Posted on 02/13/2025 6:43:03 AM PST by V_TWIN
Two United States (US) Navy pilots managed to break free from a Boeing EA-18G Growler jet whilst the aircraft hurtled towards the San Diego Bay.
US Navy officials confirmed that the two pilots ejected from the EA-18G Growler before impact and were rescued promptly from the water after the incident.
The dramatic events unfolded on February 12, 2025, at around 10:15 local time, when the US Navy aircraft was landing in the area. The pilots, from the Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 135 based out of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Washington, were taken to UC San Diego Medical Center for medical assessment.
(Excerpt) Read more at aerotime.aero ...
I don’t know about air frames....I was an engine mech.
No, the writer is right. These guys were very emotionally attached to their bird. It's hard to break free when the heart wants what it wants.
Sounds like you worked ata NARF center. Whatever the reason, we are losing too many combat planes not during combat operations.
If it's a Boeing, I'm not going.
They would fly from Whidbey Island to San Diego for maintenance?
Itβs quicker than taxing all the way down there.
π
NARF is a very old acronym my friend but yes that’s where I was.
After NARF the name changed a couple of more times and now the 3 facilities are referred to as Fleet Readiness Centers or “FRCs”.
Located in San Diego, Cherry Point NC and Jacksonville Fl.
TBH, even at my facility, after 30+ years and 17 of it overseeing production work in the Quality department I still am mystified how we never lost any air crew in that time.
Some of those people working on the aircraft had absolutely NO business with a wrench in their hand.
See my post 27 and yes.
All 3 facilities have cognizance over certain platforms and are designated as primary rework facility.
Since the other 2 are on the east coast San Diego is the closest to Whidbey.
Also, these facilities are manned by civilian fed gov employees and the facilities are capable of doing depth of rework and maintenance that the squadrons aren’t capable of.
They are really factories that many times use OEM factory manuals and technical publications to accomplish required maintenance.
So it’s not NADEP Jax any more? Who knew?
Whatever it’s called now the traffic at shift change is still a mess. (BTW, thanks for your service from an old P-3 guy.)
A saboteur on the plan handcuffed them to the steering wheel. They were lucky
They probably should have ejected.
Fleet Readiness Center Southeast (FRCSE) is Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia’s largest maintenance, repair, overhaul and technical services provider, employing approximately 5,000 civilian, military and contract workers. With annual revenue exceeding $1 billion, the organization serves as an integral part of the greater U.S. Navy, Naval Air Systems Command, and Commander Fleet Readiness Centers by maintaining the combat airpower for America’s military forces.
https://frcse.navair.navy.mil/
And yeah, the traffic still sucks. π
βBreak free β who is this moron
He’s a Brit.....you know, where a flashlight is called a “torch”, a car fender is called a “wing” and a cigarette is called a “fag”.
For being the country that gave birth to the English language they sure don’t speak it very well. π
There are some things if half assed, it just don’t matter that much.
Things that fly and people sit in, aren’t one of them.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.