Ukraine says US-made F-16 fighter jet crashed, killing a top pilot

CNN ^ | Aug 29, 2024 | Daria Tarasova-Markina and Ivana Kottasová

[McGruff]

A top Ukrainian pilot was killed when a US-made F-16 fighter jet crashed on Monday, a Ukrainian Defence Forces source told CNN.

The Ukrainian Defence Forces do not believe pilot error was behind the incident, the source added.

The pilot, Oleksiy Mes known as “Moonfish,” was killed in the crash while “repelling the biggest ever aerial attack” by Russia against Ukraine, said the source, adding that the pilot was buried on Thursday.

[CatHerd]

Russia’s S400 is rated #1 air defense system on the planet by numerous military publications and sites. There may be some disagreement here and there about first place, but they undoubtedly have one of the world’s best ADFs.

[central_va]

High Flight:

(with FAA Supplement)

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth(1), And danced(2) the skies on laughter silvered wings;

Sunward I've climbed(3) and joined the tumbling mirth(4) Of sun-split clouds(5) and done a hundred things(6)

You have not dreamed of -- Wheeled and soared and swung(7) High in the sunlit silence(8). Hov'ring there(9)

I've chased the shouting wind(10) along and flung(11) My eager craft through footless halls of air.

Up, up the long delirious(12), burning blue I've topped the wind-swept heights(13) with easy grace,

Where never lark, or even eagle(14) flew; And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space(15), Put out my hand(16), and touched the face of God.

NOTE:

1. Pilots must insure that all surly bonds have been slipped entirely before aircraft taxi or flight is attempted.
2. During periods of severe sky dancing, crew and passengers must keep seatbelts fastened. Crew should wear shoulderbelts as provided.
3. Sunward climbs must not exceed the maximum permitted aircraft ceiling.
4. Passenger aircraft are prohibited from joining the tumbling mirth.
5. Pilots flying through sun-split clouds under VFR conditions must comply with all applicable minimum clearances.
6. Do not perform these hundred things in front of Federal Aviation Administration inspectors.
7. Wheeling, soaring, and swinging will not be attempted except in aircraft rated for such activities and within utility class weight limits.
8. Be advised that sunlit silence will occur only when a major engine malfunction has occurred.
9. "Hov'ring there" will constitute a highly reliable signal that a flight emergency is imminent.
10. Forecasts of shouting winds are available from the local FSS. Encounters with unexpected shouting winds should be reported by pilots.
11. Pilots flinging eager craft through footless halls of air are reminded that they alone are responsible for maintaining separation from other eager craft.
12. Should any crewmember or passenger experience delirium while in the burning blue, submit an irregularity report upon flight termination.
13. Windswept heights will be topped by a minimum of 1,000 feet to maintain VFR minimum separations.
14. Aircraft engine ingestion of, or impact with, larks or eagles should be reported to the FAA and the appropriate aircraft maintenance facility.
15. Aircraft operating in the high untresspassed sanctity of space must remain in IFR flight regardless of meteorlogical conditions and visibility.
16. Pilots and passengers are reminded that opening doors or windows in order to touch the face of God may result in loss of cabin pressure.

[LukeL]

It takes thousands of hours to become an expert on anything. You can use simulators and other such methods as well. Further combat training requires putting the airframe to its limits and something like that cannot be learned in a couple months.

[Redcitizen]

Bummer.

Now we have another Ghost of Kiev.

[srmanuel]

I don’t know or really care about what Air Defense System is the best except that Russia has capable systems.

They will be shooting at F-16s flown by inexperienced pilots who will get shot down in short order assuming Ukraine actually sends them into battle.

[wildcard_redneck]

It should only take a few hundred hours for an experienced pilot to master a new fighter jet - if it has been designed correctly. That people say it takes thousands of hours to learn the F-16 is ample evidence that it has a craptastic design.

[srmanuel]

I don’t have the time nor energy to debate you, believe what you want to believe, I could really care less.

[iluvschnitzle]

They were from Lithuania.

[Magnum44]

Do the investigation, but, really, just say that it appears he was shot down... What is the harm is suggesting that, in an active battleground?

The problem with this admin, well, one of many, is that they have slow rolled any modern weapons going to Ukraine in part because losses of things like F-16's and M-1's would be 'embarrassing' to them. Its stupid, as losses in battle can never be completely avoided. But to answer your question, I suspect that CNN is in the tank to not embarrass Biden/Harris.

[dforest]

I think it is a way to squeeze money out of us or get another plane.

So sick of Ukraine BS.

[Magnum44]

I don’t have the time nor energy to debate you, believe what you want to believe, I could really care less.

Translation: I dont have an answer to your questions. I just make stuff up as I go.

[srmanuel]

Translation: I don’t care, I’ve been too many of these debates on FR, regardless of whatever I post, even if the information is verbatim from an article, it’s met with that’s false, the source if bad or any number of other excuses.

People believe whatever they want, no one is going to change anyone’s mind so why debate, it’s a waste of time.

I’ve had other people on this thread agree with me on what I’ve posted, you are the only disagreeable person, so why bother.

[Navy Patriot]

Still no claim the F-16 was some magic weapon.

So you claim on FR that Zeepers can make no claims on FR, ... interesting claim.

[StayoutdaBushesWay]

Very sad. Prayers for his family.

[Magnum44]

Well, I wouldnt want to be the only person who ever disagreed with you...geesh.

[kiryandil]

You are playing dumb. And thats ok because I get where you are on the subject. But there are many sources for the Ukraine losses available as well as the Russian losses.

I don't recall much push-back from the Western Media when the man in the green t-shirt told us back at the end of February 2024 that only 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed.

Laughable.

The reason I'm concerned about this cavalier attitude about the deaths on both sides is because I suspect that if the TRUE number of Ukrainian battle deaths were known, zElensky would soon find himself up against Ceaușescu's Wall...

[Magnum44]

If you find even a Freeper who says the F-16 was going to win the war for Ukraine, please message me and I can tell them that was a stupid thing to say as well.

[srmanuel]

You are proving my point, I never said you were the only person to ever disagree with me, I said you were the only one to disagree with me on this thread.

This is typical of someone that doesn’t want to debate but argue and that’s pointless.

[Magnum44]

The question I would ask you, is would Zelensky be against Ceaușescu’s Wall because of the deaths of Ukrainians caused by Russia’s assault or because he should have just waved a white flag from the beginning?

Should Putin also be against Ceaușescu’s Wall? He has a stupendous body count as well....

[Owen]

I doubt any F-16 was shot down. I doubt it crashed. I doubt the pilot died, crash or not.

There would be no reason for it to be within range of Russian air defense.

I suspect the story is entirely bogus, like the story of shooting down a Russian cruise missile.

The odds are only about 60/40 there is a war going on.

Believe nothing.