??? Sort of why I was wondering whether there was a control problem, I guess. Because in all the time I spent spent flying ejection seat aircraft, we’d always want to get the wings level and ideally try to get an upwards vector prior to pulling the handle in a low-level ejection.

(I never flew the 104, but suspect there may have been other potential reasons to eject than a lack of roll control… ;) )

Not saying that's what happened but if, for example, that was a total loss of hydraulics there is not much else they could have done.

Mig: Manufactured In Garage :p

A large crate of expensive drinks to whoever maintained the ejection seats, though.

Some pics on this site:

https://eu.freep.com/picture-gallery...ti/8349703001/

No need to speculate - both crew ejected so they’ll be able to tell us.

As described extensively in the comments section under the video, but hey, it's the internet and people just love to spout bollocks here!

An East German saying: "If you want a MiG-23, buy a field near an aerodrome and then wait for one to fall in it".

Given the number and frequency of German Starfighter losses during it's service, that saying was in use on the other side of the wall as well. Trust me.

Wasn't the Starfighters nickname "The Lawn Dart" ?

The air show narrator in fact referred earlier in the day to the F-104 as "Widowmaker".
I can't provide any eye-witness account of the MiG crash.... Thunder Over Michigan is presented twice on two consecutive days, and the morning and afternoon shows are mostly the same. I really enjoyed the morning show . . .

Well very lucky outcome for all involved. I muss say as ejections wold go I'd rather not attempt it out of a 50y soviet jet...

4:05 of video in post #4. Sorry guys for the digress but he says that the Tomcat had a yaw string? On a Mach 2 aircraft?


Update: Apparently true:
https://www.google.ca/search?q=f14+t...h=961&biw=1865

Yep.


I believe the rule for essential crew only doesn't apply to American shows.

Two crew ended up landing in the lake, from what I've seen, which could have ended up badly for them as well.

On this occasion at least, seems to be a better option than remaining in the 50-year old soviet jet.

The European F104s had upward ejection seats by Martin Baker.
A guy I flew with ejected on short finals with an engine fire warning, the aircraft landed on its own and was stopped by the barrier. No damage, no fire.

Which lake? Clearly not the water in the foreground. Plus, reports are saying they landed on the ground.

I presume one of the three interlinked lakes south of the I-94 as the jet hit the ground around the apartment blocks between the water and the I-94, and crew banged out over the lake.....possibly Ford Lake, the western one of the three?

Just seen this, which confirms crew landed in Belleville Lake and pilot sustained serious, but not life threatening injuries, back seater minor injuries. NTSB investigator already saying crash caused by engine problems (as mentioned in post above cited by witnesses) and crew had declared emergency before banging out.

https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/...t-was-injured/