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The Canberra ejection at 20 feet AGL and somewhere in the region of 90 degrees of bank sticks in my mind, the crewman actually landed on his feet.
http://www.ejectionsite.com/nochute.htm |
Originally Posted by Fonsini
(Post 10943350)
The Canberra ejection at 20 feet AGL and somewhere in the region of 90 degrees of bank sticks in my mind, the crewman actually landed on his feet.
http://www.ejectionsite.com/nochute.htm |
Hostie survived a 33,000 foot drop after the aircraft exploded.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38427411 |
Do not forget this guy:https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/blog/th...ible-alkemade/
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Originally Posted by Timelord
(Post 10943108)
I cannot quote the details but there was a Red Arrows crash at Akrotiri a few years ago where each event in the damage sequence cancelled out the effect of the one before and the pilot survived against all the odds. Worth a read if anyone knows how to lay their hands on it.
http://www.ukserials.com/pdflosses/m...0321_xx251.pdf https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=55493 |
Originally Posted by Clearedtoroll
(Post 10942732)
I only recently heard about the lucky 1946 Northolt Dakota - almost looks faked (but isn’t)
https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail...photo/79044077 |
Did he claim it wasn't his fault? After all, the householder had left the landing light on...
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Wasn’t there a nav [observer, looker, talking tacan?] who banged out of a Sea Vixen just before it hit the ground with lots of bank applied, possibly landing at Yeovilton? Hit the ground still in the seat and just slid along whilst the seat did it bits and pieces as advertised, survived. Perhaps a Dark Blue contributor could confirm or deny?
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As the article describes he was lucky thrice. To survive the fall, to escape hypothermia, and to avoid being shot as a spy! Possibly a bit contentious, but I'd have to add the Shoreham Hunter guy to this list...no idea how he walked away from that. |
Originally Posted by Audax
(Post 10943849)
Wasn’t there a nav [observer, looker, talking tacan?] who banged out of a Sea Vixen just before it hit the ground with lots of bank applied, possibly landing at Yeovilton? Hit the ground still in the seat and just slid along whilst the seat did it bits and pieces as advertised, survived. Perhaps a Dark Blue contributor could confirm or deny?
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There was a USAF Aggressor pilot the late 70's/early 80's who had apparently survived hitting the deck in his F5 having got the nose buried doing ACT in Germany. The story (as I was told it) was he had bottomed out in a valley but hit the up-slope. The aircraft broke up around him, the engines passed either side and he woke up still strapped in his seat with a few cuts and bruises plus a broken ankle. He then became teetotal and a born-again Church-goer, and who could blame him.
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Originally Posted by Richard Dangle
(Post 10944542)
FS Alkemade's story is told as the opening condensed article in a Readers Digest commemorative edition titled "The Best of 21 Years" and published in the UK in 1960. I know this because I read it (and every other story in the book) when I was about 7 or 8 years old. It was the very first story to inspire my interest in the RAF and I remember it to this day. Not least because when my dad passed away, I found the book in his bookshelf...and I have it with me now.
As the article describes he was lucky thrice. To survive the fall, to escape hypothermia, and to avoid being shot as a spy! |
Some time after Ken Topaz had had his miraculous escape from death, I was in the next bed to him in Ely Hospital for a few, days undergoing a minor operation to remove some metalwork from my foot. Fortunately one of my girlfriends was a sister at the hospital, and was able to supply copious quantities of " Scottish Wine " to keep us amused.
As I remember it, we spent most of our lucid hours devising pornographic crossword clues and chatting up the nurses. |
IIRC, a 100 Squadron Canberra crew of 3 had a miraculous escape when the aircraft cartwheeled on the ground following an engine surge during a low overshoot.....
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Originally Posted by Bagheera S
(Post 10943183)
In 1982 a Hawk at Bedford was undertaking wake turbulence research when it experienced an uncommanded and very low roll;- 20ft. The pilot went out just fractional within the seat survival envelope, while the observer decided to stay in. The aircraft landed upside down and slid 1200ft down the runway. As the structure deformed and was worn away, the observer head was progressively held against the runway. The wreck came to a holt just as the Asphalt was wearing through the fabric next to the chaps scalp.
https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/55500 |
"The observer (a navigator, initials BM) did not "decide to stay in"
Also this individual had previously lost an eye in a Canberra bird strike ,,,. |
I remember being told years ago about a supersonic ejection from a Mirage in Australia. The battered pilot landed by a road , along which came a bus which stopped and the occupants came over.
Doctors on their way to a medical convention,,,,, Now whether you consider that is good luck or not is a moot point.! |
Luckiest Pilots
First time poster - Here's two 'luckiest pilot' stories that are too long to fully tell here, but look up 'Bill Parks - Lockheed Aircraft', and Bill Weaver - again, Lockheed Aircraft.
Parks and Weaver both have the shared distinction of having left a 'Blackbird' as it broke up around them while flying at design speed and altitude. Weaver was pitched out of his airplane as it broke totally apart; Parks either ejected from his or was also 'thrown out'. Both magically survived to fly again. (Sadly, in each of these Blackbird accidents, both back seaters were lost.) In his Lockheed career, Bill Parks made a total of four 'nylon let-downs', and died in 1996 at the age of 70. |
Originally Posted by waflyer
(Post 10946159)
In his Lockheed career, Bill Parks made a total of four 'nylon let-downs', and died in 1996 at the age of 70. |
Didn't one of the Langworthy ('Bangworthy') brothers have at least 3 Martin Baker experiences?
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