Posted on 06/13/2015 7:44:14 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
The Hungarian Air Force had its second Saab JAS 39 Gripen crash in less than a month. The latest accident three days ago was caused by the malfunctioning landing gear, which led the pilot to make an emergency landing. He stayed with the jet as long as possible, only ejecting as the stricken fighter tipped on its side, careening down the runway.
During ejection, the pilot’s malfunctioning seat put him in hospital with a vertebral fracture. Squadron leader Sándor Kádár had hit the ground pretty hard since his seat didn’t detach after leaving the cockpit, weighing down his parachute by an additional 176 pounds. On the plus side, he got a freakin’ medal for his bravery at the hospital.
After burning off excess kerosene and landing on its belly, the Gripen tilted to the left, leaving no other option than pulling the ejection handle. Still, at least the plane came to a halt in one piece, which means she will fly again.
The same can not be said about the JAS 39D we lost during a Czech air show training exercise lost month. While both pilots ejected safely after overrunning the landing strip, we still don’t know how that happened exactly as the accident is still under investigation.
The Hungarian Air Force is leasing-buying 14 JAS 39 Gripens (2 of which are dual-seaters) until 2026. That’s why in the beginning of May, they could count 12 JAS 39Cs and 2 JAS 39Ds ready for combat in those hangars.
Less than a month later, that’s down to 11+1, all grounded for now.
Photo credit: MTI/AP/CTK/Josef Vostarek
Awesome Hungarian Pilots!
My fellow Magyars!!!
Watched several F-4 Phantoms with landing gear malfunctions belly in. Scary, one at night trailed flaming fuel from the wing tanks. Catching the arresting gear while sliding seemed to be an iffy proposition.
Funny thing about landing with gear up the brakes don’t work too well.
And then they foam the runway so you slide like crazy..............
There are two kinds of pilots, those that have made a gear up landing and those that are going to make a gear up landing.
Hungary needs an airforce WHY?..
“I wonder if he may have faired a little better trying to slide her in on the grass?”
Hard to say but maybe it would have “dug in” and flipped.
Couldn’t know it at the time but from the video, he would have been better off staying with the plane.
And risk serious injury/loss of a well-trained pilot?
Seems we had a lively thread with Pukin’ Dog years ago about pilots punching out vs. staying with the plane. It got animated.
Because they border not-yet-completely-occupied-Ukraine.
"I will not buy this jet. It is scratched."
latest candidate for the Martin-Baker Fan Club...
To prevent a repeat of the decades long Soviet Occupation?
It was one of the most memorable engagements I ever saw. With the speed and weight factors it was what was referred to as a Regime 4 engagement and required both the cable and tape be changed which was no fun at all.
Because the Russians (Putin) are coming.
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