Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Posted on 03/21/2005 9:55:53 AM PST by Atlas Sneezed
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (AP) - An Air Force pilot ejected safely moments before his F-16 crashed Friday just short of the runway at Nellis Air Force Base.
The pilot, who was not identified, was taken to Mike O'Callaghan Federal Hospital, where he was being evaluated and treated for minor scratches.
Military officials said the pilot has been an instructor since December 2004 at the U.S. Air Force Weapons School at Nellis. The pilot had logged 1,500 hours in the F-16, of which 30 hours came during combat, Capt. Steve Rolenc said.
The roughly $20 million aircraft was assigned to the 16th Weapons Squadron at the weapons school. A safety board will investigate, officials said.
The last F-16 accident at Nellis occurred in August 2000, when two planes collided in midair. One pilot safely ejected. The other was able to land without incident.
AP-ES-03-18-05 2149EST
The new retroactive ejection seat, no doubt.
Good thing he crashed right side up!
Curse the single-engine aircraft. From the 1950s on, we never should have made them.
Yep
Oh, it's possible to eject successfully from the F-16 after crashing. You just have to carefully time the pulling of the ejection handle with the first bounce...
Good thing too!
Would you really count the afterburn as an engine to begin with?
Actually, the early model Lockheed F-104s had a downward ejection seat, probably because the 104 had a "T" tail design and it was thought the pilot might not clear it in an ejection. Not much thought given to his chances in a low altitude ejection, though. I believe it was Ivan Kincheloe who failed to make it on takeoff when the jet engine blew. If there was time, the drill was supposed to be to do a half roll before ejecting!
That's probably why DNDCA choose the F-18 over the F-16...One engine...you're building an igloo up North...2 engines you limp home on one of them...
You've gotta be kidding....
Ahh - but on this aircraft, it's not an afterburner, it's an augmentor.
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
well the afterburn under the seat is compliments of baked beans anyhow.
LOL. And thank the Lord for a safe ejection.
Turbines are so much more reliable than prop engines, that single engines make a lot of sense. During WWII, since most dual engine aircraft could not stay up on a single engine, of if they could stay up, would certainly not be capable as a fighter, single engines made a lot a sense.
Single engines have a pretty good safety record, because the engine out procedure is dead simple. Dual engine aircraft have a tougher procedure, and it is common when one goes out the pilot, under stress, and under time pressure, will turn off the GOOD engine.
Which ejection seat does this plane carry? Is it the British seat?
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