Someone stole a Q400 from Seattle?
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Some insight into the operations of the Portland Air National Guard F-15 unit in this Tyler Rogoway article:
This Is What It Looks Like When You Get Intercepted By An F-15C Eagle - The Drive
This Is What It Looks Like When You Get Intercepted By An F-15C Eagle - The Drive
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If this guy really had no flying experience, it sort of casts a different light on this: As Easy as 1-2-3!
Back to meadowrun's original question - there are two military airbases nearer that Portland - Joint Base Lewis McCord (outside Tacoma - very close to SeaTac) and Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (obviously on Whidbey Island, ~50 miles north).
However I don't believe any interceptor type aircraft are routinely based at those airbases.
However I don't believe any interceptor type aircraft are routinely based at those airbases.
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Forgive my ignorance, but surely there was no flight plan filed and that specific aircraft was not due to depart, so at some point an unauthorised plane was taxiing around SEA and it wasn't noticed.
Surely had someone realised that plane wasn't supposed to be moving at that time then it could have been intercepted a lot earlier.
Surely had someone realised that plane wasn't supposed to be moving at that time then it could have been intercepted a lot earlier.
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Here’s a clip of the roll. Looks like a fair amount of altitude lost.
https://metro.co.uk/2018/08/11/horiz...rolls-7826083/
One of the videos from KING5 posted earlier has a phone interview with an eyewitness who coincidentally says he’s an RJ pilot. He then started to make the point about the current single pilot cargo operation bill in front of Congress.
https://metro.co.uk/2018/08/11/horiz...rolls-7826083/
One of the videos from KING5 posted earlier has a phone interview with an eyewitness who coincidentally says he’s an RJ pilot. He then started to make the point about the current single pilot cargo operation bill in front of Congress.
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Back to meadowrun's original question - there are two military airbases nearer that Portland - Joint Base Lewis McCord (outside Tacoma - very close to SeaTac) and Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (obviously on Whidbey Island, ~50 miles north).
However I don't believe any interceptor type aircraft are routinely based at those airbases.
However I don't believe any interceptor type aircraft are routinely based at those airbases.
NAS Whidbey has always been a "heavy attack" base and curently houses the electronic warfare units, flying Growlers.
The F-15s seen in the video have two 600gal external tanks with them. Mach 2 is pretty much out of the window in that configuration.
I would be surprised if they could attain anything more than maybe Mach 1.6.
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Looking at his final "arrival" point, Ketron, the island lies North South and appears to have a clear grass patch in the upper ( Northern ) end. I wonder if "Rich" was trying for a landing on this deserted patch ?
The flying was quite amazing for someone who supposedly had never flown and I'm guessing he had some home computer time on the -400.
Very sad what a tormented mind can drive a person to do. RIP Rich.
Last edited by A310bcal; 11th Aug 2018 at 20:23.
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Back to meadowrun's original question - there are two military airbases nearer that Portland - Joint Base Lewis McCord (outside Tacoma - very close to SeaTac) and Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (obviously on Whidbey Island, ~50 miles north).
However I don't believe any interceptor type aircraft are routinely based at those airbases.
However I don't believe any interceptor type aircraft are routinely based at those airbases.
McChord is an airlift/air-mobility base - C-17s
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For anyone just looking at this coldly with the usual disconnected "some guy flipped, stole a plane and crashed it" there was a real man with real emotions, real people that loved him and who most likely had real hopes and dreams like the rest of us. But the pressures of modern living and who knows what demons got the better of him.
As we say when we see a fellow aviator brought unstuck by any one of the multitude of pitfalls that can befall us "there but for the grace of God....."
Fly high Rich
This is beyond sad. I cannot imagine what this poor chap must have been going through during the week that has just finished. For me, this was especially poignant as it occurred 10 years to the day since I was in a similarly dark place. Unless you have been in such a place it is impossible to understand the utter despair and helplessness that one can feel in this situation. I was lucky as I had my family and some amazing friends around me. It is a tragedy that this chap wasn't able to land and get the help he so desperately needed. I really don't know what else to say. This is awful.
I don't feel sad. I feel relieved and very happy this guy didn't wind up killing innocent people on the ground or in another aircraft while he was helping himself to his self-indulgent, attention-getting method of suicide. On the radio he sounds like a typical Millennial YouTuber/Facebooker trying (and failing) to act nonchalant and witty for effect, otherwise why tune and keep his radio turned on talking with ATC if not to star in his own, final show. Perhaps if he'd said goodbye to his wife, family, and friends then quietly gone to jump off a cliff or string himself from the rafters endangering nobody else I'd feel a bit of sympathy.
But trying to make a big, self-narrated show out of it and using a stolen, recklessly-flown aircraft? no.
But trying to make a big, self-narrated show out of it and using a stolen, recklessly-flown aircraft? no.
I don't feel sad. I feel relieved and very happy this guy didn't wind up killing innocent people on the ground or in another aircraft while he was helping himself to his self-indulgent, attention-getting method of suicide. On the radio he sounds like a typical Millennial YouTuber/Facebooker trying (and failing) to act nonchalant and witty for effect, otherwise why tune and keep his radio turned on talking with ATC if not to star in his own, final show. Perhaps if he'd said goodbye to his wife, family, and friends then quietly gone to jump off a cliff or string himself from the rafters endangering nobody else I'd feel a bit of sympathy.
But trying to make a big, self-narrated show out of it and using a stolen, recklessly-flown aircraft? no.
But trying to make a big, self-narrated show out of it and using a stolen, recklessly-flown aircraft? no.
He kept the radio on all the time and was talking to ATC, But he was flying over a populated area, he also did a barrel roll and had no intention of killing innocent people on the ground.
I don't think he was seeking attention - just sick.
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I don't feel sad. I feel relieved and very happy this guy didn't wind up killing innocent people on the ground or in another aircraft while he was helping himself to his self-indulgent, attention-getting method of suicide. On the radio he sounds like a typical Millennial YouTuber/Facebooker trying (and failing) to act nonchalant and witty for effect, otherwise why tune and keep his radio turned on talking with ATC if not to star in his own, final show. Perhaps if he'd said goodbye to his wife, family, and friends then quietly gone to jump off a cliff or string himself from the rafters endangering nobody else I'd feel a bit of sympathy.
But trying to make a big, self-narrated show out of it and using a stolen, recklessly-flown aircraft? no.
But trying to make a big, self-narrated show out of it and using a stolen, recklessly-flown aircraft? no.
Oh PukinDog. Think a bit deeper that your hatred of social media. Rich's job, involved as it was with the pushback of aircraft had him in communication with the cockpit every day. He was obviously very familiar and comfortable with radio chatter. He knew what he was doing was wrong and he stated he didn't want anybody to get hurt. I think his maintaining comms with a very professional controller and mmmm mostly obeying his requests ensured no one got hurt on the ground or in the air. If Rich had had gone no comms it may have been a worse outcome. Maybe you change your forum name to BlackDog and you might understand this a bit better.
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At a couple of points in the ATC recording, when being advised of certain flying issues, he clearly says something like "I've played a lot of video games."
Oh PukinDog. Think a bit deeper that your hatred of social media. Rich's job, involved as it was with the pushback of aircraft had him in communication with the cockpit every day. He was obviously very familiar and comfortable with radio chatter. He knew what he was doing was wrong and he stated he didn't want anybody to get hurt. I think his maintaining comms with a very professional controller and mmmm mostly obeying his requests ensured no one got hurt on the ground or in the air. If Rich had had gone no comms it may have been a worse outcome. Maybe you change your forum name to BlackDog and you might understand this a bit better.
Also, if something had gone wrong with the aircraft he's not trained to deal with, he could have easily planted it into a house, road, or whatever after takeoff despite his ramblings on freq later. He knew that as well. Also, he may have luckily ended up not killing anyone in a sparsely-populated area but he had no way of knowing whats in the woods. If he had any credibility about not wanting to hurt anyone he would have splashed it in the water. I believe you're the one who lacks understanding of his potential for killing innocent people, intentional or not.
But you go on ahead thinking whatever you want about good 'ole plane-thieving, reckless-flying, suicidal "Rich" that felt like he was entitled to an audience just because he decided to off himself.
Last edited by PukinDog; 12th Aug 2018 at 07:59.
Long before he had the nice chit chat you're so impressed with, he taxied-out and took off from and airport without saying a word to any controller. What will you tell me next about your St. Rich, that he kept a listening watch out on all freqs, developed a big picture because he was so good at sim-flying and familiar with pushing back aircraft, and was seeing and avoiding all other aircraft taxing and/or taking-off on and around the airport based on his own 3 dimensional picture? Please, oh Lord-whatever, tell me another fairy tale.
Also, if something had gone wrong with the aircraft he's not trained to deal with, he could have easily planted it into a house, road, or whatever after takeoff despite his ramblings on freq later. He knew that as well. Also, he may have luckily ended up not killing anyone in a sparsely-populated area but he had no way of knowing whats in the woods. If he had any credibility about not wanting to hurt anyone he would have splashed it in the water.
But you go on ahead thinking whatever you want about good 'ole plane-thieving, reckless-flying "Rich".
Also, if something had gone wrong with the aircraft he's not trained to deal with, he could have easily planted it into a house, road, or whatever after takeoff despite his ramblings on freq later. He knew that as well. Also, he may have luckily ended up not killing anyone in a sparsely-populated area but he had no way of knowing whats in the woods. If he had any credibility about not wanting to hurt anyone he would have splashed it in the water.
But you go on ahead thinking whatever you want about good 'ole plane-thieving, reckless-flying "Rich".
As the expert how do you explain the report from the pilot that observed the take off. It was along the lines of smoke off the tyres left and right.
Park brake on or brake steering at speed?
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Long before he had the nice chit chat you're so impressed with, he taxied-out and took off from and airport without saying a word to any controller. What will you tell me next about your St. Rich, that he kept a listening watch out on all freqs, developed a big picture because he was so good at sim-flying and familiar with pushing back aircraft, and was seeing and avoiding all other aircraft taxing and/or taking-off on and around the airport based on his own 3 dimensional picture? Please, oh Lord-whatever, tell me another fairy tale.
Also, if something had gone wrong with the aircraft he's not trained to deal with, he could have easily planted it into a house, road, or whatever after takeoff despite his ramblings on freq later. He knew that as well. Also, he may have luckily ended up not killing anyone in a sparsely-populated area but he had no way of knowing whats in the woods. If he had any credibility about not wanting to hurt anyone he would have splashed it in the water. I believe you're the one who lacks understanding of his potential for killing innocent people, intentional or not.
But you go on ahead thinking whatever you want about good 'ole plane-thieving, reckless-flying, suicidal "Rich" that felt like he was entitled to an audience just because he decided to off himself.
Also, if something had gone wrong with the aircraft he's not trained to deal with, he could have easily planted it into a house, road, or whatever after takeoff despite his ramblings on freq later. He knew that as well. Also, he may have luckily ended up not killing anyone in a sparsely-populated area but he had no way of knowing whats in the woods. If he had any credibility about not wanting to hurt anyone he would have splashed it in the water. I believe you're the one who lacks understanding of his potential for killing innocent people, intentional or not.
But you go on ahead thinking whatever you want about good 'ole plane-thieving, reckless-flying, suicidal "Rich" that felt like he was entitled to an audience just because he decided to off himself.