View Full Version : Shouldn't Laugh!
Kirstey
26th Jul 2002, 15:13
A pilot making his first solo flight was escorted by two F-16 military fighter jets after mistakenly signalling he'd been hijacked.
The pilot then landed the Cessna 172 safely at Steller Airpark in Chandler, Arizona.
Chandler police spokeswoman Emma Bribiescas said: "It appears that this was simply a human error."
Police say he used an emergency transponder that alerted air traffic controllers at Sky Harbour Airport.
They alerted the Air Force and the F-16s were scrambled.
The identity of the student hasn't been released.
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nicked from Ananova.com
distaff_beancounter
26th Jul 2002, 15:24
Before turning on master switch, check what numbers, the last comedian who flew this aircraft, left set on the transponder ..... :D
skyraider
26th Jul 2002, 15:32
mmmm.......I suppose that's one way to get in on a fighter formation fly-by....:D:D:D
I bet you it was Formationfoto getting his latest pictures :D
mattpilot
26th Jul 2002, 15:46
I bet you it was Formationfoto getting his latest pictures
if ya think about it, it would be the perfect cover. Who would press charges against a student? :D
dublinpilot
26th Jul 2002, 15:53
But of course you never have your camera with you at times like that!!
Yea right, just imagine the scene........
"Alpha 1, everything ok, just looks like another student gotten lost.........."
"Roger that Alpha1 Stand down..."
"Alpha1, hold on, hes pointing something at us.....!!!!!!! Fire.!!!!!!"
:D :D :D
Tinstaafl
26th Jul 2002, 18:33
"I was too close for missiles so I switched to ......... camera!!!??? :D
LowNSlow
27th Jul 2002, 06:12
This must have been Cessna's contribution to the Joint Strike Trainer program to stay in formation with a brace of F-16s :D
Just what AoA were the 16's flying at I wonder :confused: QDMx3 would know if he had the BaconSaver fitted :D :D :D
I know we shouldn't laugh, but I had to chuckle just a little bit :D
formationfoto
27th Jul 2002, 19:05
Big Red L
Your comment regarding the F16 is quite close to the truth. Have recently been asked by an Extra display pilot to arrange a photoshoot of him in formation with an F16. Am currently trying to get hold of something hot enough to do it but cheap enough to be able to afford to do it. My Cessna 310 has coloured perspex so is not suitable. One thought is to get uncle sam to lend another F16. Now that would be a good session. Unfortunately as I normally do most of the formation flying and the others in the team do most of the lens work I think I might just miss out here somewhere.
Have previously been asked about where the various pics of which I talk appear. Most of the pictures creditted to 'PILOT Archive' in PILOT magazine are taken by the seething based team which I am responsible for organising. Also the team are hoping to populate the new PILOT website when it is launched later in the year with a gallery feature. Current picture count is 5,000 although many of these are multiple shots of the same aircraft. We seem to have an abundance of Jodel, Tiger Moth, and Chipmunk pictures (my regular mounts). As in previous posts a reminder that we can produce for you a CD rom with 30 or so pics for free providing you fly to Seething for the shoot. Your aircraft may then appear in PILOT in the future to illustrate an article. Ideally not Jodels, Tiger Moths or Chipmunks but allcomers accepted.
Final 3 Greens
27th Jul 2002, 20:12
Must have been a 'kin long first solo to allow fighters time to scramble and intercept!
Fujiflyer
28th Jul 2002, 15:09
Got to admit I once (couple of years ago) forgot to check the transponder code properly during my checks. It appeared to be set to 7000, unfortunately though, it was set to 7001. My oversight came to light when cruising at FL50 near Brighton, Shoreham APP asked me to check my SSR code as the military (probably Dunsfold, back then) had reported that someone was squawking the code reserved for low level, fast military jets. :o The reality was that the plane I was flying at the time (not the Fuji) only cruised at about 80kt (not to mention that I was at 5000').
I now check it a bit more carefully during the pre-flight. ;)
Fujiflyer :)
It would be interesting to hear from other pilots what silly mistakes like this, they had made. Would be useful for the rest of us to learn from. Topic for a new thread???
mattpilot
28th Jul 2002, 19:30
"It would be interesting to hear from other pilots what silly mistakes like this, they had made. "
Well, wasn't really my mistake, but anyhow:
I called up ground to request VFR radar following. I got a squawk code & was told to taxi to rwy. During my taxi, the dude came back on the radio and said i was squawking wrong code & we got into an arguement. So we changed it. Tip: Dont argue with controller - makes him mad :). Anyhow, 2 min after departure, we contacted tracon, and then that dude got all mad cause we were squawking the wrong code. So he gave us the same code the ground controller game us originally. I then tried to blame it on the ground controller(it was his fault - really :)), but he didn't like my excuse and he was mad too :)
RotorHorn
29th Jul 2002, 07:13
Flying into the Isle of Man in an R22 was told to keep a good lookout for an unidentified aircraft low level and very slow moving near the airport. Apparently they had his sqawk but couldn't raise him on the radio.
After we landed found out it was an oil tanker passing the island.
Didn't even know tankers had transponders!!
Flash0710
29th Jul 2002, 13:24
Reminds me of the Simpsons, Sideshow Bob steals the ageing biplane ( pedal Powered ) and is chased by two interceptors.
Commander states " Target too slow suggest chasin on foot....)
Do you think the pilot thaught D,oh....?