Pilot stuck on power line

[wub]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-49751536

[DIBO]

Belgian AF F16B 2-seater; successful ejections:

https://www.aviation24.be/military-aircraft/belgian-air-component/belgian-air-force-f-16-crashes-near-pluvigner-france/

[diginagain]

Will he be charged?

[Sandy Parts]

Will he be charged?
no doubt after being kept hanging around for a while...

[Fortissimo]

I expect they are both a little shocked...

[NutLoose]

Will he be charged?

Possibly with low level buzzing.

[Jhieminga]

They found themselves in a high-tension situation.

[57mm]

Thankfully, they're currently ok.....

[jimjim1]

Amazingly the BBC have an image of the actual ejection sequence.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/884x708/f_16_ejection_ae4951765bb45bddbc931e53b68354e339f55912.png

[Expatrick]

Ohmy......gives a whole new meaning to voltage drop!

[weemonkey]

usual buffonery.

https://www.canadiansafetygroup.com/blog/title/suspension-trauma-101/id/13/

"

Orthostatic Hypotension: In suspension trauma, this refers to the pooling of blood in the leg veins of a worker that occurs when individuals fall in harnesses, are suspended in confined spaces, etc. and are forced to hang vertically with their legs relaxed (immobilized).

Reflow Syndrome: The return of pooled, hypoxic blood and its metabolic byproducts from the extremities to the heart (more about this later).

Rescue Death: When related to suspension trauma, this type of death occurs in patients who appear physiologically stable during the rescue and extrication but suddenly die after being freed.


Suspension Trauma: Injuries Sustained from being immobilized in a vertical position when the legs are relaxed and immoble. Injuries include hypoxia (insufficient oxygen reaching the tissues); syncope (loss of muscle strength and/or fainting); hypoxemia (abnormally low levels of oxygen in the blood causing shortness of breath); acidosis (excessive acid in the body fluids or tissues, build up to CO2); ventricular fibrillation (irregular contractions of the heart where the chambers quiver uselessly instead of pumping blood, generally followed by sudden cardiac arrest); myocardial infarction (heart attack or literally “death of heart muscle”); damage to the liver, kidneys and brain; and possibly death. ​


Suspension Syndrome: The condition in which a suspended person becomes unconscious due to orthostasis (upright hanging position) without traumatic injury.

Scarey stuff right? Still with me? The "good" news is that suspension trauma can only affect someone who is immobile – specifically not using their leg muslces to any great extent. It does not normally affect people who wear a harness who are:

Actively moving about (climbing, rope access, rescue work, etc.)
Suspended for only a minute or two (parachutists)


.....

[JAVELINBOY]

Pilot probably a bit of a live wire on the Squadron

[charliegolf]

Didn't (some?) RAF zoomies have a system in their PSE for descending in such circumstances? I think jungle canopies were regarded as more likely events than wires.

CG

[ehwatezedoing]

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1260x708/mjaxota5mdy2ytezzgjknzy1mzdhngm2mwqymti1mzbmmmu1ytg_08a607f5 992c2993133284716c66bfa6b888d1c5.jpg

Ohm-My-God!

[NutLoose]

The link on the main Beeb page says Pilot ejects onto power line after the warplane crash... LOL

I expect the story will soon fizzle out, but I can see it pylon the pressure for answers as to what happened.

I heard they took him to hospital and he was eventually discharged.

[Bro]

Treescape. 100ft of line with a lowering device. Attached to the front of the flying suit under the life preserver.

[BEagle]

Probably the worst thing to do would be to use a treescape as that would connect the pilot to earth - whereas being connected simply to the power line itself is less of a hazard as helicopter power line inspectors prove on a regular basis!

Good that the pilots are safe and sound after the event. Some ejections have involved a lot of luck; perhaps one of the more amazing was that from XM604 in 1968, again through powerlines:

"The aircraft had rolled to port through at least 90 degrees but not more than 120 degrees, with a nose down angle of between 15 and 20 degrees when the Captain ejected from an approximate height of 300 feet by pulling the face blind. The blind partially covered the right side of his face because he only used his right hand to pull the face screen firing handle. Due to the attitude of the aircraft and the low height at the time of ejection the parachute had only streamed when the pilot passed through high tension cables close to the scene of the accident. The canopy caught one cable, pulled that cable onto the next one and caused an electrical short. This fused the nylon panels together which acted as a brake, and the pilot was lowered to the ground. As his feet touched he undid the quick release box and walked away."

And now back to the amateur comedians....

[Fly26]

Must write “Pylon” or “Pylone” on the next helmet.....

Glad their safe.

[sitigeltfel]

From the BBC...

"Built in 1983, the F-16 was apparently in good condition when it took off."

Well, that's good to know!

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-49751536

[ShyTorque]

Has he been grounded?

[Captain Radar....]

Having waited for some time to be rescued the pilot offered no resistance when offered a path to earth.

[Green Flash]

He'll be glad to be ohm

[treadigraph]

Did he send a cable to say he was alright?

[The Oberon]

All a bit of a Fluke ​​​​​​​really.

[lsh]

That looks like his dinghy above him?!
Shape, righting strap, inflation bottle - so is he hanging from a lanyard?
Where is his 'chute?

lsh
:E

[Fly26]

Boss: “Is he available on the land line..?.”

On scene officer: ”well sort of.. I’m sure he will ring you back when he’s off the other line”

[Out Of Trim]

I guess he now knows how it feels to get zapped! :ooh:

[Fly Aiprt]

He's been left high and dry...

[Trumpet trousers]

Hope he was current...

[Fly Aiprt]

Hope he won't be suspended...

[Tashengurt]

That looks like his dinghy above him?!
Shape, righting strap, inflation bottle - so is he hanging from a lanyard?
Where is his 'chute?

lsh
:E

He does appear to be hanging from his dinghy rather than his 'chute.
Interesting that it's inflated too?

[Top West 50]

It's been done before - Flt Lt Tait from a Vulcan.

[kaitakbowler]

It's been done before - Flt Lt Tait from a Vulcan.
XM604, RIP rear crew

[NutLoose]

He does appear to be hanging from his dinghy rather than his 'chute.
Interesting that it's inflated too?

As is his LSJ

[Easy Street]

As is his LSJ

Inflating the LSJ is part of the post-ejection drill (for UK aircraft, anyway) as it helps to prevent head and neck injuries on landing. The dinghy being inflated is odd though; I wonder whether the inflation handle snagged on the power line, or maybe some electrical effect triggered the inflation device.

[Jhieminga]

I guess sparks flew during the debriefing.

[Fly Aiprt]

I guess sparks flew during the debriefing.

And yet he didn't particularly shine...

[Mil-26Man]

I was going to make a joke about this, but have decided not to. You could say I have done a Volt(e)-face...

[Fly Aiprt]

Defended himself : "But I stuck to the line..."

[Mil-26Man]

Just before he ejected: "Ohm-y God!"

[Fly Aiprt]

Now, that's a line pilot !

[Fly Aiprt]

Just before he ejected: "Ohm-y God!"

When things went "am-pere" shaped ?

[dead_pan]

As for their new callsign, what's Flemish for 'sparky'?

[dead_pan]

I guess sparks flew during the debriefing.

I guess it had the potential to but probably alternated between the positives and negatives, before he was told watt for.

[Tashengurt]

Inflating the LSJ is part of the post-ejection drill (for UK aircraft, anyway) as it helps to prevent head and neck injuries on landing. The dinghy being inflated is odd though; I wonder whether the inflation handle snagged on the power line, or maybe some electrical effect triggered the inflation device.

Had a quick look and it appears the dinghy deploys automatically from Aces seats.

[dctyke]

Hope it was a positive rather than negative experience!

[G-DAVE]

Some of these comments are shocking :}

[rugmuncher]

The recovery process will be in several phases !

[Tashengurt]

Apparently he's a transformed character.

[jolihokistix]

Come on folks, have some respect here. What's with the totally unnecessary battery of jokes?

[Penny Washers]

Would you rather see him put on a charge?

[TLDNMCL]

Without knowing the full details, I think it's better to stay neutral on this.

[Fly Aiprt]

He called for help, and they answered 'Hold the line, please'

[Fly Aiprt]

Then he blew a fuse

[Finningley Boy]

How do they intend to get him down? a bit tricky with live cables involved. I imagine they stick trampoline under him and say Jump! Just so long as he doesn't bounce straight back up, he'd get the shock of his life if that happens.

FB

[Rocket2]

Did they treat his bruises with Voltarol? :O

[treadigraph]

After listening to too much AC DC, he's being charged with assault and battery after ejecting from an Electric Jet; something was lost in transmission.

[Hydromet]

I'll bet it hertz

[langleybaston]

Ohm, James, and don't spare the 'orses!

[ShyTorque]

As least it wasn't terminal.

[MPN11]

Some re-volting comments here.

[sycamore]

Is he still there...or is he on `watts app`...?

[cavuman1]

This story is certainly generating alot of static - it alternates between current affairs and direct verisimilitude!

Oh! Here's my limo....

- Ed

[olandese_volante]

Hope it was a positive rather than negative experience!

Most likely alternating between the two, at 50 cycles per second.

[Green Flash]

We should cease now and not pylon the pressure.

[andytug]

Presumably he’ll shortly be inducted - into the Caterpillar Club!

[MPN11]

Presumably he’ll shortly be inducted - into the Caterpillar Club!
Only when successfully earthed, surely?

[jolihokistix]

You’d have to be flippin’ switched on to get someone down from there like that.

[NutLoose]

Wire we still here, I thought the charge to comment had long since dissipated.

[TWT]

I heard he was taken to hospital.

Has he been discharged yet ?

[Parson]

"Anyone seen Peeters?"
"Think he's in the circuit, Sir"

[superplum]

Still, it's better than dangling in front of a microwave dish - that would be too heartwarming!

[Parson]

Although he had a severe ticking off in the debrief, the air force considered that he had potential.

[son of brommers]

His squadron nick-name is Joules.

[jolihokistix]

The rumours are that he is AC/DC.

[MPN11]

He’s back on the Flypro next week, as he needs a couple more hours to maintain currentcy.

[roybert]

He’s back on the Flypro next week, as he needs a couple more hours to maintain currentcy.


Hopefully he stays "Grounded" between flights

Roybert

[Hydromet]

Once the excitement was over he came back to earth with a shock.

[son of brommers]

His next holiday will be to Coulombia.

[mopardave]

If I'd had a day at the office like that, I'd just want to get ohm.

[CISTRS]

This was a bit of a flash stunt.

[Fournierf5]

Can we stop making these silly comments please - perhaps Faraday or so . . ..

[Jhieminga]

I guess it still sparks an interest for some of us.

[Fournierf5]

. . . I support the resistance

[Parson]

Guilty as charged

[langleybaston]

I do hope he has been earthed by now.

[weemonkey]

I do hope he has been earthed by now.

page 3 I believe, but don't quote me on that!

[sittingstress]

Can't quite make it out in the picture but are his lines and the power lines in parallel?

[tartare]

Poor bugger probably thought he was going to die as he watched the powerlines get closer and closer.
Then imagine what he must have been thinking as he was hanging there.
"Don't. Move. An. Inch."
No - probably more like "****e - now I'm going to have to put up with pages and pages of dreadful puns on pprune..."

[flyinkiwi]

I for one have found the puns generated here to be most illuminating.

[BEagle]

No, they've been pretty dire. Time for the amateur comedians to stop...........please!

[Jhieminga]

Allright, but who’s going to pull the plug?

[Parson]

Perhaps someone will send him a link - I'm sure he'll be ec-static.

[son of brommers]

No, they've been pretty dire. Time for the amateur comedians to stop...........please!

Indeed, some have been revolting.

[son of brommers]

Perhaps someone will send him a link - I'm sure he'll be ec-static.

and if he's been earthed he'll EX-static.

[Mil-26Man]

No, they've been pretty dire. Time for the amateur comedians to stop...........please!

No, I give up - where's the pun BEagle?

[Fournierf5]

am on standby to see what the October issue generates . . .

https://www.pylonofthemonth.org/

[NutLoose]

No, they've been pretty dire. Time for the amateur comedians to stop...........please!

Lighten up, we do not want a re-volt in here or sparks might fly.

[Fly Aiprt]

Sorry, no pun this time.
The owners of the damaged house have been allowed to come back twice, under military surveillance.
Bits and pieces of the aircraft have been picked up, trees and soiled material and soil will be removed, then the house will be decontaminated and rebuilt.
Expected to take 5-6 months.

[roybert]

Lighten up, we do not want a re-volt in here or sparks might fly.

Nutloose
I think BEeagle is just upset all the good puns have been used

[NutLoose]

Yep, he's barking mad over it.

[Parson]

It amperes to me that the dreadful puns still have some mileage.

[Tashengurt]

Sorry, no pun this time.
The owners of the damaged house have been allowed to come back twice, under military surveillance.
Bits and pieces of the aircraft have been picked up, trees and soiled material and soil will be removed, then the house will be decontaminated and rebuilt.
Expected to take 5-6 months.

How persistent is Hydrazine?

[Fly Aiprt]

How persistent is Hydrazine?

Don't know, but they say they will uproot all the trees in the property and nearby field, and scrap the soil several inches deep.
They found an inert missile nose cone in the house.

https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/bretagne/morbihan/pluvigner-notre-propriete-est-devenue-terrain-militaire-1727343.html


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/780x585/zone_crash_avion_4430431_1508e417518156d726a4c8c3f51525691a9 7c60f.jpg

[BEagle]

Although Hydrazine is a pretty nasty carcinogenic chemical monofuel, the important chemical loss processes for it in the atmosphere mean that its overall lifetime in the atmosphere is only a few hours.

But if it's absorbed into the ground...???

[Fly Aiprt]

Although Hydrazine is a pretty nasty carcinogenic chemical monofuel, the important chemical loss processes for it in the atmosphere mean that its overall lifetime in the atmosphere is only a few hours.

But if it's absorbed into the ground...???

H-70, 70% Hydrazine and 30% water in the F16

Some info here :
https://theaviationist.com/2019/05/19/hydrazine-a-significant-hazard-each-time-an-f-16-crashes-or-fires-up-the-emergency-power-unit/

[ShyTorque]

Much more of this and Beagle will blow a fuse...