier/Tornado/F16 videos as well as a French KC135 spring to mind. I am not an aviator in any sense but am curious to consider what other factors if any led to what seems to be quite a draconian recommendation given that this guy had made it through the presumably expensive training system,





*other forums are available.

[BEagle]

"...dangerous 'barrel' roll..."

:=

The low-level barrel roll is one of the easiest manoeuvres there is......


.......for killing people. Usually by failing to pitch sufficiently during the first part, then burying the nose during the second part, without enough height to complete the manoeuvre.

"...later lying to officers when questioned." would seem to be the final straw though. One thing to own up and take an ar$e-kicking, quite another to lie. So I guess he'll soon be cooking meatballs at the local Ikea, if he's lucky.

[Duncan D'Sorderlee]

Beagle,

I agree; however, a barrel roll in itself is not dangerous. Failure to perfom the manoeuvre correctly, can put the pilot in a dangerous position.

Duncs:ok:

[BEagle]

Indeed so Duncs. If you don't see any sky through the windscreen at the inverted stage, spot roll out immediately and give yourself a firm talking-to!

[pontifex]

Beagle,

Couldn't agree more. A text-book barrel roll has a level axis. At low level the axis must be inclined (upwards!). Almost learned that the hard way. Look what happened to the guy (incipient alzheimers forgotten his name - probably a good thing) who got it wrong in an Invader at Biggin way back in time. I have always thought the barrel roll to be the most dangerous manoeuvre at low level. Just slightly ahead of a real Derry turn.

[wub]

Don Bullock was the pilot of tHe A-26 at Biggin

Bad day at Biggin - The "incident" on film and as seen first hand (http://napoleon130.tripod.com/id510.html)

[kbrockman]

A barrel roll from back in the days when rules and regulations where more flexible.

jyBDEG9dg-Q

[Trim Stab]

How to do it properly

POURING ICE TEA WHILE FLYING INVERTED - YouTube (http://youtu.be/pMWxuKcD6vE)