Posted on 07/21/2004 3:29:01 PM PDT by johnfrink
It's a long way from empty, unfortunately. Haven't even started burning ordinance yet. There have been one or two test burns (of non-chemical material); I have lost track. Most of the publicity is bad and has to do with the workers who felt they were exposed to a chemical leak a couple of years ago. I believe them, despite the official denials. Even an M.D. at Hermiston Hospital claimed to have been exposed from fumes coming off the workers clothing. I think the court case is still in progress.
When I heard the F-18 confirmation I thought maybe they were the two due in the Tri-Cities this weekend for the over-river airshow. But apparently not; they were training at the Boardman test range.
I am ready to break the heads of the next enviro's who sue to halt the burning. They'll keep the clean up stalled until it's too unstable/leaky to handle and then what?
Pave it over with concrete and make a Nascar Track out of it?
Tri-Cities? Graduated from a high school there - our mascot was "Bombers" til the PC crowd changed it.
Sad news.
Maybe they collided when flying in a tight formation ?
They can fly really fast.
Not a good idea when (as it appears) they were flying in the Gorge. There's plenty of wind there, and on a hot day it would be pretty bumpy.
Miramar returned to being a Marine Corps Air Station - MCAS, in 1997, just as it was in 1947.
Oops, I should have read the article more attentively ! I suppose they wouldn't have tried to fly in such a formation, then. Is there any new piece of information about this collision ?
Not really "new" but the news last night reported:
One pilot survived - minor injuries, walked out of hospital - had video showing him, but they didn't identify him. He was wearing his fatigues and carrying what appeared to be his chute. He had apparently landed on land.
Two pilots died. Both had landed in the river. Two local fishermen sped out to get him - when they got there, he was below water and wasn't moving. They tried to hold his head above water and quote, "drug him to shore."
There was home video of one of the chutes coming down (of one of the pilots who died and had landed in the river).
No further info as of last night regarding how it happened. Surviving pilot did not discuss it. Said he was grateful to be alive.
News story did not indicate whether it was a 1-seater and a 2-seater, or two 2-seaters... so I'm unclear whether there is still one pilot missing or not.
Perhaps others can fill in anything I forgot/missed.
You won't hear any outpouring of sympathy for these guys or their families from the general public, but naval aviators risk their lives DAILY.
Thank you for the update - God comfort the men's families and friends. It's a heartbreaker. I went to the TriCity Herald for more followup.
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/story/5328645p-5266684c.html
Millions is US taxpayer property destroyed.
Just wonderful.
Lets hope there was no injury or property damage
on the ground.
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