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Obviously a crippling lack of ability, as done correctly the technique was not difficult and was very effective. Maybe they should have sought a briefing from an experienced F4 pilot rather than trusting in their A1 qualifications! Just because you have a badge does not mean you can walk on water!

Dan Winterland

Thank you for the info re B-47 chutes. I didn't know they had two and assumed what I was seeing was the one used on landing, but popped early to slow it down.

WT

The Lightning brake chute was very interesting. In a crosswind, I recall above 25kts, you might have to get rid of it to stop weathercocking and drifting to the downwind side, You also had to apply much in to wind aileron.
I had a deployment to Iceland that had no chute packing ability for the Lightning, accordingly our 'squippers' gave me a quick course. At Keflavik, I tried to pack the chute (not very well). It was a wet day and I had to lie in a puddle under the tail, fit the chute and close the chute doors. Of course it wouldn't fit. The deployment spring came out and in desperation I used my feet to just push it all in and close the doors. On returning to base, I anticipated no chute and informed ATC I would make a precautionary no landing. The chute deployed perfectly!!
I also once helped a Victor crew to replace their brake chute, they accurately said it was like pushing a t_rd up an ars__le!

I didn't know that either, warmtoast. Here's a nice picture of a B47 with the chute deployed:

http://air-boyne.com/wp-content/uplo...Castle-AFB.jpg

Your description of re-installing the Victor brake chute made me smile, MACH2NUMBER. In our crew, the AEO, a somewhat portly gentleman, had the job of jumping up and down on the bloody thing to try and persuade it to get back in its box!

The pic has me curious, did Concorde (note, didnt put "the" in front of it) have a chute available during revenue flights?

IIRC, production Concorde aircraft didn't need the chute as big improvements in braking technology during the prototype phase ruled out the requirement.

Around 1973, two Lightnings diverted into Manston after being launched from Wattisham on "Q". As they were very low on fuel, the fire trucks were in position to deal with any incident and followed them down the runway until they stopped and jettisoned the streamed chutes. Shortly afterwards the tower was informed that one of the fire crew was being taken to the medical centre for treatment after burning his bare hands while manhandling the hot chute.

The Lightning chute cable was routed around the engine exhausts in a figure of 8 shape. The wire and chute bolt would get very hot.

Would that have been at Abingdon, YS? I have a memory of seeing a 617 Sqn Vulcan crabbing in to land with a severe crosswind on the arrivals day before the airshow - could have been in '78?

Whatever, the landing was fine - until he popped the chute... I remember the screech to this day; even from half a mile away it seemed loud. The runway was blocked for hours!

OT, but yes, very strange!

http://www.eacott.com.au/gallery/d/7...velt+Roads.jpg

[IMG]http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/...s9/PD_0021.jpg[/IMG]

Belts and braces in the FI; worked well on the F4M, tried it later on the F4J - not so good - you finished up with the stick hard against the backstop!

No on either count, it was an RCDS display but I shall provide no further details as I only watched it. A friend of mine was the copilot and he gives a much more vivid and colourful account of the incident.

YS

Had a mate who needed the chute in a Hawk once - didn't work when selected. Ran off the end of the runway into the emergency net. Required an expensive canopy replacement cause the net was lying in sand until it "popped up" at the selection of the tower and did a good sandpaper job of the canopy... Apparently pretty pricey as the canopy is milled out of a solid block of perspex or whatever...

The 40ft diameter ribbon drag chute used on the Space Shuttles was pretty impressive. It was added as a safety measure after the Challenger accident. The drag chute was deployed routinely on every landing, but I believe it was used more for directional stability than for braking. The Orbiter's un-powered landing was difficult under the best of conditions. The MLG tire treads were worn thru during landing and had to be replaced after every mission.

Here's an interesting paper on the Orbiter drag chute:
http://www.coengineers.com/wp-conten...2013009780.pdf

Interesting thread, thank you all.

Image of chutes streamed whilst airborne reminded me of a photo from the day in 2007 that the last RAF Jaguars flew into Cosford, airborne for the final time.

I always thought this shot by Karl Drage was a belter.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...ar_Cosford.jpg

I seem to remember the Phantom display pilot in 1983 (S.... L-M) used to deploy the 'chute just before touch-down - looked very impressive.
Anybody else remember this?

I remember seeing this done (stream 'chute before landing) by a RAF F-4 landing at Abingdon.

I think that it was probably during the 80s, not sure of the exact year, but for some reason the show was being recorded for TV. I suspect that it was in connection with the BoB commemorations every September. There was a Puma hovering high overhead the airfield with a TV camera and crew on-board - so they were probably briefed on what was planned - and the F-4 landed from the west on the short runway. The 'chute deployed and inflated at 'just the right moment' and the aircraft slowed rapidly and did a fairly aggressive touch-down, and then stopped quickly.

Oddly enough, never seen the footage on TV again, even tried looking on YouTube.

Was the brake chute and hook method used by F-4's whilst on Ascension Island, at Port Stanley and MPA? Or was it just Port Stanley or MPA?

-RP

Don't recall them using a hook at MPA, but might be wrong

RP,

Dunno about Ascension or MPA, but at Stanley the hook was pretty much SOP unless there was a stonking headwind, standard fit was C, 4x4 and gun.

T+9

Thanks, Wander00 and Busta...

-RP