If they are two BDU-50s practice bombs that simulate 500 lb Mk-82s then they are harmless unless they have spotting charges.
This one below has no spotting charge in its nose.
Posted on 10/22/2009 5:42:13 PM PDT by Mr. Jazzy
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah (AP) -- An official with the Davis County sheriff's office in northern Utah says there has been an explosion at Hill Air Force Base.
Capt. Kenny Payne says the explosion occurred Thursday at a weapons cache. He did not have other details.
(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...
Prayers up.
Prayers for all those involved.
They work with some very dangerous “items”.
Weapons cache?
I wonder if it was an ammunition igloo?
HILL AIR FORCE BASE -- An explosion at Hill Air Force Base knocked out power and forced the evacuation of employees Thursday evening.
Base officials say an F-16 was having an "in-flight emergency" and jettisoned two fuel tanks and two 500 pound munitions. One or both of the munitions is believed to have hit a base structure, causing a large explosion.
The pilot was able to landed the F-16 safely back at the base, and the two fuel tanks were located.
Now crews are investigating to determine if both munitions hit the building, while continuing to search for one of the munitions that may not have exploded.
Base officials believe that if is an unexploded munitions, it will be found inside base property. They say there is no risk of danger to the public.
The explosion caused closures in both directions on Interstate 15, but the freeway has now been reopened.
Base officials still have the base's West Gate entrance (650 North in Layton) closed and are diverting traffic to the South Gate.
Stay with KSL.com, KSL-TV and KSL Newsradio 102.7 FM/1160 AM for the latest details on this developing story.
Could have been in transport, waiting for details.
Oh man.
There was an explosion in an ammunition igloo in 1944 at Umatilla Ordnance Depot. Killed several people, and they found pieces of a truck that was parked in front of the igloo over 5100’ feet from the explosion.
They believe ...LMAO... but if the unexploded bombs are found off base, they're completely harmless? Uh huh.
I want to believe!
Yes they do. Actually a good ending for a live fire exercise pilot having an in flight emergency. These heroes fly a lot of training missions over the west desert from Hill.
Prayers up
Huh, I didn’t know that was procedure to jettison live ordnance during IFE if over occupied structures.
In {censored} we had a Navy F-18 take the arresting cable cuz of an IFE. The pilot said his only options were to use our arresting cable (the only operational one within his remaining fuel range) or punch out at sea near his carrier. This was within the last 3 years.
A witness, Trevor Warner, while traveling on I-15 North said he felt the impact of the explosion while driving on the freeway. Warner said he saw a big "mushroom cloud" of black smoke rise. No injuries have been reported nor damage to any buildings or facilities.
Rocky Mountain Power reports of power outages in the area, but no civilian areas around the base were affected.
source Fox13 Salt Lake
OMG - prayers that nobody on the ground is hurt.
500 lb = MK 82 + what kits were installed.
In a related note:
The Mk 82 is currently undergoing a minor redesign to allow it to meet the insensitive munitions requirements set by Congress
For our readers in Rio Linda
An insensitive munition is one that will not detonate under any conditions other than its intended mission to destroy a target. If it is struck by fragments from an explosion or hit by a bullet, it will not detonate. It also will not detonate if it is in close proximity to a target that is hit.
It would seem at least one of the “munitions” did not pass the insensitive part.....
From the pics in post 5, it looks like a storage shed. Wasn’t occupied, and the pilot was likely authorized to drop em there. No casualties, pilot safe, F-16 safely landed... good outcome.
If they are two BDU-50s practice bombs that simulate 500 lb Mk-82s then they are harmless unless they have spotting charges.
This one below has no spotting charge in its nose.
Ping.
WT Heck is going on?
ping.
F-16 ping.
Heads up.
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