Posted on 02/02/2025 3:33:54 PM PST by dennisw
01-29-25 This happened over Alaska. Pilot ejected and is OK
https://www.eielson.af.mil/News/Display/Article/4047595/press-release-f-35-aircraft-crash-update/ Press Release: F-35 aircraft crash update Published Jan. 29, 2025 By 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- An F-35A Lightning II aircraft crash occurred on Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, at 12:49 p.m. Jan. 28, 2025.
The aircraft was preparing to land during a training flight when an in-flight emergency occurred. The pilot successfully ejected prior to the crash in accordance with emergency procedures. The pilot was transported to Bassett Army Hospital in Fairbanks for further evaluation and has been released. Emergency response personnel secured the site.
“We are grateful that the pilot is safe. Our team’s professional and expeditious response to the crash was instrumental in mitigating risk to personnel,” said Col. Paul Townsend, 354th Fighter Wing commander. “We appreciate all of the support we are receiving and remain committed to supporting U.S. Air Force investigation efforts.”
Local traffic is advised not to stop on Richardson Highway adjacent to Eielson AFB as this poses a safety risk and may impede recovery efforts. Additionally, Federal Law prohibits photography along this stretch of highway per USC 18 section 795.
Crash recovery operations are currently underway to support the Accident Investigation Board and remediation efforts.
Refer to Eielson’s official website for more information or updates at: https://www.eielson.af.mil/. For inquiries, media agencies can contact the 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs office at (907) 377-2116 or via email at 354fw.pa.publicaffairs@us.af.mil.
I have heard your spine is never the same after activating the ejection seat.
I’ve heard that you aren’t permitted to pilot after that; don’t know if it’s true or not.
The F-35 just flopped out of the sky, spun a bit and crashed into a fireball. It lost all power. Very bad for this trouble plagued aircraft model.
Pilot ejected.
My guess is a second ejection might leave you paralyzed.
“The F-35 just flopped out of the sky, spun a bit and crashed into a fireball. It lost all power. Very bad for this trouble plagued aircraft model.”
Yep, no room for DEI when it comes to that plane.
Accidents are only due to DEI when a woman is the pilot - or so some here would have one think.
“Accidents are only due to DEI when a woman is the pilot”
I agree, until proven otherwise in each case, but it can be male DEIs too.
Of course; but only if they’re Black.
“Of course; but only if they’re Black.”
Other categories of male DEIs, also.
I knew a little something about ejection seats. The early seats in the F-4 and other aircraft designed in the 60s and 70s usually had unique designs and subjected the pilot to over 40 Gs instantaneously. The newer AC like the F-16, A-10, F-15 have a common seat called the ACES II which subject the pilot to less than 20 Gs. Thats still a lot and will screw you up not as much. BTW I was an AC life support tech in the USAF in the 80s.
Thanks for the information.
Not true. You do have to undergo a class A flight physical before returning to flight status.
Class A flight physical
bttt
Thanks.
BTW I was an AC life support tech in the USAF in the 80s.
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You got to play with some barely-controlled bombs. My hat’s off to ya.
F4s had the Martin-Baker ejection seats. Those things were rough but they got you out. If the parachutes worked you probably walked away. Had an eject at Nellis where one crewmember died because the chute didn’t work. (Several mistakes made.) Seven pit pins to safe the thing.
ACES II is a good seat. Worked F15s and F16s. Headknocker and rotating panel between the knees to safe it. May have been a pin to safe the face curtain - been 45 years now.
Riding the seat is a combo cannon-shot/rocket-ride adventure.
After the canopy is gone (you hope) the trip starts with a cannon blast. The cannon barrel is fastened to the airframe, the cannonball is you and the seat. About six feet up a cable fastened between the cockpit floor and the seat rocket goes tight and fires the rocket motor. It’s a 6,000-pund thrust rocket in the ACES seat, don’t know what the Martin-Baker seat had.
The ACES-II seat has one more trick - it knows which way is up. If you eject upside-down it will turn you over to go up. Sounds kinda disorienting to me.
Yes, heard stories about a distraught airman or two who used the Martin Baker to end it all and wound up on the hanger ceiling. Don’t know if theyre true but you never know. The Martin Baker had a lot of pins so it was easy to screw up, on the ground, and the ACES II had two pins to secure it.
That was the most straightforward answer. The issue can be shaded somewhat. Any pilot who has ejected may never want to return to flight status again and turn in is wings.
that was only 11 seconds.
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