Posted on 05/30/2024 4:10:00 AM PDT by Fish Speaker
WASHINGTON — An F-35B test jet crashed shortly after takeoff from Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico Tuesday afternoon, according to a statement from the base. The jet’s pilot ejected and was injured.
The aircraft arrived at the base 1 p.m. on Tuesday, stopping over for fuel on the way from plane maker Lockheed Martin’s facilities in Fort Worth, Texas, according to the Kirtland statement. It crashed at 1:48 p.m. southwest of Kirtland, which is in the Albuquerque area and adjacent to the city’s airport. The fighter was on its way to Edwards Air Force Base north of Los Angeles, Kirtland said.
The stealth fighter’s pilot sustained “serious injuries” after ejecting, Albuquerque Fire Rescue spokesman Lt. Jason Fejer said in a video on X. Kirtland said the pilot was in “stable condition” as of Tuesday evening after being transferred to the University of New Mexico Hospital.
(Excerpt) Read more at breakingdefense.com ...
We need every competent fighter pilot we can get.
If he sustained injuries, then he didn’t eject safely.
Urinalism is dead. In other news the pilot can get a tie from Martin Baker and will be 1/2” shorter for the near future.
https://martin-baker.com/tie-club/
None of our institutions do what they are supposed to do.
.....for info....what th’ hell - it’s only taxpayers’ money.....
The F-35 Lightning II is a multirole fighter jet used by several air forces, including the US and UK, and currently costs up to $109 million per aircraft.
The F-35 comes in three variants with different operating abilities: conventional take-off and landing (F-35A), short take-off and vertical landing (F-35B), and a variant designed for aircraft carrier operations (F-35C).
The overall project cost of the F-35 program has increased from an initial $200 billion to over $400 billion, with an estimated lifetime cost of $1.7 trillion.
I don’t think the pilot was military. He worked for Lockeed-Martin.
The F 35 is destroying Iran in Syria....... and Iran
Hopefully he will recover in time to make it to his next DEI seminar!!!
Pretty much anyone who ejects from a jet fighter gets injured.
Okay then, he’s a corporate fighter aircraft pilot.
Images of the site show that it basically pancaked into a berm on the west side of a busy road (University Blvd SE) and just prior to I-25. Had that berm not been there, it likely would have landed on I-25.
I wasn't a pilot in the Air Force, but I remember seeing reports that said a high percentage of pilots who eject are injured - at least somewhat.
Correct. Who doesn’t “fight” or go to war, or in the miliary, or even an officer. A civilian.
But other than that, same thing.
pilot ejects safely but sustains injuries
Do these people ever read what they write?
My dad ejected out of his jet (1950 something) just outside of SF bay due to an engine flameout.
He landed safely in the ocean & waited for the CG to come & get him.
I think the only injury he suffered was from my mom, when he dragged his wet parachute into the apartment when he come home 😆
Come=came
We still need all the competent fighter pilots we can get.
Okay. I am retired US Air Force (22 years active duty) so I think I can speak on this.
There are jets that get the F, as in Fighter designation. They are called fighter jets.
Pilots of Fighter jets that fight have to be trained and authorized to do so. It takes a real long time. Moreover, they must be US Military officers. Only then can they be correctly called fighter pilots.
A civilian that ferries or tests jets and other aircraft, to include those that are intended to get the fighter role assigned, is not a fighter pilot. They are just pilots, flying aircraft that, once assigned to the United States military, may be assigned the F as in Fighter role.
Yeah sure, but DoD contractors employ test pilots. If they’re testing one of their fighter aircraft, the pilot of that airplane, for all intents and purposes, is going to have to be a fighter pilot. See Lockheed Martin job listing below:
Job Responsibilities
JOB ID: ABC123
Date posted: Mar. 13, 2024
Description:
Lockheed Martin Flight Operations is looking for an energetic test pilot who wants to make a difference. You will start by supporting the F-35 program, but the position will grow to involve other projects including Lockheed Martin’s Advanced Development Programs, better known as Skunk Works.
We want a person who is willing to provide leadership, apply technical acumen, and make the team better.
Duties will include, but are not limited to:
• PVI development, requirements development, market assist.
• Subject matter expert on all aspects of the F-35
• Subject matter expert for flight test to include flight test planning, run card development, test execution and reporting.
• Fly F-35 missions such as experimental, developmental, production, engineering flight test, test support, customer demonstration flights and others as assigned.
** Must be a US Citizen. This position is located at a facility that requires special access. **
This position is in Fort Worth, TX.
Basic Qualifications:
• Suitable FAA Commercial Pilot (SE Land, Instrument Airplane) or Airline Transport Pilot certificate.
• Current FAA Class I or II medical certificate.
• 1,500 hours first-pilot time in a tactical aircraft.
• F-35 flying experience in excess of 100 hours.
• Graduate of a military or recognized Test Pilot School (TPS).
• Must be willing to travel and have a valid U.S. passport.
Desired Skills:
• Comfortable working with Communications and Public Relations in front of a camera.
Security Clearance Statement: This position requires a government security clearance, you must be a US Citizen for consideration.
Clearance Level: TS/SCI
Experience Level: Experienced Professional
Business Unit: AERONAUTICS COMPANY
Relocation Available: Possible
Career Area: Aeronautical Engineering
Type: Full-Time
Shift: First
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