F-15 Fighter Jet Crashes In Southwestern Indiana

The Indy Channel 6 News ^ | May 30, 2007

[Erasmus]

What about after the crash?

Minus 25.

[raygun]

Didn’t know ‘bout this.

I just happened to watch a TVO weekly titled, “Escape! Because Accidents Happen” that is a sub-set of their weekly “Heavy Metal” series. This particular show dealt with the history of aircraft ejection seats.

They showed current/present development of automatic ejection-seats. Yep. I’m pretty sure all you guys would appreciate that.

Is there an E-ticket ride somewhere that does eSeat? Becaue I’m going to stay away from that ride.

[Atchafalaya]

I was amazed at how fast a B25 accelerates on takeoff...a zoomer for it’s size.

[M1Tanker]

In early WWII and the decade or so prior more than a few air-power only proponents pointed out the fact that multi-engine bombers easily out-flew early “Pursuit” fighters and were, thus, immune from interception. They also pointed out that most machine guns used for AAA were pathetic and could not reach the bombers.

Then improved engines, better cannons, and proximity shells blew their theories literally out of the sky. Though, in their defense, foretelling the future is usually impossible.

Military Innovation in the Interwar Period is a dry, but good read on this topic.

The B25 is a fast ship with great acceleration. This is why COL Doolittle chose it for the raid on Tokyo from an aircraft carrier. Some of these lighter bombers, like the B25 and Mosquito, were so fast that they could go in and out of an area before the enemy could respond.

[ReignOfError]

The plane was affiliated with the 131st Fighter Wing, which is headquartered at Lambert Field

That's gotta be one tough landing.

[VOA]

I’m guessing the plane is currently at about -5 feet, depending on
the size of the crater.

On a short clip of video of the crash site, it looked like it broke up
into a couple of pieces, with about the aft tow-thirds of the plane
sticking up out of the ground.
(in isolation, looking like the plane just dived into the ground,
with the front one-third of the plane buried in the soil)

[Robert A Cook PE]

I regularly drive past those IN & IL fields south and east of Vincennes ...

Glad the ground-pounders were safe, but realistically, there ain’t much on the ground out there to hit.

Good also to see the pilot was able to walk out - too often the bailout injuries are pretty serious.

[AFPhys]

Thanks for the ping.

[M1Tanker]

I’m happy the pilot did not have to ride the mount in ala “The Great Santini” style (having to give his life to save a town). I have not seen anything else on this, but do not expect to for another month until the accident board is complete.

While we may joke about other services, pilots have my respect. If any ground vehicle I am in blows an engine, loses hydraulics, or has an electrical failure, I just pull over. A plane has the unfortunate habit of not failing on the ground with the brakes on; then you take off.

[CholeraJoe]

This was all over our local news last week. If one engine self destructs it can sling parts through the compressor on the other. No amount of fire retardant will put out a magnesium fire.

[AFPhys]

That can happen ... we’ll see what the verdict here is.

[Robert A Cook PE]

I have noticed most tank-car accidents occur on (over) the car’s side of the fender.

Solo tank crashes, however, often tend to end up with a shorter, but rather more dramatic, fall from grace.
Fall from the road.
Slide from the road.
Into the ditch.
Into the river.
Out of the ditch.

You know, tanks generally don’t fall very far. Nor very fast. Just very firmly. 8>)

[M1Tanker]

Yep, but hey, why crash with style and drama when you can just get it over with quick? :)

Reminds me of a new driver I had as a 2LT just after my tanks brakes were fixed (too well)...... One concussion and smashed teeth later... Well, at least I hooked up with this cute girl.....