F14 mid air explosion

[jimgriff]

Anyone know what happened here?

http://www.micom.net/oops/F14aExplosion.wmv

[threepointonefour]

Don't know. Guess would be a fuel leak with the burners in a la F3 at Barnard Castle about 12 yrs ago. Looks like the crew got out though

[West Coast]

The era of Kara and tail hook still haunt us over here.

[MightyGem]

Another interesting vid from the same site: http://www.micom.net/oops/F18KillA4.wmv

[Kitbag]

Weird, the weapon (AIM7?) didn't arm or there would have been more pyrotechnics on display. Any explanations from the F18 community?

[Washington_Irving]

Originally Posted by jimgriff

Anyone know what happened here?
http://www.micom.net/oops/F14aExplosion.wmv

Did the ship mistake them for an Iranian Airbus?

In all seriousness, I bet an ejection at that speed had to bloody hurt.

[spocla]

Its an F14 A with the old original TF30 engines These had the habit of failing such that the hot air came out sideways! Especially when in 'burner and at high speeds and g levels - as it looks like here. A google search will reveal more. The effect was to cause a very rapid fuselage fire and/or explosion. Good jet tho'!?

[Tourist]

The F 18 is deliberately trialing dropping something (a drop tank I think), and the A 4 is there to watch. As it happens, the thing being dropped has plans of its own

[spocla]

I think you're watching a different film to me!

[neil armstrong]

http://www.alexisparkinn.com/tomcat_explosion_2.htm

neil