Air Display 'C*ck Ups'
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Red Ten
Was involved in near miss during a red arrows display near Bristol. RN Merlin carrying full pasenger load flies through restricted air space during arrows display. Apparently red one had tried several times to contact merlin on radio so broadcast on emergency frequency. Next thing nine red hawks fly straight infront of merlin in formation resulting in evasive maneuveur. needless to say everyone in the back needed new underwear and a rather large pineapple was concealed in one of the flight commanders cavities. 
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Red Ten
Was involved in near miss during a red arrows display near Bristol.
Was involved in near miss during a red arrows display near Bristol.
Less of an air display c*ck up, more of an airspace infringement.
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Just to set the record straight. The aircraft that mistook Cambridge for Duxford was neither an F.15, or aTornado, but was,in fact, a U,S,A,F RF4C from, either Lakenheath, or Alconbury. It did, in fact, turn up and display 20 mins late, and cited unserviceable nav. equipment as a reason for the error!!!?????? Been very interesting, reading this thread. Brought back many memories, not all good ones. Saw my 11th Airshow accident at Oshkosh Wisconsin this year, sadly fatal. Hope it is the last.
Avoid imitations
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I was part of the emergency services team at IAT 93 and remember giving a thumbs up to a Puma as he taxied from North side and their was'nt a lot of space between the blades and the top of some engineering guys discovery. I then ran bout 1/2 mile to get keys and move it. Which for me,then and now, is a very long way. At the time the fireries thought they were looking for a dead Mig pilot!! A few beers were sunk that night!!
Nothing seen this year, thankfully.
Memorable moment in Gib
Gib air display many moons ago; the heavens open and most of the crowd runs for cover just as Harrier gets airborne... A strong wind whips up coming from around the rock to the South; our BonaJet Hero commences a minicircuit (basically a very tight mostly jetborne circuit flown at around 30Kt IAS). As soon as he goes out of wind he starts to drop like a stone in massive sink... I'll never forget the image in my mind of the Aircraft descending, pitched up sharply with the jet efflux turned distinctly black (max wellie). 40 Kt tailwind = exits stage right towards Spain descending all the way...bottoms out behind the Officers' Mess and appears again behind the crowd; wisely abandons the rest of the display and lands.
Must have been a very strong localised gust back there - fortunately out of sight of most of the crowd - blew most of the slates off an unoccupied MQ....
Must have been a very strong localised gust back there - fortunately out of sight of most of the crowd - blew most of the slates off an unoccupied MQ....
Last edited by hum; 23rd Dec 2009 at 01:43. Reason: Tooping errer
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A story from Somalia many years back - when Somalia was still a country and the USSR still existed - and the two countries were best buddies.
Half a dozen of the local pilots went off to the USSR to learn to fly Mig 21's (I think that's what they were). Anyway, something supersonic but very low fuel endurance at full chat.
They duly came back with their new toys (on a ship) and were told to do a flyby over the independence day parade - and to demonstrate the new prowess of the Somali airforce they were to do it low and as fast as possible.
Unfortunately Mogadishu is on the coast and the flight line over the parade was straight out to sea...................
Only two made it back.
Half a dozen of the local pilots went off to the USSR to learn to fly Mig 21's (I think that's what they were). Anyway, something supersonic but very low fuel endurance at full chat.
They duly came back with their new toys (on a ship) and were told to do a flyby over the independence day parade - and to demonstrate the new prowess of the Somali airforce they were to do it low and as fast as possible.
Unfortunately Mogadishu is on the coast and the flight line over the parade was straight out to sea...................
Only two made it back.
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Days of Yore
I've only just come across this thread and thoroughly enjoyed reading some of the tales. This may not be classed as a 'cock-up', as, IIRC, both incidents were a result of technical failure. Nevertheless, the Battle of Britain At Home Day held at RAF Coltishall in 1970 did not go according to plan. A Lightning T4 ended in a smoking hole just outside the MATZ - both pilots ejecting successfully - and a Mk1A engaged the barrier on landing following a brake malfunction.
Coltishall had witnessed a worse incident earlier that year, but the display was not a public one, just a bit of showing off for the AOC which rapidly went to worms.
Coltishall had witnessed a worse incident earlier that year, but the display was not a public one, just a bit of showing off for the AOC which rapidly went to worms.
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I've been to Oshkosh Airventure six times in the last ten years. Seen everything from an F4U Corsair cartwheeling to destruction, been chased across the grass by an out of control Beech Bonanza landing, numerous broken undercarriages, everything in between, and culminating in a fatal collision between two P.51s two years ago, one a new build. I had the misfortune to film this one. NTSB can I have the video tape back please?.
By the way, we Brits who go regularly there find the Emergency Teams response, particulary the Fire Crews, EXTREMELY SLOW in comparison to British Airshow teams. Any body else find the same?Most days at Airshows are fine, some can be very sad.
By the way, we Brits who go regularly there find the Emergency Teams response, particulary the Fire Crews, EXTREMELY SLOW in comparison to British Airshow teams. Any body else find the same?Most days at Airshows are fine, some can be very sad.
Not strictly an airshow, but close enough perhaps...
April '98, Cottesmore, AOC 1 Group is visiting to view the display routines by 'his' aircraft before signing the crews off to display for the forthcoming season. I was holding at Cottesmore, working for the GR1 display crew as jack of few trades, master of none, and it had been my job to film the display practices; on this day, I was to film all three displays (GR1, Jag and Harrier).
Unlike previous days, when I'd had the flat roof outside ATC to myself during the filming, lots of people had gathered to watch proceedings, from the AOC and his flunkies down through all 3 relevant stn cdrs, sqn bosses, hangers on etc etc. The weather was reasonable, but with a fair breeze blowing across the runway. The Harrier taxies out and lines up, just as the door from the VCR opens and another holding bloke appears carrying a large tray with refreshments for the throng. On his tray are teacups, saucers, teapot, milk jug, sugar bowl, teaspoons, biccies...and about 50 pristine serviettes. He takes two steps across the flat roof when the wind catches the serviettes and instantly creats a snowstorm heading rapidly for said Harrier.
Cue banging on window of VCR and pointing at snowstorm to make them hold the Harrier on the ground while the BCU et al dash all over the airfield trying to gather up all the serviettes. Fortunately the Harrier still had enough fuel to launch into his display even after 10-15 mins of holding. Having been something of a sh1t magnet during my hold, I was delighted that someone else had made a faux pas for once...
April '98, Cottesmore, AOC 1 Group is visiting to view the display routines by 'his' aircraft before signing the crews off to display for the forthcoming season. I was holding at Cottesmore, working for the GR1 display crew as jack of few trades, master of none, and it had been my job to film the display practices; on this day, I was to film all three displays (GR1, Jag and Harrier).
Unlike previous days, when I'd had the flat roof outside ATC to myself during the filming, lots of people had gathered to watch proceedings, from the AOC and his flunkies down through all 3 relevant stn cdrs, sqn bosses, hangers on etc etc. The weather was reasonable, but with a fair breeze blowing across the runway. The Harrier taxies out and lines up, just as the door from the VCR opens and another holding bloke appears carrying a large tray with refreshments for the throng. On his tray are teacups, saucers, teapot, milk jug, sugar bowl, teaspoons, biccies...and about 50 pristine serviettes. He takes two steps across the flat roof when the wind catches the serviettes and instantly creats a snowstorm heading rapidly for said Harrier.
Cue banging on window of VCR and pointing at snowstorm to make them hold the Harrier on the ground while the BCU et al dash all over the airfield trying to gather up all the serviettes. Fortunately the Harrier still had enough fuel to launch into his display even after 10-15 mins of holding. Having been something of a sh1t magnet during my hold, I was delighted that someone else had made a faux pas for once...
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'Back in the day', when I used to attend RIAT as part of the Emergency Services, we, in the Wiltshire Ambulance Service got ourselves a new Chief Exec.
He was most interested in our volunteering for such a high profile event , and vowed to give those of us attending all the help he could. So, far from previous years, when we made our own way to Fairford in shared cars with no kit, this year, (95 or 96?) we were given a brand new Ambulance, fully kitted to take and use. This was the day when ambulances were white, with a green chequered stripe down the side. How proud we were to turn up and offer our new vehicle for use.
We were tasked with being part of the 'column', and one of our standby points at various times of the day, was to drive in convoy and park on the grass, next to the taxiway, near the far end of the runway. This was a great spot, being only metres from taxying aircraft and almost directly underneath the display line.
On the last day, weather conditions were almost perfect, and we were treated to the Reds displaying literally feet over our heads, particularly the syncro pair. We were bathed continuously with smoke, i recall particularly red smoke.
When we turned round at the end of the display, it was to be greeted with a lovely PINK ambulance, and I mean, visibly pink. It did not wash off, it had to be T cutted and polished.
I know, it was me that had to do it, and the Chief Exec? He lost interest and gave bugger all help after that. Not much of a tale, but its the only one I've got, and it took me hours to make it white again.
He was most interested in our volunteering for such a high profile event , and vowed to give those of us attending all the help he could. So, far from previous years, when we made our own way to Fairford in shared cars with no kit, this year, (95 or 96?) we were given a brand new Ambulance, fully kitted to take and use. This was the day when ambulances were white, with a green chequered stripe down the side. How proud we were to turn up and offer our new vehicle for use.
We were tasked with being part of the 'column', and one of our standby points at various times of the day, was to drive in convoy and park on the grass, next to the taxiway, near the far end of the runway. This was a great spot, being only metres from taxying aircraft and almost directly underneath the display line.
On the last day, weather conditions were almost perfect, and we were treated to the Reds displaying literally feet over our heads, particularly the syncro pair. We were bathed continuously with smoke, i recall particularly red smoke.
When we turned round at the end of the display, it was to be greeted with a lovely PINK ambulance, and I mean, visibly pink. It did not wash off, it had to be T cutted and polished.
I know, it was me that had to do it, and the Chief Exec? He lost interest and gave bugger all help after that. Not much of a tale, but its the only one I've got, and it took me hours to make it white again.
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Farnborough 1968
The brand new Harrier was to be demonstrated at Farnborough, and two Wessex from 72 Sqn were going to ‘resuply’ the Harrier in the field. One carried an underslung netted load simulating ammunition, and the other carried an underslung APFC (aka bollock) full of Avtur for the Harrier. On the show preview day laid on for the press I was crewman of the fuel carrier, and as the pair of Wessex hover taxied along Farnborough’s disused runway my pilot transmitted a radio call on the cargo release button!The APFC fell clear but no problem, these APFCs are designed to be air dropped … but not cluttered with chains and slings … and it burst scattering some 500 gallons of Avtur on the runway.
The display was being watched by AOC 38 Group, Micky Martin of Dambusters fame. Quite naturally he expressed a desire to speak to the crew of the offending Wessex and suggested we used two 8 foot strops in parallel for safety! When we explained this wouldn’t work he suggested we filled the APFC with water instead of Avtur. Too heavy, even with Avtur the Wessex was struggling, so for the remaining display days we used an APFC part filled with water then blown into shape with compressed air.
After an interview with the AOC and a bollicking from our Squadron Commander we thought that was the end of it, until it became apparent that the tarmac we had destroyed was some special stuff they had laid for braking trials, and the damage ran into tens of thousands of pounds. The enquiry was reopened and when asked what I had said on the intercom when the load fell off, “Fuggin’ ‘ell, Ronnie!” was transcribed as “I informed my pilot that the load had inadvertently released”.
The icing on the cake came when a friend told me he had been taking a photo of the two Wessex just as the APFC fell off. The APFC can be seen under the leading Wessex, and if you look really close you can see the 8 foot strop still attached.
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Well, the 1st Bahrain International Air Show takes place next week here in the desert playground, and I hope I have nothing untoward to report from there by the end of the show!
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At BZN in the mid 90s there was a display arranged for the RAF Aux Regiment, a mock attack involving Chinook, Herk, Wessex and a few Gunners. There was a nice row of 12 man tents for all the expected VIPs connected with one side rolled up, all went well during the practice until the Chinook turned up and the tents took off like Mary Poppins brolly. All went well on the big day except for the pucker factor when the Wessex landed and rolled much further than before, still it stopped before it got us 
Soon after we were at Waddington doing the ground assault for the Air Day, that went much better even though the Jet Ranger doing pleasure flights decided to land right in the middle of us, I guess DPM does work! Never did like helicopters after that
Always wondered if anyone got a good photo of it and whether the pilot got in the poo?
Soon after we were at Waddington doing the ground assault for the Air Day, that went much better even though the Jet Ranger doing pleasure flights decided to land right in the middle of us, I guess DPM does work! Never did like helicopters after that
Always wondered if anyone got a good photo of it and whether the pilot got in the poo?
Many years ago I went to an airshow in the Northern Hemisphere.
There was a Herc on static display. Towbar attached.
As we left said show, the Herc passed overhead with gear down and said towbar still attached - albeit not pointing forwards.
It then flew by the tower with gear up and no towbar.
Presume it didn't fall off anywhere important.
If the crew would like to buy me a coffee, I'll be at the same show this year!
There was a Herc on static display. Towbar attached.
As we left said show, the Herc passed overhead with gear down and said towbar still attached - albeit not pointing forwards.
It then flew by the tower with gear up and no towbar.
Presume it didn't fall off anywhere important.
If the crew would like to buy me a coffee, I'll be at the same show this year!
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Circa '74, I was part of an 18 Sqn Wessex SAR demo crew at a small German airstrip down in the Rhineland. Bergneustadt-Auf-Dem-Dumpel was an undulating grass strip sat on the side of a hill. Weather not too good, Reds were only able to do a 'low' display and the 'Falcs' unable to display at all. Enter the mighty Vulcan for his alloted time; due to the gap in the programme that had appeared the Vulcan capt was asked if he could extend his display to cover, he obliged with a couple of fast flybys and then a low/slow approach with everything dangling, a roller was the result followed by the retraction of gear etc and a gate climb to disappear thru' the cloud, to rapturous applause from a very impressed gathering. I believe the capt later had a hat on, no tea one-way chat with C-in-C RAFG.
Last edited by Motleycallsign; 14th Jan 2010 at 15:08. Reason: For clarity of airfield type