I watched in horror and disbelief...

Mojo · 09-15-2003, 05:03 AM

Yesterday I took my 9 year old daughter to Gunfighter Skies 2003. It's an airshow where I work (on Mountain Home AFB, I'm in the military, as many of you know).

We were watching the Thunderbirds take off, and probably 45 seconds after take off, the opposing solo (#6)does a loop, and punched his jet into the ground. It appeared to me that he lost afterburner. I don't know if you have seen the video, but it was awesome (not in a good way). I couldn't see the ejection from where I was, and didn't find out the pilot ejected safely for nearly an hour. It freaked both of us (and the other 85,000 spectators) out.

Once my daughter found out the pilot was o.k. she was back to her normal bubbly self. 19 years of working on and around aircraft has conditioned me to be a little more affected by this type of thing.

The amazing thing about the whole incident is that the pilot actually turned the plane away from the crowd, and was able to walk away from the ejection. He was probably less than 150 feet in the air, with a serious sink rate, and very low airspeed. Definitely out of the envelope for ejection. Thank God he made it.

[ 09-15-2003, 07:08 AM: Message edited by: Mojo ]

Birdnest · 09-15-2003, 06:00 AM

I saw that on the news. Close call. I am sure that was pushing the limits for altitude for an ejection. Glad all were okay.

Mojo · 09-15-2003, 06:07 AM

The fact the the pilot was able to steer the plane away from the crowd, with all the crap that had to have been happening inside the cockpit, and still get out alive is a testament to his flying skills.

Fishrite · 09-15-2003, 06:42 AM

I saw this as well... It was amazing that he was able to eject and live through such a horrific crash.

OceanBlue · 09-15-2003, 06:52 AM

Oh how I hate airshows. Growing up, I was dragged from one to another (my dad is a pilot and loves planes) and always, my heart was in my throat, fearing something like this would happen and wipe us out with the rest of the crowds!

Mega kudos to the pilot for averting what could have been a horrible tragedy!

I'm relieved to hear he's okay, too!

TundraIII · 09-15-2003, 06:54 AM

Not a big fan of the airshows either. Glad the pilot is safe.

GutshotApe · 09-15-2003, 07:47 AM

I like airshows...especially WWII aircraft. US airshows have strict rules minimizing risk to the crowd...planes are supposed to fly parallel to the runway and always have their aircraft flying such that they would crash in open areas, if they crash. A few years ago I saw video of an Italian (I think) aerobatic team...3 or 4 jets flew low along the runway and a single jet crossed at right angle, supposed to just miss the other planes...except this time he clipped one of the other planed and both crashed...one went down on the runway but the other, the one flying 90 deg to the rest, came down in the crowd of spectators. Not a pretty sight. :shocked:

skein · 09-15-2003, 10:19 AM

I agree with you, Mojo, what a testament to his skills and ability to keep a cool head while everything inside him had to be screaming "Get out, get out!" Those guys don't get to be the best without being the BEST!

I'm glad he got out and I'm glad he protected the crowd.

Oh, and I like airshows. It's important to me to know there's people who can do what I can only dream about or hardly imagine. It pushes me to require more of myself and not get lazy or complacent.

Skein

Mojo · 09-15-2003, 12:08 PM

One of the coolest things I saw this weekend was a "Heritage Flight". A P-51 Mustang and a F-15 did a fly-by. I love both those planes, and it was so cool to see them flying together.

freespool · 09-16-2003, 07:42 AM

That's another life saved by the Ace's Two ejection seat. Single motion,zero-zero egress system.

CATCH AND EAT · 09-16-2003, 08:00 AM

Man I love air shows too. Saw the clip on TV and thankful the pilot is okay. Some fast thinking avoided catastrophy. They are the best.

I remember a few years back at the Hillsboro air show when they had a stealth bomber fly up from down south. What an awesome sight. Also really enjoy watching Patti Wagstaff and her stunt plan. That is a woman that can really fly. Really love the jump jets too!

We also love going to Boeing Field Air Museum. I remember the look in my boy Spencers eyes when the little old gray hair man helped him into a Northrop Fighter Jet and he immediatly went for the joy stick. The look in his eyes was priceless. Smiled from ear to ear.

BonkBonkBonk · 09-23-2003, 02:59 PM

oh wow, i didnt even know that happened. it seems so odd for something like that to happen in little ol mt home.
being stuck out here in oregon w/o news kinda sucks like that