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Mechanic ‘Accidentally’ Fires Vulcan Cannon & Obliterates F-16 Sitting on the Runway
War history online ^ | Mar 19, 2020 | George Winston

Posted on 03/20/2020 7:08:53 AM PDT by Lazamataz

The F-16, hit by the cannon fire, caught fire and exploded having recently been refuelled and made ready for a training sortie due to take place later that day. Another aircraft received minor damage.

If anyone ever needed a reminder of the lethal dangers of working with live munitions, then a recent incident at Florennes Air Base in Belgium is the ultimate wake-up call.

It is thought a maintenance worker accidentally activated the six-barrel 20mm Vulcan M61A-1 cannon hitting another plane parked on the runway.

No-one was in the line of fire, but two technicians were taken to the medical centre on the base suffering from noise related effects

(Excerpt) Read more at warhistoryonline.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: a10; f16; sabotage; security; vulcancannon
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To: chrisser

A lick of paint, a lick of paint

Love, O’Riley


21 posted on 03/20/2020 7:15:51 AM PDT by NonValueAdded ("Sorry, your race card has been declined. Can you present any other form of argument?")
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To: Lazamataz

Hey y’all watch this one.


22 posted on 03/20/2020 7:15:55 AM PDT by Old Yeller (Auto-correct has become my worst enema.)
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To: Lazamataz

This is a big violation of firearms safety. Don’t point it at anything you aren’t ready to destroy.


23 posted on 03/20/2020 7:16:10 AM PDT by thefactor (yes, as a matter of fact, i DID only read the excerpt)
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To: Lazamataz

Whose air force did this plane belong to?


24 posted on 03/20/2020 7:16:26 AM PDT by Grampa Dave ((FearRepublic.com - keeping the media panic narrative going 24/7 to finally bring down Trump)!!!!)
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To: Lazamataz

Hold my beer and watch this...


25 posted on 03/20/2020 7:16:33 AM PDT by ImJustAnotherOkie (All I know is The I read in the papers.)
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To: Ruy Dias de Bivar

Well my question is severalfold.

1) How did they have a loaded A-10 sitting on the runway pointing at ANYthing.

2) How was the gun not locked out?

3) Was the mechanic named “Mohammad”?


26 posted on 03/20/2020 7:17:08 AM PDT by Lazamataz (The living will envy the dead.)
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To: Lazamataz

McCain is somewhere snickering


27 posted on 03/20/2020 7:17:10 AM PDT by NonValueAdded ("Sorry, your race card has been declined. Can you present any other form of argument?")
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To: Spruce

Damn straight, Vulcans are LOUD. I was in a composite Chaparral/Towed Vulcan battalion decades ago in Germany. They’re capable of spitting out 3000 rounds a minute, quite a sight to see...and hear...lol.


28 posted on 03/20/2020 7:17:28 AM PDT by Night Hides Not (Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad! Remember Gonzales! Come and Take It!)
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To: IronJack
What plane had the cannon? Another F16?

Looks like it. From Tweet cited in article:

"A BELGIAN Air Component F-16 fighter has been destroyed and another plane has been left damaged. It is reported that the accident was caused by the negligent discharge of the six-barrel 20 mm Vulcan M61A-1 cannon on another F-16."
29 posted on 03/20/2020 7:18:03 AM PDT by chrisser
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To: Lazamataz

Bet those two had to be extracted from soiled raiments as well.


30 posted on 03/20/2020 7:19:55 AM PDT by bigbob (Trust Trump. Trust the Plan.)
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To: Lazamataz

31 posted on 03/20/2020 7:19:57 AM PDT by budj (Combat vet, 2nd of three generations.)
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To: Hot Tabasco

Some of us wonder what our tax dollars pay for.

That particular guy will never have to wonder.


32 posted on 03/20/2020 7:19:57 AM PDT by babble-on
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To: chrisser

Bet he gets a pay cut.


33 posted on 03/20/2020 7:21:52 AM PDT by epluribus_2 (He, had the best mom - ever. my)
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To: Lazamataz

Pretty sure that mechanic had to change his shorts when that thing went off.


34 posted on 03/20/2020 7:22:04 AM PDT by BBQToadRibs
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To: Lazamataz

Congratulations on posting a non virus thread.


35 posted on 03/20/2020 7:23:37 AM PDT by xp38
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To: Lazamataz
Based on my experience, you don't just "accidentally" fire a Vulcan.

I was a Vulcan platoon leader for about a year, and we used two guns as part of a reserve force at a nearby Nike Hercules site. During those exercises, we left the motor pool with both guns loaded with live ammo to the breech. Naturally, I took two of my best gunners for the exercise.

No doubt, it would have been bad for the guns to "accidentally" fire into a bunker containing nukes. lol

36 posted on 03/20/2020 7:23:45 AM PDT by Night Hides Not (Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad! Remember Gonzales! Come and Take It!)
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To: Ruy Dias de Bivar

part of his pay check deducted each pay period”

The guy might not live long enough to pay it off.


37 posted on 03/20/2020 7:24:36 AM PDT by gibsonguy
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; Bockscar; cardinal4; ColdOne; ...
This is obviously due to the Coronavirus and Climate Change. Oh, and racism. And sexism. And failure to recognize more than two genders.

38 posted on 03/20/2020 7:24:50 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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To: nnn0jeh

Ping


39 posted on 03/20/2020 7:25:05 AM PDT by kalee
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To: Ruy Dias de Bivar

Don’t they have red flagged “safety pins” for this? We did 50 years ago.


Was wondering about this. When I was a DOD contractor back in the 70’s, most/all of the ordinance was interlocked to the landing gear, so that if weight was on the gear everything was locked out.


40 posted on 03/20/2020 7:25:32 AM PDT by chaosagent (Remember, no matter how you slice it, forbidden fruit still tastes the sweetest!)
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