Crash on Take-Off at Kandahar

[rb199]

Yes there is one at KAF

[Jumping_Jack]

.....but it didn't work!

[rolandpull]

The heavy duty one was put in just for the Tonka's quite recently. A lighter weight model was there for all of the jonny foreiners jets.

[Gainesy]

.....but it didn't work!

So what's not to work? Or did they have a hook skip?

[30mRad]

Not that un-common, hook skipping, but makes your eyes water when it happens, esp on a high speed abort. Not much time to make the "stick with it" or "eject" decision, esp if there is a barrier at the end of the runway too. Anyone seen any pictures of the incident/accident - I remember seeing an amazing photo of the harrier and ejectee not long before they left.

[North Front]

Is it me or do I sense a bit of bad news being buried? After the initial AP report there has been no reporting of the accident at all......

[Wrathmonk]

Is it me or do I

smell a fishing trip? New PPRuNer asks a loaded question. Could be a journo. Could be someone who knows/saw what happened and is desperate to tell the world but wants someone else to tell all just in case the black omega (surely they would have upgraded by now....) comes round!

Perhaps, as well, in a world of roadside bombs, snipers, insurgents and deaths an incident where everybody "walked" away and the good people of WB would not be required it just isn't news worthy to the journos. Personally I think good drills on the MoD PR machine not to go overboard on this. Do the Army highlight all their traffic accidents (granted this will cost a bit more but you get my drift!)

30mRad

Not sure but wasn't the Harrier incident known about i.e he had reported a problem and therefore every man jack with their digi cameras was ready just in case (and also to avoid being on the BoI!). I get the impression (IMHO, and not wishing to speculate) that neither of the Tonka incidents had the luxury of more than a nano-second of warning/decision.

[North Front]

I maybe a Prune newbie... well, a sparse poster, but rest assured that I am not a journo. I guess you are right to suspect, though, WM. Point taken but check out reporting of previous such incidents. I am a little surprised at the assumption that the taxpayer won't care where £20M+ has gone... buy a few hels?

[RileyDove]

Wrathmonk - I don't think there was a reported problem with the Harrier - certainly it didn't affect the flying of the type elsewhere. As for the Tornado's - there has been a distinct lack of information - I guess helicopters of lack of it the current flavour though!

[Postman Plod]

I guess all the folks on here are interested in is are the crew OK? Other than the initial reports stating the crew were having their injuries evaluated, there has been sod all else - either in the news or on here. Journo or no journo, its not an unreasonable question surely?

Army road accidents generally don't cost £20M+ a pop....

[Wrathmonk]

Riley

Sorry I wasn't very clear. I was led to believe that the Harrier driver had reported a problem (i.e. declared an 'emergency') and therefore all the crash teams, execs, rubber neckers etc all had time to get into position. What I didn't mean to infer was that there was a fleet wide problem associated with the incident.

Postman

I think it would be fair to say that where fatalities are not involved the press releases on the crew (as per the early posts) are more than is required. I'm sure if you knew the individuals you would be able to find out. This is no different to when the MOD report wounded soldiers - all they say is that they are receiving treatment etc. They don't go on to say what their injuries are (and neither, IMHO, should they).

[Ivor Fynn]

From what I have heard (rumour only) it smacks of a cock up!!

At least the boys are OK.

So what is Vgo?

Ivor

[Bo Nalls]

So what is Vgo?

I know the definition, but do you know the actual speed for the ac fit/temp/altitude etc? Did they abort before or after Vgo? What were speeds for Vr, Vgo, Vstop & VstopRHAG? Was Vgo the go/no go decision point or was that something else such as VstopRHAG?

Too many unknowns at this stage to be throwing around accusations of a cock-up.

[30mRad]

And Vgo is for single engine performance not a double burner failure, which is what is rumoured. With the exit off the runway, I suspect it was a high speed abort above Vgo and below Vstoprhag and the hook missed for some reason.....

[Ivor Fynn]

Vgo is Vgo! ie can't stop! Vr and Vstop are irrelevant past Vgo.

you can always rotate and jettison that is why the GAF work very different balanced field.

I wait with baited breath.

Ivor

[artyhug]

Now now Easy Street,

How dare you bring facts into the discussion! This is Pprune after all and the ill-informed and downright obnoxious must be allowed to speculate and accuse at free will with little relevance to what actually happened in any incident....

Now do carry on everyone I love how much better it makes me feel to read the wafflings of the idiotic!

[SirToppamHat]

I am a little surprised at the assumption that the taxpayer won't care where £20M+ has gone... buy a few hels?

1. Don't care as long as the crew got out.

2. In terms of the airframe this won't be replaced by another bought-in; You can't go to Tonkas-R-Us and buy them any more.

3. I am guessing that an allowance is made for war and accident losses anyway.

4. I am guessing the main costs of replacement to the MoD will be for the 'bolt-on' additions required for theatre ops, that presumably will be required for the replacement airframe.

5. See point 1.

By the way, did I miss something or was the recent loss of an Mi-26 not reported widely either?

STH

[barnstormer1968]

STH
No, I do not think you have missed anything. It was odd that the Mi 26 was not mentioned in the press. I assumed it was something to do with the reason why it came down.
The F15 did not feature much either.

[Wader2]

BS, not British news therefore no interest.

From what I have heard (rumour only) it smacks of a cock up!!

Oh good, that will save having a BoI.

[LeggyMountbatten]

Mi-26

Originally Posted by barnstormer1968

It was odd that the Mi 26 was not mentioned in the press

Do you mean this Mi26?

Edit: broken link. Article appears on this excellent blog

Defence of the Realm

Hope this works!!