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Harrier Down
From the BBC website:
"A Harrier jet has crashed into the sea off the Suffolk coast. The pilot is reported have escaped before the jet hit the water. The accident happened in front of crowds at the Lowestoft Air Show. The pilot ejected shortly after the jet's engine failed. " Hope that reports of pilot's safe exit are 100% accurate. |
Again from BBC:
'The pilot ejected before the plane went down and Suffolk Police said neither he nor anyone else had been hurt. ' |
Should be current dinghy drill by now then. Good to hear that he got out OK without any other casualties.
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BBC:
An RAF Harrier jet performing at an air show has crashed into the sea off the Suffolk coast. The pilot is reported have escaped before the jet hit the water. The accident happened in front of thousands of holidaymakers at the Lowestoft Air Show. The pilot ejected shortly after the jet's engine is thought to have failed. He has been brought ashore by Lowestoft Lifeboat but his condition is not known. The jet, believed to be a GR7 from RAF Wittering, was coming to the end of its display. A BBC reporter at the scene said it was about 50ft above the water when there was a loud explosion. No-one in the crowd was injured. More than 400,000 visitors had been expected to watch the Lowestoft Seafront Air Festival on Friday. Attractions at the annual event included the Red Arrows and other display teams including the Royal Jordanian Falcons. |
From the pictures on BBC Look East's trailer - the jet appeared to suddenly start descending at a 30 degree angle while maintaining a horizontal pitch attitude, very low forward speed, fairly controlled impact.
Pilot ejected, appeared to land on top of aircraft, which had its tail sticking out of the water. Hope he/she's OK. |
Just seen it on BBC main news.
Reassuring work by Martin Baker airlines, low speed, low height etc. According to the Beeb the pilot was seen waving to the crowd as he floated under his 'chute! Stiff upper lip or what?! Here's to a speedy recovery! :eek: |
Didn't look to me like he had time to wave - he hit the ditched Harrier only a few seconds after leaving it! Looked like a hell of a bang too, hopefully no sore arse or anything else.
Anyone else see the smoke from the top of the fuselage between the wings? |
BBC:
An RAF Harrier jet performing at an air show has crashed into the sea off the Suffolk coast. The accident happened in front of thousands of holidaymakers at the Lowestoft Air Show. The pilot ejected shortly after the engine failed. The Harrier was coming to the end of its display - when it bows to the crowd, before flying off. A spokesman for the organisers says at about fifty feet, there was apparently engine failure and the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Tony Cann, ejected. The Lowestoft lifeboat brought him ashore. Flight Lieutenant Cann, who is based at RAF Wittering, is understood to be well and crowds applauded him as he waved from a helicopter which was taking him to the James Paget Hospital in Gorleston for examination. A BBC reporter at the scene said the aircraft was flying about 50ft above the water when there was a loud explosion. "The Harrier, one of the most popular parts of the show, was facing the crowd about 50ft from the edge of the sand," said Guy Campbell. "It was about to do a favourite manoeuvre with the crowds - a bow - when there seemed to be some kind of huge engine loss. "The jet began to fall towards the sea then there was an explosion as the hood of the cockpit blew off and we saw the pilot fly about 50ft into the air." No-one in the crowd was injured. |
ITV have a variety of angles. Interesting to see the water below go suddenly calm as the engine quits. It appears the pilot very nearly landed back in the cockpit... that would have been a first eh:eek:
Good job it happened over water, might have landed in a bonfire otherwise:eek: |
Nice when the good guys get lucky for a change.
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Marvellous ending to an Air Show act that won't be repeated very often. Great to see the guy react and all the kit work just as it ought to.
But it shouldn't have happened, eh? |
Show off.
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An unfortunate incident but the correct distance from the crowd line so no spectator injuries - just ask Her Majesty for a new aeroplane.
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Love the idea of him waving to the crowd as he hit the water!
Reminds me of the nav being wheeled off to Dundee Royal Infirmery with a pile of squashed verterbrae and burns after departing a fireball on the end of the runway. Boss looks round door of ambulance to a comment of "Hello Boss, guess that's another DNCO then"! |
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Nice show, kinda expensive though @ 35Mil loss..... guess they will raise the entrance tickets next time?
Very much relieved no casualties like Lviv and pilot is okay.... Capt.KAOS |
Maybe nexy year they'll maintain the "you've been framed" ending to the show with a demonstration of ramming a ship on some rocks!
Oh yeah, forgot, they've done that one already!:p |
Another great ad for Martin Baker. I once watched someone get away with it from 80ft altitude, 1200 ft/min ROD and 60 deg bank angle which I suspect was even more demanding of the seat.
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Before the vultures start ripping our main man apart, just a small note from someone that was stood about 200m from the crash! I was expecting the nod-to-the-crowd bit as, I think, his display was almost over. Just guessing but he turned into wind about 10secs before he headed earthward, maybe his CWP looming?
Don't want to start rumours but it looked to me like he was turning away from the crowd - he stayed with her long after most of us would have and don't get me wrong, I'm not into brown nosing our pointy nosed cousins, but he did nothing more than everything he could before going through the roof. A big:mad: to anyone that starts to sl@g our man off. He wouldn't even let the SAR crew put him on the stretcher and was winched up the old fashioned way, not bad for a guy thats just squeezed his vertibre into one! Get well soon...:D |
Is it common pratice to hold airshows over the sea? I only ask because this is the first time i've seen it happen. It looks like water is kinder than land when all starts to go pear shaped because the GR7 looked more-or-less intact in the water, or is that mindless optimism on my part?
DamienB mentioned smoke between the wings. I am no engineer or accident investigator, but i think thats where the APU and engine starter exhaust makes its exit, if that is of any relevance whatsoever:confused: . Encouraging to see a good display from the Martin Baker Furniture Removal Company again:) . |
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